Are Proprietary Blends Bad?

Proprietary blends are not inherently dangerous, but they are a major red flag for quality. They legally allow manufacturers to hide individual ingredient dosages behind a single total weight, making it impossible to verify whether any ingredient is present at a clinically effective dose. Proprietary blends are one of the supplement industry's most controversial practices. ## What Is a Proprietary Blend? A proprietary blend is a mixture of ingredients listed under a single name with only the total combined weight disclosed. For example: "ThermoBurn Blend (750 mg): Green Tea Extract, Caffeine, Cayenne, L-Carnitine, CLA." You know the total is 750 mg, but you have no idea how much of each ingredient is included. ## Why Companies Use Them Companies cite two reasons: - **Competi

What Does GMP Certified Mean for Supplements?

GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification means a supplement facility follows FDA-mandated quality standards for manufacturing, packaging, and storage. It ensures products contain what the label says and are free from contamination. GMP is required by law, but FDA enforcement is limited. GMP certification is frequently cited on supplement labels as a quality marker. Understanding what it actually means -- and does not mean -- is important. ## What GMP Covers Under FDA regulation 21 CFR Part 111, dietary supplement manufacturers must follow cGMPs that address: - **Identity testing:** Raw materials must be verified as what the supplier claims. - **Purity testing:** Products must be tested for contaminants including heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial contamination. - **Stre

How to Spot a Supplement Scam

Major red flags include: "miracle" cure claims, fake doctor endorsements, proprietary blends hiding dosages, auto-ship subscriptions in fine print, manufactured urgency ("only 3 bottles left!"), and before-and-after stock photos. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. The supplement industry generates billions in revenue, and scam products are extremely common. Here are the most reliable warning signs. ## Red Flag #1: Miracle Claims Any product claiming to cure, treat, or prevent a disease is making an illegal claim under FDA regulations. Supplements cannot make disease claims. If a sales page promises to "cure diabetes" or "reverse Alzheimer's," you are looking at either an illegal product or a scam. ## Red Flag #2: Fake Doctor Endorsements Many scams fe

Do Supplements Need FDA Approval?

No. Unlike prescription drugs, dietary supplements do not require FDA approval before being sold. The FDA can only take action after a product is on the market and proven unsafe. Supplements are essentially guilty until proven innocent -- the opposite of how pharmaceuticals work. This is one of the most important things every supplement consumer should understand. ## The DSHEA Framework The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) established the current regulatory framework. Under DSHEA, supplements are regulated as food, not drugs: - **No pre-market approval required:** A company can formulate and sell a supplement without proving safety or efficacy. - **Manufacturer responsibility:** The company is responsible for ensuring safety and label accura

General Supplement Questions

How to Read a Supplement Label

March 7, 2026 | 2 min read

Quick Answer

Focus on three things: the Supplement Facts panel (check doses against clinical research), the "Other Ingredients" section (fillers and additives), and any certifications (USP, NSF, ConsumerLab). Avoid products with proprietary blends, and always check the serving size.

Reading a supplement label is a skill that can save you hundreds of dollars and protect your health. Most consumers look at the front of the bottle. The real information is on the back.

The Supplement Facts Panel

The most important part of any supplement label. Key elements:

Serving size and servings per container: Always check this first. Some products list impressive ingredient amounts per serving, but require 2-3 servings per day. A "30-day supply" might only last 15 days at the recommended dose.

Individual ingredient amounts: Each ingredient should have its dose listed in milligrams (mg), micrograms (mcg), or international units (IU). If you see a "Proprietary Blend" with a single total weight, you cannot verify individual doses.

% Daily Value (%DV): Shows how much of the recommended daily intake each serving provides. Some supplements provide 1000%+ DV for certain vitamins, which is not necessarily better.

What to Look Up

After reading the label, look up each key ingredient to check whether the dose matches clinical research:

Ashwagandha (KSM-66): clinical dose is typically 300-600 mg/day
Berberine: clinical dose is 500 mg 2-3x daily (1000-1500 mg/day)
Green tea extract (EGCG): clinical dose is 400-500 mg EGCG/day
Magnesium: clinical dose is 200-400 mg elemental magnesium/day

If a product contains 50 mg of an ingredient studied at 500 mg, you are getting 10% of a researched dose.

The "Other Ingredients" Section

Below the Supplement Facts panel. Includes fillers, binders, and capsule materials. Most are harmless, but watch for:

Artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5) — unnecessary
Titanium dioxide — banned from food in the EU
Excessive fillers — question what you are paying for
Allergens — soy, gluten, dairy, tree nuts are common

Certifications and Seals

USP Verified — The gold standard. Confirms identity, potency, purity, dissolution.
NSF Certified for Sport — Tests for banned substances. Important for athletes.
ConsumerLab Approved — Independent testing for label accuracy and contaminants.
Informed Sport — Another banned substance testing program.

Make Smarter Supplement Decisions

Our Buyer's Guide walks you through everything you need to know before purchasing any supplement — from reading labels to spotting scams.

Read the Buyer's Guide Browse All Questions

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.