While dietary supplements are not intended to treat or cure health conditions, we receive a tremendous amount of purchase orders for dietary supplements that comprise anti-inflammatory agency. Though products may not eliminate pain-inflicting inflammation, they can certainly support consumers’ efforts in creating a healthier, more active lifestyle for themselves.
What is inflammation?
When something triggers the immune system to respond (viruses, bacteria, toxic chemicals), the body sends out inflammatory cells. These cells attack bacteria or heal damaged tissue. Acute inflammation is the body’s response to something relatively simple such as a cut finger that requires inflammatory cells to start the healing process. The real issue is when inflammation overwhelms the body, becoming chronic inflammation.
The danger of inflammation
Chronic inflammation is when the body continues sending inflammatory cells even when they are no longer needed. For example, according to Cleveland Clinic, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory cells and substances attack joint tissues leading to an inflammation that comes and goes and can cause severe damage to joints, resulting in pain and potential deformities. Chronic inflammation can lead to conditions like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and ulcerative colitis, but with the right supplementation, a change in routine, and medication when necessary, people may be able to turn things around for themselves. But first…
What causes chronic inflammation?
While research suggests a genetic risk of chronic inflammation, here are some of the most common causes of chronic inflammation:
- Untreated acute inflammation: an untreated injury or infection
- Exposure to toxins: pollution or industrial chemicals
- Autoimmune disorders: lupus is an example of an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack healthy tissue, unprovoked
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Excessive exercise or too little exercise
- Smoking
- Obesity
The stress factor
This one gets its own section because whether you admit it or not, we all get stressed at times, but some of us experience too much stress and have few resources to manage it in a healthy way. Dr. Charles Raison, professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health’s Department of Psychiatry, is a healthcare professional leading the charge in research related to inflammation and the development of depression in response to stress and illness. He suggests the following:
- Practice mindful mediation: as difficult as it may be to find time for it, if your customers are finding themselves overworked or overstressed, they should take a timeout to find their inner calm and balance.
- Get more sleep: this is when our bodies need to rest and rejuvenate. According to Dr. Raison, “not sleeping enough is pro-inflammatory. Getting a good seven to eight hours of regular sleep a night is hugely beneficial to our health.”
Other ways to manage healthy inflammation levels
There is a certain level of voluntary action that can curb chances of developing chronic inflammation. One can adopt better lifestyle habits such as:
- NOT drinking too much
- Exercising within the scope of what your body can handle
- NOT smoking
- Eating a more balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight
Vitamin manufacturing for a healthier mind and body
With their already busy lives, your customers may even get stressed from reading this article about the harm their stress can cause. Help them out by manufacturing a high-quality gummy, capsule, tablet, softgel, or powder that promotes a more relaxed mind and body. Many of our most successful clients include the following ingredients in their stress relief supplements:
Melatonin: Perhaps the most touted supplement used for getting to sleep faster, melatonin can help your customers do just that. One review of 7 high quality studies involving 205 people assessed the effectiveness of melatonin for managing secondary sleep disorders, which are those that result from another condition, like depression or stress. The research determined that melatonin decreased the time it took people to fall asleep and increased total sleep time. Melatonin is non-habit-forming and continues to rise in popularity.
Magnesium Glycinate: Studies indicate that magnesium may play an important role in stress management, particularly for people who do not consume adequate magnesium in their daily diet. Magnesium glycinate is often sold due to not only its relaxing effects, but it may be easier for the body to absorb than other commonly used supplemental magnesium forms, such as magnesium citrate.
L-Theanine: A study including 30 participants established that taking 200 mg of L-theanine a day considerably improved cognitive function and sleep quality, as well as stress and symptoms of depression.
B Vitamins: High levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, are linked to stress and an increased risk of several health conditions like dementia and heart disease. B vitamins have proven themselves able to lower blood levels of the amino acid, thereby improving symptoms of stress, like low mood and energy. A great way to ensure your customers are getting enough of their daily B vitamins is by offering a high-quality B complex supplement manufactured by an FDA registered, GMP-compliant facility.
Supplements that help with inflammation
In addition to easing the mind, your private label line of supplements can offer people an avenue towards less inflammation and better overall health. Here are five main ingredients that have been proven to help:
1. Curcumin: The key compound found in the spice turmeric, which provides a bright yellow hue, curcumin offers many health benefits, including those dealing with inflammation. It can help with inflammatory responses to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. It has also shown positive effects in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
2. Fish Oil: Many of our clients offer fish oil softgels which are filled with omega-3 fatty acids. They can support healthy inflammation connected to heart disease and diabetes. It can even assist in post-workout recovery in terms of muscle damage and inflammation. While more research is underway, it is always important to direct your customers to a licensed healthcare professional before they take your fish oil supplement or that of any other brand, especially if they are taking a blood thinner.
3. Bromelain: The enzyme present in pineapple that gives off an at-times unbearable acidity, bromelain stores some anti-inflammatory properties and may have the same anti-inflammatory capacity as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs—just with fewer side effects. Consumers who may otherwise rely on NSAID drugs could be your exact targets who would be most interested in a safer pathway to a less inflamed system.
4. Green Tea Extract: Potentially one of the most anti-inflammatory supplement ingredients out there, green tea extract is most often manufactured into capsules, tablets, and powders. Researchers believe that many of the herbal extract’s anti-inflammatory benefits derive from the EGCG it contains. EGCG has antioxidant agency, so it can help prevent oxidative damage to the body’s cells caused by free radicals, leading to a decrease in inflammation.
5. Resveratrol: Consumed straight from dark chocolate (yum), red wine, blueberries, and grapes, resveratrol is another great ingredient for supplements manufactured for people with chronic conditions like obesity, liver disease, and ulcerative colitis. While there are plenty of studies to observe, in one, resveratrol supplements lowered inflammatory markers, triglycerides, and blood sugar in people with obesity. As is the case with fish oil, it is important to advise customers to seek medical consult before consuming a resveratrol supplement, especially if they are taking a blood thinner.
Makers Nutrition, your contract manufacturing supplement solution
Choose one, choose all ingredients listed above, Makers Nutrition is here to serve you. Whether you wish to create a stress relief supporting supplement or healthy immune response product, we are the one-stop shop for all of your manufacturing needs and more. Our team seamlessly handles your project from quote request to finished product so you don’t have to experience the struggles you may have had with previous companies. Makers Nutrition is dedicated to getting your dietary supplement manufactured and packaged to perfection before hitting the warehouse for distribution. Call us today at 1-844-625-3771 to get started.