Reviews and Information for Kind

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Product Review

Nutrition Bars & Cookies Review (For Energy, Fiber, Protein, Meal Replacement, and Whole Foods)

Find the Best Nutrition Bar or Cookie. ConsumerLab Tests Reveals Not All Nutrition Bars and Cookies Contain What They Claim.

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Which is the best mask to prevent COVID-19 and how do cloth, disposable, N95, and KN95 masks compare? How can I stop glasses from fogging?

See our Top Picks for masks. Learn how to make COVID-19 masks from materials at home that can be almost as effective as surgical mask and N-95 masks.

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Where to Safely Buy Real Vitamins and Supplements Online, Not Fakes or Counterfeits

ConsumerLab explains how to avoid counterfeit vitamins and supplements when shopping online on Amazon, Walmart.com, and other sites. Learn to identify authorized sites and sellers and avoid fake supplements. Use the brand-by-brand guide to protect yourself from risk.

Product Review

Joint Health Supplements Review (Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, Boswellia, Collagen and Turmeric)

18% of Joint Health Supplements Failed to Pass Our Tests. See Which Passed or Failed, and Our Top Picks.

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Which supplements reduce the risk of stroke? Which increase the risk of stroke?

Find out which supplements (may help reduce the risk of stroke/might increase the risk of stroke.)

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Can any vitamins or minerals help prevent or reduce canker sores or cold sores?

Find out which, if any, supplements, including iron, L-lysine, monolaurin, olive leaf extract, vitamin B-12, and zinc, may be beneficial for canker sores or cold sores.

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Best Supplements to Prevent Age-Related Muscle Loss

Discover the top supplements to prevent age-related muscle loss after 60. Learn how protein, fish oil, vitamin D, and more can help maintain muscle strength and combat sarcopenia.

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5 Tips for Finding a Soap or Body Wash That Won't Irritate Skin

Get 5 tips for finding soap or body wash that won't cause skin irritation. See which soaps we rate best, ingredients to avoid, and phrases on labels that can mislead.

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Top 8 vitamins and nutrients for vegetarians and vegans

Find out which 8 supplements may be needed by vegetarians or vegans to meet all their daily nutrient requirements and learn ways to find supplements that do not contain ingredients objectionable to people following vegetarian or vegan diets.

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Can taking too much vitamin B-12 be dangerous? The label on my B-complex states it contains 50,000% of the Daily Value!

Find out the daily value for vitamin B-12 and the potential side effects of taking too much B-12. ConsumerLab explains why taking too much vitamin B-12 can be harmful.

Product Review

Manuka Honey Review

Find the Best Manuka Honey Based on Quality, Taste, and Value. See our Top Picks.

Product Review

Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements Review (Sterols/Stanols and Policosanol)

Find the Best Cholesterol-Lowering Supplement. See Which Plant Sterol and Policosanol Supplements Passed Our Tests and Are Our Top Picks.

Product Review

Cinnamon Supplements and Spices Review

CAUTION: Some Cinnamon Products High in Toxin. See Which Passed or Failed and our Top Picks!

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Do essential amino acid (EAA) supplements help build muscle better than dietary protein or protein supplements?

Comparison of essential amino acids vs dietary protein and protein supplements for building muscle.

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Which supplements and foods reduce or increase the risk of kidney stones?

Find out which supplements, foods and beverages may increase or decrease the risk of kidney stones, including information about potassium, calcium, choline, turmeric and curcumin, vitamin C, as well as foods and beverages such as green tea, lemon juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, chocolate and almonds.

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Does Prevagen really improve memory?

Learn more about Prevagen, including clinical studies on Prevagen's impact on memory & cognition, safety, pricing, and an FDA warning letter. ConsumerLab explores the efficacy of Prevagen.

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Does red and near infrared light therapy reduce pain, improve skin or cognition, or have other benefits? Is it safe?

Red light and near infrared light therapy devices are promoted for numerous conditions, including acne, fibromyalgia, pain, cognitive function and other uses. Find out if these devices work and if they are safe.

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PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances): How can I avoid PFAS in dental floss, food, water, and other products?

Some brands of dental floss, including Oral-B Glide, may contain potentially toxic chemicals known as PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances). Get the details, and learn which floss and pick products are our Top Picks.

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Does collagen taken as a supplement help with arthritis? I'm seeing it in products for joint health.

Learn more about collagen supplements, including evidence from clinical studies on arthritis and muscle strength and safety.

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What is lumbrokinase, does it have heart benefits, is it safe, and what should you look for, or avoid, in a lumbrokinase supplement?

Lumbrokinase is marketed as promoting healthy circulation and supporting heart health. Find out how and if lumbrokinase supplements actually work, possible safety concerns, and what to consider when choosing a lumbrokinase supplement.

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Which vitamins and supplements should be stopped before getting blood work, laboratory tests, or medical imaging?

Find out which vitamins and supplements can interfere with blood, urine or stool tests, and imaginging tests, like bone scans and MRIs. Learn how B vitamins such as biotin, niacin and riboflavin, as well as calcium supplements, St. John’s wort, vitamin C, and others supplements can affect test results, as well as common foods that may interfere with tests.

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Is it possible to take too much vitamin C?

Find out the daily value of vitamin C, along with possible side effects of excessive vitamin C intake. ConsumerLab explores the topic of proper vitamin C supplement usage, and why taking too much can be harmful.

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Which supplements can help to lower blood pressure?

Supplements to lower blood pressure, including CoQ10, vitamin C, fish oil, and olive oil, are all explored to find out what works.

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Which supplements help with arthritis?

Learn more about supplements for joint health, including products such as Wobenzym and Zyflamend and ingredients such as collagen, curcumin, glucosamine and chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), SAMe, and others.

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Are Balance of Nature products good dietary supplements?

Do Balance of Nature supplements "Fruits" and "Veggies" supplements really provide the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables, and are they worth the cost? Find out.

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Sugar Substitutes: Pros, Cons, and Best Choices

Learn about the pros and cons of using sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners in place of table sugar. Sweeteners discussed include stevia, monk fruit, and other high-intensity sweeteners; xylitol, erythritol, allulose and other low-calorie sweeteners; and agave syrup, black sugar, coconut sugar, honey, molasses and other sugar alternatives.

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Are fruit and vegetable “washes” or devices more effective than water for cleaning produce and removing pesticides? Are they safe?

Fruit and veggie washes, vinegar, and baking soda, as well as devices that use electrolysis, ozone water, or ultrasonic cleaning, are often promoted for removing dirt, bacteria and pesticides from produce. Find out if any work better than rinsing with water and if they are safe.

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7 Tips to Avoid Getting a Pill Stuck in Your Throat

Some pills can be difficult to swallow and can even become lodged in the throat or cause damage to the esophagus. Learn seven practical tips to help avoid getting pills stuck in the throat.

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What is Pycnogenol, does it work, and is it the same as other pine bark extracts?

Learn more about Pycnogenol, including evidence from clinical studies on blood clots, osteoarthritis, cognition, vision, tinnitus, and the skin and safety.

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What are the best bug sprays to prevent tick and mosquito bites? Is the insecticide permethrin safe to use?

Find out how permethrin sprays differ and which can be used on sheets and sleeping bags versus clothing

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I read that statins can cause diabetes. Is this true also with red yeast rice?

Find out if red yeast rice supplements increase the risk of diabetes, as some statin medications do. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

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Do any supplements, foods or lifestyle modifications help with brain function, like memory and cognition?

Find out which supplements help improve memory, brain function and cognition, including fish oil, some B vitamins, cocoa, and curcumin. ConsumerLab's answer explains the evidence for supplements promoted to help with brain function and cognition.

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What is CELLFOOD and is it a healthy supplement?

Learn more about CELLFOOD (NuScience Corporation), including if the claims to improve athletic performance, fibromyalgia, weight loss, and cancer are true.

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Do any supplements or lifestyle changes reduce the symptoms of tinnitus? Is it true that some supplements can cause tinnitus?

Learn which supplements can ease tinnitus, including melatonin and pine bark extract. Understand which may actually cause tinnitus.

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What are the side effects of magnesium supplements?

Info on magnesium supplement side effects, such as stomach upset, nausea and diarrhea. Learn about magnesium dosage, safety and drug interactions. ConsumerLab.com answer explains.

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Are there supplements I should avoid when taking apixaban (Eliquis) or similar blood thinner drugs like Xarelto?

Learn about supplement interactions with apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and other blood thinner drugs in the direct factor Xa inhibitors class.

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Have any supplements been shown to increase women's libido?

Learn more about supplements that may increase women's libido, including DHEA and maca.

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Do any supplements, foods, or oils help reduce muscle pain, muscle cramps, or nighttime leg cramps?

Find out which supplements, and topical products such as magnesium creams, can help reduce muscle pain, leg cramps, and nighttime leg cramps, and which may worsen muscle cramps. Also, learn about vitamin and mineral deficiencies and common medications that can cause muscle cramps and nocturnal leg cramps.

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Which air purifiers are best for reducing microbial and smoke particles from room air?

Find out if portable air cleaners can remove the virus that causes COVID-19 infection from the air and learn which type air cleaners work best.

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What is the best sunscreen based on safety and efficacy?

We’ve boiled down the latest research about mineral and chemical sunscreens, including product tests, to help you choose the best sunscreen (which will depend on whether you expect to be in or out of the water). We also list popular sunscreens that have, or have not, been found to contain cancer-causing compounds (benzene and benzophenone).

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Here’s What You Should Look For In Toothpaste and Mouthwash, and Our Top Picks

Learn about ingredients you want in your toothpaste, mouthwash and other dental products and which ingredients you may want to avoid.

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How do I choose the best magnesium supplement?

Choosing the best form of magnesium supplements can be tricky due to the many different types (magnesium aspartate, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, citrate and others).

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Is it true that drinking a small amount of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with water can kill bacteria in the urinary tract or help in other ways? Is this safe -- or is it dangerous?

Drinking or eating hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can be dangerous and is not advised. Learn more treatments for urinary tract infections.

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Is spirulina safe? I heard that it can contain toxins, such as BMAA and microcystin toxin.

Is Spirulina safe? Find out if Spirulina contains toxins like BMAA and microcystin toxin.

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I thought the B vitamins were all water soluble and did not build up in the body, so you would not build up toxic levels. Am I wrong?

Learn more about water-soluble B vitamins including niacin, B6, B12 and folic acid, and why taking too much of these vitamins can be toxic. See the symptoms of overdose and toxicity from B vitamins. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

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Is it true that some vitamins or supplements can cause cancer?

Learn more about the effects of certain vitamins and supplements on cancer, including beta-carotene, vitamins E and B9, and multivitamins.

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Is it better to take fish oil, flaxseed oil -- or both?

Fish oil and flaxseed oil -- how they are different, what they are used for, if and how they can help with arthritis, depression, lowering cholesterol & more.

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Are enteric coated supplements better than non-enteric coated ones?

Learn about the pros and cons of enterically coated supplements, including ingredient absorption,safety and price.

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How do I choose the best CoQ10 supplement?

Looking to choose the best CoQ10 brand supplement? Understand which CoQ10 you are buying, differences in dose, absorption, quality and more. ConsumerLab explores this topic.

News Release

June 29, 2023

ConsumerLab Tests Reveal the Best Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements & Spices

White Plains, New York, June 29, 2023 —  Turmeric and curcumin (a key compound in turmeric) are promoted for uses including osteoarthritis, seasonal allergies, and ulcerative colitis, as well as improving cognition and reducing symptoms of depression.

News Release

September 11, 2019

Some Nutrition Bars Contain More Carbs and Less Fiber Than Listed, ConsumerLab Tests Reveal

White Plains, New York, September 11, 2019 — Nutrition bars and cookies are promoted as a convenient way to get protein, fiber and other nutrients on-the-go, but recent ConsumerLab tests of popular nutrition bars and cookies reveal that some contain more carbohydrates (as well as fat and ...

Recalls & Warnings

December 01, 2022

FTC Takes Action Against Company Promoting “COVID Resist” Supplement to Treat COVID-19

On November 22, 2022, the FTC filed a complaint in a U.S. district court against California-based company Precision Patient Outcomes, Inc. for promoting its COVID Resist and VIRUS Resist supplements to prevent and treat COVID-19.

News Release

January 12, 2016

Problems Found with 32% of Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplements -- ConsumerLab.com Identifies Good Choices for Men, Women, and Children

White Plains, New York, January 12, 2016 — You can't always judge a supplement by its label -- or by its price, according to a new report from ConsumerLab.com, which recently tested dozens of multivitamin/multimineral supplements.

News Release

January 24, 2000

Majority of dietary supplements sold in U.S. being tested by ConsumerLab.com in 2000; newest results due January 31 for Saw Palmetto.

WHITE PLAINS, NY, January 24, 2000 — As part of its ongoing independent evaluation of health, wellness, and nutrition products sold in the U.S., ConsumerLab.com announced that by year-end it is to have independently tested most of the popular brands of dietary supplements sold in the U.S.

News Release

August 05, 1999

ConsumerLab.com initiates independent testing of herbal products and supplements. Certification Seal announced.

WHITE PLAINS, NY, August 5, 1999 — ConsumerLab.com, LLC announced that it has begun a large-scale program of independent testing of herbal products and dietary supplements. .

Recalls & Warnings

November 02, 2020

Silver Cannot Be Promoted to Prevent or Treat COVID-19

On October 30, 2020, the FDA issued a warning letter to Spartan Enterprises Inc. dba Watershed Wellness Center for selling the silver product Dissolve BioActive Silicate with unsupported claims that it can treat coronavirus (COVID-19).

Recalls & Warnings

April 19, 2013

Recall: Contaminated Iron Supplement

On March 18, 2013, Magno Humphries Inc. issued a voluntary recall of Ferrous Sulfate Tablets 325 mg (5 Grain) , an iron dietary supplement, after the company discovered it was contaminated with small blue pieces of polypropylene, a kind of plastic.

Recalls & Warnings

December 08, 2009

Warning on Acai Berry Supplements Spiked with Drug

On December 8, 2009, Health Canada (the Canadian health agency) advised consumers not to use certain Acai Berry products after a large number of shipments of adulterated products were stopped at the border.

Recalls & Warnings

July 13, 2006

FDA Warns About Sexual Enhancement Supplements with Dangerous Ingredients

On July 12, 2006, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers not to purchase or consume Zimaxx, Libidus, Neophase, Nasutra, Vigor-25, Actra-Rx, or 4EVERON.

Recalls & Warnings

January 24, 2003

FTC Challenges Weight-loss Claims for Slim Down Solution

The Federal Trade Commission today charged Slim Down Solution, LLC, Maderia Management, Inc., and several related companies and individuals with using false and unsubstantiated claims in the marketing and advertising of "Slim Down Solution" - a purported weight-loss product.

Recalls & Warnings

February 03, 2015

Major Retailers Accused of Selling Adulterated Herbal Supplements

On February 3, 2015, the New York State Attorney General announced that his office sent letters to four major retailers, GNC, Target, Walmart, and Walgreens, for allegedly selling store brand herbal supplement products in New York that either could not be verified to contain the labeled substance, ...