What “food supplement” means, how to read a label in one minute and when it is a good idea to ask your doctor.
The definition, in short
In Mexico, a food supplement is a product made from herbs, plant extracts, dehydrated foods or nutrient concentrates that complements a person's diet. Its place is alongside food, not in place of it.
A medication is a different category: it falls under a different regulatory framework, a different health registration and different controls. That is why supplements carry a mandatory statement: “This product is not a medication.”
How to read a label without getting lost
- Name: it must expressly say that it is a food supplement.
- Ingredient list: it goes in descending order of amount; whatever appears first is what there is most of.
- Directions and suggested serving: a reliable product tells you how much and how often.
- Statements and warnings: besides the mandatory statement, many formulas list precautions for minors, pregnancy and breastfeeding.
When to ask a health professional
Whenever there is something else involved: if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you are a minor, if you have a health condition or if you take other medications. A supplement adds to what you already consume, and that addition is not always neutral.
We can explain what a product is made of; the person who knows your situation is your doctor.
What Proher Natura says about its products
Proher Natura sells food supplements. We manufacture under a COFEPRIS operating notice, and on every container and on this site you will see the statement that reminds you they are not medications.
Food supplements are not medications.
