Over the last couple of years the supplement industry has literally exploded.
I mean, not only are there now hundreds of different types of supplements on the market, there are also thousands of different supplement brands actively selling those supplements -- all of which promise amazing results.
Which begs the question -- how do I actually know which ones are any good?
Well, by following the tips outlined in this article, you should be able to work it out pretty quickly.
1. They have good reviews
This first point sounds like a bit of a no brainer -- that does not make it any less important.
There are so many different companies out there that sell a variety of different supplements, and all at very low prices. And while these may be pretty appealing, there is no way to tell they actually work, unless:
- You try them out for yourself, or
- Other people have already tried them out for you
Now, I would argue that trying a company without any customer reviews to support their products is somewhat risky, because they could be absolute trash -- which means that finding a company with good reviews should be your first point of call.
If they have a large number of good reviews you can feel confident that their products actually work.
And let's face it, any top-quality supplement brand should have good reviews.
2. They use third-party testing
While it is not as common as it once was, there was a period of time where supplement companies were frequently putting large numbers of “filler” ingredients into their products to save money.
This would end up causing their products to be underdosed, ineffective, and a complete and utter waste of money.
With this in mind, any good supplement company should provide test results explaining exactly what ingredients their supplements contain, and in what amounts -- and in an ideal world, these results should come from independent laboratories.
This can give you confidence that you are buying exactly what you think you are buying, while also ensuring that the product is effective.
3. They are no frills
Any good quality supplement company should let their products do the talking.
This means they don't spend exuberant amounts of money on marketing, they don't waste time on fancy packaging, and they certainly don't tell you that their supplements are going to completely “change the game”.
Top quality supplement brands are no frills in their approach. They use simple packaging, minimal marketing, and let the results of their products do the talking.
It is often these types of supplement companies that also have good customer feedback -- because they are honest, ethical, and do a good job.
4. They are evidence based
A good supplement company provides good evidence to support the use of their products.
And just to be clear, when we say “evidence-based” I don't mean they say that they work -- I mean that they back up their claims with legitimate scientific evidence.
While it may be hard to believe, there are actually a large number of supplements available for purchase that have never been researched in any capacity. As a result, we actually don't know if they are effective, or even safe.
Taking this into consideration, any supplement you buy should have evidence to support their use (preferably in humans, I should add). This is obviously important from a safety perspective, but it also guarantees that you are not wasting your money.
Top quality supplement brands make an effort to provide scientific references to back up their claims -- providing clear evidence to support their safety and their effectiveness.
5. They outline their precise dosages
Last but not least, a good quality supplement should provide the exact amounts of all their ingredients. While this seems like it should be common practice, it often isn't.
See, over the last couple of years it has become increasingly common for big name supplement companies to list their ingredients under a “proprietary blend” rather than in their actual dosages.
A proprietary blend is simply a combination of several different ingredients that sit within a supplement. They are most often advertised as a “secret formula” that will boost the results of your training -- but this is far from the truth.
These blends are simply a loophole that companies use to avoid listing how much of each ingredient is in their supplement. This makes it easier for them to use smaller doses of effective (and more expensive) ingredients, while bulking it up with more ‘filler’ ingredients.
As such, top-quality supplement brands simply do not use proprietary blends -- because they provide their ingredients in potent dosages, and want you to know it.
Summary
With an influx of supplement brands entering the fitness industry over the last few years, finding a good one has never been harder.
Which is exactly why we decided to write this article.
Using the tips outlined here, you can easily find those supplements that are worth the money, and those that aren't worth a cent -- and ultimately take your gains to the next level in the process.
