Chiropractors, and other practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), focus on the holistic person and encourage the body to self-heal. The mind and body are strongly connected, and the patient may be able to heal themselves with a little help from a CAM practitioner. Exercise and a healthy diet are important to a patient’s well-being and immune system. Proper supplementation can also be a part of a healthy lifestyle. Ortho Molecular and Metagenics make dietary supplements that can be very beneficial through ease of use and their positive effects. Ortho Molecular supplements are made from natural, raw ingredients.1 The term the company uses for its products is “Nutraceuticals”. This means that the mission of the products is “patient wellness…the Absolute Goal”.2 Metagenics believes that “many chronic health conditions are preventable” by decisions and changes made by the patients themselves. By having a healthier lifestyle, being active, and managing stressors, various illnesses can be “prevented, managed, or even reversed”. They call their system “Therapeutic Lifestyle change” (TLC). They use “genetic potential for good health”, otherwise known as “nutrigenomics”. Food is one of the most important environmental concerns with regard to genetic expression, health, and disease. Patients who have full control over their nutrition intake should try to modify their diets to fit their personal needs for optimal health.3 Both Ortho Molecular and Metagenics products can be purchased through health care practitioners, such as chiropractors, or even via various online outlets.
Ortho Molecular Products
Ortho Molecular makes products for a variety of conditions. There are several cardiovascular supplements. They sell products containing antioxidants, and some for cognitive/memory function and nervous system support. Some Ortho Molecular products are for the endocrine system, others are for energy, and they offer essential amino acids, as well. Homeopathic and natural practitioners might use the essential oil products to help treat their patients. Ortho Molecular has products for eye health and blood sugar health, which are important for those patients who suffer from diabetes. Other products provide immune system support. Many of the supplements serve multiple purposes and assist with various conditions. There are Ortho Molecular products specifically for children and for males, as different body types very often have some difference in their health requirements. There are many options for dietary support, appetite control, gastrointestinal support, and nutritional balance, as well as metabolic function. There are also detoxing products, and easier ways to get the necessary 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Ortho Molecular provides essential minerals and vitamin supplementation for patients who encounter situations where they are not always able to achieve a balanced diet every day.4
The purpose of the founding of Metagenics was to produce products that address the root cause of many chronic illnesses. They want to provide more than just temporary masking of the symptoms, which would not benefit patients in the long run. First and foremost, “Metagenics strives to promote a healthier lifestyle” through maintaining the appropriate amount of consumption of dietary vitamins and nutrients, exercise, and management of stressors. The patient could seek advice from a CAM practitioner and their primary medical care provider for recommended lifestyle changes or adjustments. The vitamin supplements and other products that Metagenics produce are the result of many food studies and research. Their most popular products are tailored towards the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.5 Metagenics makes sure that its products follow their standards. Their products are GMP-certified. This means they follow “good manufacturing practices” established by the Natural Products Association (NSF) and Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia (TGA). Their ingredients are “pure”, which they establish through testing beyond what is required by CGMPs. Their ingredients are “safety-reviewed” with their research staff on-site. Metagenics uses “human clinical evaluations”. They conduct sufficient research and clinical trials for effectiveness and safety. They also have “scientific staff and facilities” which are specifically used to see the “effects of nutrients on proteins and genetic expression”. In addition, Metagenics has the goal of making sure that ingredients and dosages are accurate, in the right form of delivery (i.e., tablet, chewable, capsule, liquid, bar, powder, soft chew, soft gel), and they make sure that the time-release aspects of their products work appropriately. All of this extra effort is so that the patient can have peace of mind about and confidence in the quality assurance of products produced by Metagenics.6 Metagenics sells nutritional supplements and “medical foods” to treat a variety of medical conditions such as leaky gut, inflammatory bowel, premenstrual syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, hypercholesterolemia, and children’s food sensitivities.7 Metagenics products can assist with managing cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and blood sugar health, as well as immunity, joint health, musculoskeletal and neurological issues, men’s and women’s health, stress management, detoxification, and general nutrition.8