At Nutri Advanced we take pride in our reputation as a trusted choice for nutritional supplements. We gained this reputation by consistently ensuring that customers’ safety and product efficacy are our top priorities. There are a number of products that are available in the UK market that we will not supply for ethical and regulatory reasons. We would urge you to fully research any company that does offer some of these products. We believe it is important to educate consumers so they can avoid wasting their money or even risking their health on so called 'miracle cures'.
Diindolylmethane (DIM)
Certain ingredients are not permitted to be sold in the UK if they were not commonly consumed in the UK or EU before May 15 1997. These ingredients are regarded as “novel foods” and cannot legally be included in food or supplements until a safety assessment has been completed. One such ingredient is DIM (Diindolylmethane), a compound created naturally when you digest cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli or Brussels sprouts, and may help to support healthy oestrogen levels in the body.
Herbs Subject to Various Restrictions
Certain herbs are subject to various restrictions in the UK, for example, some are only permitted to be sold under the supervision of a pharmacist in a licensed pharmacy, some are only available as prescription-only medicines, and some are not permitted altogether. Examples of these herbs include kava-kava, yohimbe bark and ephedra, none of which will be found in any Nutri Advanced product.
Traditional Herbal Remedies
There is a European Directive called the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) – under which herbal medicinal products are required to obtain an authorisation before being sold in the EU. Though there is no formal list in the UK of herbs that are “medicinal”, products containing herbs with a history of medicinal use rather than food use are usually required to be authorised under this scheme and display a THR (Traditional Herbal Remedy) mark. Examples of this include Agnus Castus, St John’s Wort, Valerian, Black Cohosh and Echinacea.
Though this may change in the future, Nutri Advanced currently doesn’t sell any traditional herbal remedies, and that’s why for now you won’t find herbs such as Echinacea, Agnus Castus and St John’s Wort in our range.
Melatonin and GABA
Melatonin is a hormone that helps maintain circadian rhythms in the body, or our “body clock”. It was available as a supplement prior to 1995 but since then it has been regulated as a licensed medicine, meaning it cannot be sold as a supplement. In addition, the MHRA does not permit the sale of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter that is used in some countries as a supplement to help combat stress.
Cod Liver Oil or Krill Oil
A common question we get asked for is why we don't sell cod liver and krill oil. We believe our Eskimo-3 range of fish oils offers superior health benefits, is purer and is more suitable for a wider range of people than both of these alternative supplements and here's why:
Cod liver oil is derived from the liver of fish. The liver is the organ which filters the toxins and pollutants that we are exposed to on daily basis and therefore cod liver oil is likely to contain more contaminants than fish oil, which is derived from the flesh of the fish. Cod liver oil also contains the fat-soluble vitamins A and D, whereas fish oil does not. Whilst vitamins A and D perform a whole range of vital functions within the body, they can also be toxic in large amounts. In particular, large amounts of vitamin A should be avoided in pregnancy and therefore pregnant women should take fish oil, rather than cod liver oil. For these reasons, we choose to sell only fish oils, rather than cod liver oils. We sell the Eskimo-3 range of fish oils, which are renowned for their incredible purity and stability.
Krill oil has increased in popularity dramatically over the last few years, due to its omega-3 content. Krill are tiny crustaceans that play a big role in the food chain, as a food source for various species of whales, seals and penguins amongst others. Krill oil supplements tend to supply lower amounts of omega-3 fatty acids than fish oil though they are usually a far higher price. Whilst krill likely has its place in the market with positive new studies on its effects, there is currently a far more extensive range of studies that have been carried out on fish oil, and our own Eskimo-3 range alone has had over 120 studies published on its effects, and so for now, at Nutri Advanced we choose to sell fish oil and not krill.
Guaranteed Weight Loss, Libido Boosters and Breast Enlargement Supplements
These types of products often appear on the market promising 'miraculous' results with no scientific evidence. We would strongly recommend that you research the ingredients in these products before purchasing. Many of the companies do not share our commitment to customer safety and will happily take your money for a product that only offers a placebo result at best.
Endangered Herbs
The large demand for herbs that are still harvested from the wild has driven some herbs to near extinction. We only sell herbs that are grown commercially which is why we don't sell herbs such as Cat's Claw or Pygeum.