Why Ideal Health supplements

are the finest in the world.

State-of-the-art formularies & research facilities

Ideal Health's formulary facilities have been supplying healthcare professionals all over the world with quality nutritional supplements for 50 years. Our professional research staff includes Ph.D.'s with degrees in biochemistry, clinical nutrition, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, and microbiology.

The lab that does the testing also employs professional researchers including Ph.D.'s, registered nurses, and clinical nutritionists.

Ideal Health employs research and production facilities on both coasts of the United States as well as in Europe (the Netherlands) and in Shanghai, China. The Asian and European facilities are vital for research and materials acquisition for European, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs.

Manufacturing processes that preserve potency and assure quality

Our formulary uses a true cold-processing technique that preserves potency. For capsules, this means that the product never gets above 77 degrees during processing. Our products get results because the nutrients are intact.

Many other manufacturers use fluid granulation, a cheaper process in which the material is mixed with water and then dried and evaporated. They do this to improve compression. However, this often damages synergistic co-partners and decreases the potency of the ingredients.

Then, to insure uniform nutrient distribution for complex formulations, we developed a "stepped" blending technique that can involve up to 15 separate steps for each of 48 permutations of 50 nutrients. You can be absolutely sure that what it says on the label of your Custom Essentials is actually in each daily dose.

Extensive testing of raw materials and finished products

All raw materials undergo extensive testing prior to processing. Initially, biological materials are quarantined in a separate facility until microbiological assays for yeasts, molds, E. Coli, Salmonella, bacteria and heavy metals are all negative. On average, about 30% of raw materials are rejected routinely because they do not meet our stringent standards.

Then, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Emissions Spectrometry (ICP) tests ensure that the materials actually are what they're supposed to be. These tests result in a biological signature for the tested compound which can then be compared to known biological signatures for the desired compound.

The list of raw materials is too lengthy for the scope of this page. However, the sources range from microbiological fermentation of natural substances such as dextrose or ribose (as in the case of ascorbic acid and riboflavin, respectively) to the extraction and biochemical modification of cholesterol from wool fat, to obtain biologically active vitamin D3, cholecalciferol.

After manufacturing, the product is tested to make sure that it meets USP standards for disintegration (how fast it breaks down in the stomach), dissolution (how easily the components go into solution), and stability (assurance of shelf life).

Finished products are also tested for weight variance and (for tablets) friability, or fragility. Capsules and tablets are analyzed with an automatic weight variance machine, which automatically rejects any capsule or tablet that is outside fill weight specifications.

Superior bioavailability and absorption

We use the latest research information to determine which forms of nutrients can be most readily used by the body. For instance, industry research has found that the amino-acid chelate minerals that we use in our products are 30-50% more absorbable than "inorganic" mineral forms such as carbonates or oxides.

In addition, the USP standards used for disintegration, dissolution, and pH ionization also provide a good indicator of how well a product will be utilized. However, the best indicators of the "bioavailability" of our products are the results produced in the paramount laboratory of all - the human body.

Years of use by thousands of practicing healthcare professionals has given us valuable real-world feedback as to what nutrient forms work most effectively.

Manufacturing facilities inspection

Our facility is inspected by the FDA, as well as representative companies from Canada and Europe. It is also approved as a nutritional supplement manufacturer by the Canadian Health Organization and the Commission of the European Communities. Because our formulary voluntarily elects to comply with United States Pharmacopoeia standards, it is subject to unscheduled inspections by the FDA as well.

Our primary formulary is also GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified, ISO 9001 certified, and ISO 17025 accredited.