By Dr Marissa Janse van Rensburg
The short answer: A quality supplement lists every active ingredient with its form and its dose, uses the forms backed by research, skips fillers and artificial extras, tells you where ingredients come from, makes realistic claims and, ideally, is tested by an independent lab. If a brand hides any of that, the silence is your answer.
The uncomfortable truth about supplement regulation
Unlike medicines, supplements are not reviewed or approved before they reach a shelf. There is no body testing every tub before it goes on sale. Regulators tend to step in only after a problem is reported. That means a brand can launch a product, make vague claims and sell it for years without anyone independently checking what is actually inside.
That is not a reason to avoid supplements. It is a reason to be picky about which ones you buy.
The responsibility for quality sits with the brand. The responsibility for spotting it sits with you. Sounds daunting. It isn't, once you know what to look for.
What to actually look for in a quality supplement
Forget the shiny labels and the wellness buzzwords. These are the markers that matter.
Full ingredient transparency. Every active ingredient should be listed with its form (magnesium glycinate, not just "magnesium") and its dose. If a brand hides behind a "proprietary blend" without disclosing amounts, walk away. Politely, but walk.
Research-backed forms. Not all forms of a nutrient are equal. Magnesium glycinate is absorbed differently from magnesium oxide. Creatine monohydrate has decades of research behind it; the fancier forms mostly have marketing. A good brand tells you which form it uses and why.
No unnecessary fillers or additives. Artificial colours, sweeteners, preservatives and bulking agents serve the tub, not you. A clean label is not a luxury. It is the baseline.
Sourcing transparency. Where do the ingredients come from? Is the collagen grass-fed? Are the botanicals sustainably harvested? A brand that has done the work will not be shy about showing it.
Third-party testing. The strongest signal of quality is independent verification. Look for brands that test through external labs and share results. Certifications such as NSF, USP or Informed Sport add another layer of accountability.
Clear, honest claims. Quality brands do not promise miracles. They explain what a product does, what it does not do and what you can realistically expect. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Every time.
The 60-second supplement quality check
Before you buy any supplement, run it through these six questions:
- Can I see every ingredient and its dose on the label?
- Does the brand specify the form of each nutrient (glycinate versus oxide, monohydrate versus "advanced")?
- Are there artificial fillers, sweeteners or colours I cannot pronounce?
- Does the brand explain where its ingredients come from?
- Are the claims realistic, or does it sound like a miracle cure?
- Has the product been independently tested?
If the answer to any of these is no or unclear, you have your answer. Keep looking.
Why we are a bit obsessive about this
When we started Almost Monday, we saw the problem from the inside: too many products full of things that were not so great, wrapped in beautiful branding that made them look trustworthy. So we made a choice. We sourced. We researched. We tested. We tried again. And we only stopped when we were completely satisfied. We're a bit obsessive like that.
Every product we make lists its full ingredient panel with specific forms and doses. We use grass-fed hydrolysed collagen, creatine monohydrate and magnesium glycinate, the forms with the strongest evidence, not the cheapest alternatives. We include uniquely African botanicals, trusted for generations and sourced sustainably. And we do not add anything that does not serve a purpose. If we cannot pronounce it or recognise it, we're not interested.
If you are looking for a supplement brand in South Africa built on exactly these principles, that is us. The Good Morning, The Good Night, The Overachiever and The One with the Superhero Cape each list every ingredient, in the form used, at the dose included, with sourcing information available.
That is what clean actually means to us. Not because it is trendy. Because that is what clean should mean.
Frequently asked questions
What is a proprietary blend, and why is it a red flag? A proprietary blend lists ingredients together under one total weight without telling you how much of each is inside. It lets a brand feature an impressive ingredient at a dose too small to matter. Full disclosure is the standard to look for.
Are supplements regulated in South Africa? Complementary medicines in South Africa fall under SAHPRA, but the practical reality is that products are not individually tested before sale. Label transparency and independent testing are still your best protection.
What does third-party tested mean? An independent laboratory, not the brand itself, has tested the product to confirm it contains what the label says and is free of contaminants.
This article is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement routine.
Almost Monday. Wellness Without the Noise.