When buying supplements in Calgary, it is easy to compare the price and the large number on the front of the bottle. Turn the package around, though, and you may find that two apparently similar products have different serving sizes, ingredient forms or directions.
Before choosing, take a few minutes to read the details. You do not need to memorise every ingredient. You need to know what you are comparing and which questions still need an answer.
Explore our in-store supplement selectionLook for the Canadian product licence number
For a licensed natural health product, look for an eight-digit Natural Product Number, or NPN. Health Canada also uses a DIN-HM for licensed homeopathic medicines. These numbers identify products licensed for sale in Canada.
A licence number does not tell you whether a product suits your individual needs. Continue reading the recommended use, directions and warnings, and ask about anything you do not understand.
Check whether the amount is per capsule or per serving
Find the unit used beside the ingredient amount. Does it say per capsule, per tablet, per scoop or per serving? Then check how many capsules or scoops make up that serving.
Keep the units consistent when comparing products. Milligrams, micrograms and international units are not interchangeable labels. If two packages describe their contents differently, ask for help making a like-for-like comparison.
A simple label comparison
Imagine one product lists 100 mg per capsule and another lists 200 mg per two-capsule serving. Each provides 100 mg per capsule. The larger printed number does not automatically mean the second product provides more per capsule.
This is an arithmetic example, not a recommended dose or a comparison of specific products.
Read the ingredient form as well as its name
The ingredient panel may include a form or source beside the familiar nutrient name. Write down that complete description when comparing bottles. Two products sharing a category name are not necessarily identical formulas.
Avoid choosing from a single claim such as “strongest” or “premium.” Ask what is different about the actual formulation and whether that difference matters for your situation.
Review the non-medicinal ingredients
Read this section alongside the medicinal ingredients. It can help you identify capsule materials, flavours and other components relevant to your preferences or restrictions.
If you have an allergy, do not rely on a quick glance at the front of the package. Check the complete label and ask the manufacturer when the information you need is unclear.
Read the cautions before deciding
Canadian natural health product labels include directions and risk information. Check the recommended use, dose, any duration-of-use instructions, and cautions or warnings. Natural products can have side effects and interact with medicines or other products.
Discuss suitability with a qualified healthcare professional if you take medication, have a medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, are preparing for surgery, or are choosing a product for a child. Bring the complete label so the discussion is about the actual formula.
Compare value using the directions
Bottle size alone can be misleading. A bottle containing 120 capsules lasts 30 days at four capsules daily. A 60-capsule bottle also lasts 30 days at two daily. Use the product directions or your healthcare provider’s instructions for that calculation.
Cost per day can make budgeting clearer, but it does not establish that two formulas are equivalent. Compare the ingredients and amounts before comparing the price.
Bring a list of what you already take
Before adding another bottle, gather your current product names, strengths and directions. Photographs of the labels are useful. A clear list makes it easier to identify repeated ingredients and explain your routine to your pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Include products you use occasionally, too. Do not assume that a sleep blend, multivitamin and separate mineral product have no ingredients in common.
Compare supplements in Calgary, in person
Visit Joy & Vitality Centre with the bottle you are considering, a photograph of its label or your current product list. We can help you compare labels, formats and ingredients, and identify questions to take to your pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Supplements are available in store only. Call ahead if you need a particular brand, strength or size so we can check availability.
View supplement brands we carry Call to check availability
Joy & Vitality Centre
Unit 154, 9919 Fairmount Drive SE
Calgary, AB T2J 0S3
Further reading
Health Canada: Licensed Natural Health Products Database
Health Canada: Safe Use of Natural Health Products
General educational information only. This article does not recommend an individual supplement or dose and does not replace medical advice. Follow product directions and consult a qualified healthcare professional about suitability and interactions.