Q. How do you ensure the quality, potency and purity of your products? 
We have stringent specifications for each of our products. All of our botanicals are sustainably sourced, either through regional wild-crafting techniques or confirmed sustainable farming practices, and are free of pesticides and harmful chemicals. Harvesting takes place at the proper time and season, using strategies that maximize the phytochemical benefits each plant has to offer. We feature patented Albion® mineral amino acid chelates and Grow Company Naturized™ nutrients, world leaders in innovative nutrient technology. Backed by years of extensive research, clinical analysis, and third-party critiques, these premier companies produce highly absorbable, effective nutrients.
Each ingredient is tested for potency and purity, utilizing the most technologically advanced laboratory equipment and scientifically validated methods, such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). This ensures that our products are free of dangerous microbes and heavy metals, and that active ingredients are present at optimum levels. Our raw materials are then properly stored at the correct temperature and relative humidity levels in order to ensure stability until the manufacturing process is complete. Our finished products are once again tested for purity, and are issued a Certificate of Analysis (C of A) to confirm composition.
All Natura products are manufactured and stored in facilities that are compliant with the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for dietary supplement manufacturers. GMPs are practices that manufacturers must adhere to; this assures that our products have been tested to be safe, manufactured to our specifications for potency, and stored to ensure stability.
Q. Are any of your products made in China?
No.
Q. Do any of your ingredients originate from China?
Yes. Some herbs that we feature in our formulas (e.g. Chinese skullcap) are cultivated in China, where they are a native species and therefore produce the best quality material. Like all of our raw materials, these herbs are tested for both purity and potency to ensure that they meet our standards for quality.
Q. What is the shelf life of your products?
All products are clearly stamped with a lot number and corresponding expiration or manufacturing date on the bottom of the bottle. Products with manufacturing dates are good for 2 years.
Q. Do any of your formulas require refrigeration?
Yes. Complete Omega Essentials should be refrigerated after opening.
Q. Are any of your ingredients organic?
Yes, we choose certified organic or sustainably harvested wild-crafted botanical extracts whenever possible. Wild-crafted herbs are sometimes chosen over their cultivated counterparts as certain species produce a superior active constituent profile when wild-crafted in their native habitat.
Q. I notice some formulas are offered in two different forms, for example, tincture and capsules. How do the dosages compare?
Vital Adapt, Power Adapt: 1 capsule is equivalent to 1 ml (1 dropper or 30 drops)
Q. Do any of your formulas contain allergens such as soy or wheat gluten?
Yes. While the majority of our formulas do not contain any of the top eight common allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat), a limited number of exceptions have been made. All allergens are clearly identified directly beneath the “Supplement Facts” panel for easy identification.
Q. Are Natura's products gluten-free?
Yes. All our products are gluten-free.
Q. Do any of your products contain soy?
Yes. Complete Omega Essentials contains non-GMO soy derived ingredients.
Q. Do any of your products contain dairy?
Yes. Beyond Whey
Q. Are Natura products GMO-free?
Yes. All products are GMO-free.
Q. Are there any contraindications for taking your formulas along with prescription medications?
We highly recommend discussing all dietary and herbal supplementation with the health care provider who prescribed the medication.
Q. Are your formulas safe for pregnant or nursing mothers?
We highly recommend discussing all dietary and herbal supplementation with your primary health care provider when pregnant or nursing.
Q. Do any of your products contain ingredients banned for athletes?
All of our formula ingredients are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and none of them are on the current list of banned supplements. Donald Yance and Natura co-formulator Dr. Ben Tabachnik have created nutritional sports performance protocols using our formulas for many professional elite athletes. Nevertheless, because competitive sports regulations are continually evolving, we recommend consulting with an expert in the specific sport of interest for the most up-to-date information.
Q. What makes your Naturized® food grown nutrients better than other supplements?
Naturized® food grown nutrients are whole food nutrients that possess a form readily absorbed and utilized by the body. They are produced through a unique process that results in a highly bio-available nutrient. Read more about Naturized® ingredients here.
Q. Can you safely combine Natura products?
Yes. Our products are generally safe to use together. The entire product line was designed for both standalone/individual applications as well as in combination. Some are even referred to as “companion formulas” signifying specific synergistic relationships that yield improved results.
Q. I see several of your formulas contain licorice, and I’m concerned about it elevating my blood pressure.
Licorice has a long history in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that goes back thousands of years. It is found in over half of their traditional formulas. As in TCM, licorice in Natura formulations is used primarily as a harmonizing agent, helping to create synergy between the formulas constituents. The amount of licorice utilized is very small, generally composing 2-3% of the formula. Used as directed, this delivers a dosage of glycyrrhizic acid that is far below the threshold known to induce blood pressure elevation.
Q. Do you have a specific protocol for ________?
Natura is prohibited by law from answering questions regarding disease specific application. Answers to these types of questions depend on a variety of factors and should be addressed by a qualified health care professional. Click here for a list of practitioners familiar with our product line.
Q. Is there gluten in your grain alcohol?
No. Pure grain alcohol does not contain any gluten. Grain alcohol is produced through a distillation process; therefore, when the alcohol is distilled, it is completely separated from any grain used to produce it during fermentation. Alcohol is volatile, which means it becomes a gas when heated during the distillation process. Once transformed, the alcohol molecules enter a curved distillation tube, the molecules cool, and then condense back into purified liquid alcohol. The alcohol then drains out into a sterile vessel for collection. It is impossible for any trace of gluten to make this journey. Gluten is incapable of becoming a gas; therefore, it is left behind with all other non-volatile materials utilized in the distillation process.
Q. What is Prop 65?
California's Proposition 65 FAQs
You may have seen warning labels on some of our products sold in California. These labels were added to ensure compliance with California’s Proposition 65 and to continue providing high quality botanical and nutritional supplements to our California customers. Please read below for more information about Prop 65 and the testing and safety of our products.
What is Prop 65?
In 1986, California voters approved an initiative called the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act - better known as Proposition 65. This proposition requires companies to place warning labels on products containing certain levels of substances. Each year a list of these substances is updated and published. The list has grown to include over 800 substances and includes additives or ingredients in pesticides, common household products, food, drugs, dyes, solvents, heavy metals, and even Vitamin A at particular levels.
Why is there a Prop 65 warning label on your product?
You will see a warning label on one of our products because it contains more than 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving or recommended daily dose. This is an exceedingly low level that is 1000 times lower than the level of exposure that has been shown to have no observable effect on humans or animals.
Another product is labeled due to the naturally occuring trace amounts of lovastatin (monacolin K) in red yeast rice. This is not a drug that has been added to the product and is a naturally occuring compound that appears in oyster mushrooms and red yeast rice.
Do you intentionally add lead to your products?
No. Natura does not add lead in any of our products. Lead is an element that exists in nature and can commonly be found in the soil, plants and water. It is widely distributed through the environment, therefore, is commonly eaten in foods and found throughout the food supply. It is not intentionally added to naturally grown foods or ingredients contained in our nutritional supplements. Natura’s products are formulated with botanicals grown in nature, which contain very low levels of lead.
Here are some examples of lead content found in common foods. The food listed below is a small example of common foods that would require a prop 65 warning if the law was applied to food as it is to supplements:
|
Food |
Median mcg/serving |
Highest found |
Serving Size |
|
Spinach, fresh/frozen |
1.47 |
7.03 |
4 oz. serving |
|
Sweet Potatoes, fresh/baked |
1.59 |
7.26 |
4 oz. serving |
|
Lettuce, leaf, raw |
0.57 |
1.59 |
4 oz. serving |
|
Fruit juice blend (100% juice) |
0.85 |
2.38 |
6 oz. serving |
|
Bread, cracked wheat |
0.68 |
2.38 |
6 oz. serving |
Data from US Food & Drug Administration, Total Diet Study – Elements Results Summary Statistics, Market Baskets 2006-2011 http://www.fda.gov/downloads/food/foodscienceresearch/totaldietstudy/ucm184301.pdf
The law governing Prop 65 is not uniformly enforced. The same law that applies to supplements does not apply to food. If Prop 65 applied to common foods, the majority of produce purchased at the grocery store would require a warning label.
How do you test for heavy metals?
Each ingredient contained in our formulas is tested for potency and purity, utilizing the most advanced laboratory equipment and scientifically validated methods, such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). This ensures that our products are free of dangerous microbes and heavy metals, and that active ingredients are at optimum therapeutic levels.
How do Prop 65 levels compare with other safety standards?
Other countries and safety organizations have reviewed known studies and scientific evidence to produce safety guidelines, which determine the levels of heavy metals that can be consumed on a daily basis without causing harm. The Prop 65 levels are among the most stringent. In comparison, as Prop 65 allows for 0.5 micrograms of lead per day, the United States FDA allows 75 micrograms per day, the FAO/WHO and EU allow for 250 micrograms per day.
Does the Prop 65 label mean your products are unsafe?
No. Our products are very safe. We have stringent specifications for each of our products. From the way the plants are grown and harvested, to the way the ingredients are processed, our botanical ingredients are sustainably sourced and are free of pesticides and harmful chemicals.
We also choose manufacturers who are compliant with the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) and who have demonstrated their ability to properly prepare a distinct formulation to our stringent specifications. Our finished products are once again tested for purity, and are issued a Certificate of Analysis (C of A) to confirm composition.
Do I have any reason to be concerned?
You should always be aware of product warnings and your exposure to toxic chemicals and their impact on your health. As the State of California’s own Prop 65 website states ”A Proposition 65 warning does not necessarily mean a product is in violation of any product-safety standards and requirements.”
The FDA’s “Recommended Safe and Tolerable Daily Diet Lead intake” for adults is 75 mcg. This is 150 times higher than the tolerable Prop 65 amount and yet the FDA considers it safe.
Keep in mind that a warning label does not automatically mean the product is unsafe for consumption.
Why did you decide to put the warning label on certain products?
- Natura is committed to complying with all federal and state laws, including Prop 65.
- We strive to produce the highest quality and most potent and effective products on the market. If changes were made to our formulas to adhere to Prop 65’s stringent standards, our products would be less effective. We will not compromise the quality of our products and ingredients under any circumstance; therefore, we have made the choice to place the warning labels on particular products.
- We want to maintain and protect your access to whole herbs contained in our formulas.
What products are currently on the Prop 65 list?
- Digest Mend™
- Cho-Less®
- N-Liven
We hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions regarding Proposition 65 or our formulas, please contact our Customer Service team using the contact form or by calling 541.488.0210 and pressing 1.