According to Dr Ross White, creator of Revitalise, Australia’s leading drinkable supplement, buying vitamins and supplements online from overseas is extremely risky – if not life threatening.  Often they include dangerous ingredients which are used because they are cheap fillers.  Australia’s market is highly regulated.”

The American College of Healthcare Sciences reports that there are five highly dangerous things to look for dietary supplements and if you find them, don’t buy those supplements.  It’s best to avoid a side of carcinogen with your micronutrients.  These things include:

• Artificial food colourings
• Hydrogenated oils (to make matters worse, its often partially hydrogenated soybean oil—one of the major fillers in the majority of vitamins today. Unless soy is organic, you can pretty much guarantee it’s genetically modified. So you’re getting a dose of franken-soy with your vitamins)
• Lead, mercury and PCBs
• Talc or Magnesium Silicate  (the same powder your grandmother used as deodorant can be found in many supplements as a cheap filler and anti-caking agent. Nasty!
• Magnesium silicate is similar in composition to asbestos and can cause lung problems when inhaled (bad news for the workers who have to mine it). It is also often contaminated with asbestos in the mining process and is suspected to cause problems when ingested)
• It is used as a colorant (it’s also used in many cosmetics.  Titanium dioxide has a raft of health implications)

“The thing with the US and many other countries is that they are not as regulated as Australia and being ‘true to label’ is a big issue for them.” Dr Ross added.  “In the age of internet purchasing, people buying supplements from places like the US and elsewhere need to be careful.   You may not know what you are getting, plus some of their health claims are over the top. I would always recommend Australians buy Australian made because you can have more confidence in what you are buying and consuming.”

“Revitalise is created here in Australia and is specifically designed for the 21st century diet/lifestyle. Hence, unlike other food supplement brands it has lower levels of saturated fat, sugar and sodium. This is why Revitalise has achieved a five star health rating.   Importantly, it is made in Australia and does not contain any unwanted nasties or fillers.”