Hello Reader

Not all supplements are created equal.

Recently, a school mum asked me to look over a popular "hair, skin, and nails" formula she had been taking for months. It was a generic brand you can buy at almost any high-street pharmacy and also one that even GPs frequently recommend.

As a nutritionist, I looked at the list of vitamins and turned the packaging around to read the full ingredients list. (Yes, supplements have an ingredients list, too!)

Here is what I found:

• The very first ingredient was maltodextrin, which is a highly processed form of sugar that can spike your blood glucose
• Following that was a long list of synthetic fillers and binders, including Talc
• To top it all off, it was packed with artificial food colourings

This is a brand I would never recommend to a client. Yet just a few days later, another friend mentioned feeling completely lost about who to trust. She had recently purchased from a trendy online brand claiming to be "100% clean" with glossy marketing, but after weeks of taking it, she felt no different in her energy or health.

There is a clear gap between marketing claims and real-world results. So I decided to create a "Varsha's Favourites" List.

This is a live list of the supplements, herbal teas, and daily essentials that I regularly recommend to my 1:1 clients, friends, and family for the reason that they are of good quality that actually deliver results:

👉 Access Varsha’s Recommended Favourites List Here (Many of these products are only available to those who live in the UK)

If you choose to order anything, you can use my exclusive practitioner discount code VARSHAK10 at checkout for 10% off.

While you are on the site, feel free to explore. It is where I buy items for my own home, from clean protein powders and organic teas to non-toxic hand creams and natural shampoos.

Top Tips for Buying Safe, Effective Supplements

To help you navigate the noisy wellness market, here are four critical guidelines to protect your health and your wallet:

1. Always Inspect the Fillers & Additives. Most capsules and tablets require a small amount of binder, casing, or natural preservative. However, avoid products loaded with hydrogenated oils, artificial dyes, magnesium silicate (talc), or added sugars. It is important to note that young children’s daily multivitamins (especially under the age of 4) should generally not contain added iron unless specifically prescribed by a healthcare provider for a diagnosed deficiency, as iron overload can be toxic to young bodies. However, most children's supplements, especially gummies, do contain added sugar.

2. Avoid Amazon and Social Media Influencers. Never purchase supplements from open third-party marketplaces like Amazon or directly through social media ads. Counterfeit products, poorly stored heat-damaged nutrients, and unverified sellers are widespread. Furthermore, just because a wellness influencer swears a capsule cured their fatigue does not mean it is right for your unique biochemistry.

3. Monitor High-Dose Nutrients. Supplements should fill specific gaps, not create imbalances. For example, if you take high-dose B-complex vitamins, ensure you get periodic functional blood testing. Over-accumulating certain B vitamins (like B6 or B12) can lead to unwanted neurological symptoms over time.

4. Prioritise Brand Integrity Over Flashy Marketing. If a product sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Look for brands that invest in independent testing and clinical research rather than flashy advertising. One brand I personally and clinically trust is Invivo. My family and I use their digestive formulas, and I frequently recommend them to my private clients because when matched correctly to your needs, they truly work.

Need Personalised Guidance?

If you are unsure of what your body actually needs right now, please do not guess. I am launching dedicated Supplement Guidance Sessions very soon to help you audit your current cabinet and build a safe, streamlined protocol.

In the meantime, if you want a complete review of your health, you can book a Free 15-Minute Discovery Call Here to discuss a private consultation.

Health and Happiness,

Varsha

P.S. Click here for the list of my favourite supplements. In addition to the supplements, this list also contains the CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) that I recommend which is supported by both Android and Apple phones.