After starting my personal training business in the late 80’s and competing in the Minnesota State Body Building Competition in the early 90’s, I was constantly being given supplements by friends, trainers, and other business owners who were hoping I would promote their brand for them.  At the time I looked at it as free supplements.  Then in 1995 I suffered a precedent changing anaphylactic reaction to one of these supplements.

Following this life-threatening episode, the protocol for all the ambulances in the Twin Cities was changed requiring them to begin carrying oral antihistamines in addition to the usual epinephrine injections on all the rigs.

It was following this incident that I started researching supplements and as a cardiac nurse, decided to base my choice on the strict criteria you find listed in our workshop packet and on our website. While searching for third party peer reviewed research I was only able to find one company that had their products reviewed by this process.  No other company at that time had a single review…..and this corporation had 92!  I made my choice! 

In March of 2003 the FDA took action to ensure that consumers get the dietary ingredients that are listed on the labels of the supplements they purchase. The FDA is basing their recommended standards on this company’s current manufacturing criteria.  When finalized, the proposed regulations will help protect consumers by eliminating manufacturers that cannot meet high standards for product processing.  Until then, we must continue to evaluate all products ourselves.

Funny coincidence, I ended up back on the same brand that brought me such great health while training for the state competition several years before.  After being reintroduced to the products by Barb and using them for 3 months, I realized I was getting my lean muscle back, my sugar cravings were gone and I wasn't rooting around for jelly beans every night at work.  I was able to concentrate better and the frequent colds and respiratory infections I’d been picking up became a thing of the past.   Up until then I had started to believe that all those symptoms were just part of getting old and being a new mom! 

Andrea Farquharson  R.N.