Frequently Asked Questions

We typically recommend specific products from brands over entire brand lines for supplements. Brands can have certain ingredients that are not GWE approved (refer to our Ingredient Glossary) or may not be using bioavailable forms of the nutrients.

Sugar is sugar, but the difference with unrefined sugars is they are minimally-processed and maintain all or most of its nutrients overall. Sugar is addictive and too much of ANY sugar can cause inflammation, the underlying cause of almost all diseases. If you are going to consume sugar, we recommend unrefined sugar as much as possible. The best unrefined sugars are maple syrup, honey, date sugar, date syrup, and coconut sugar.

It’s important to note that these two supplements work in different ways.

Probiotics over time will change the composition of your gut microbiome and help to increase the good bacteria that live and thrive in your gut..

When looking for a probiotic, we believe that spore-based are best. These are soil-based and highly resistant to harsh conditions (aka your stomach acid). They have a shell over them until they reach your digestive tract alive, so they work better than lactic acid (the most common form of probiotics, also known as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains), which can’t survive stomach acid unless they are in a specialized capsule. 

Digestive enzymes work immediately to break down your meals and aid indigestion without altering the gut microbiome.

Using both a probiotic and digestive enzyme together maximizes their benefits, with probiotics setting the stage for gut health and enzymes ensuring efficient nutrient absorption.

No, organic doesn\’t always mean the product is clean or healthy. Organic farming avoids conventional pesticides (like glyphosate) and fertilizers, but the “organic” label doesn\’t address factors like additives, preservatives, and ingredients in the product. Organic also uses organic certified pesticides. It’s still important to look at labels, even when buying products that are organic. 

Gums thicken or bind ingredients in products. Almost all gums are lab-made and overly processed. Gums can be highly disruptive to the gut and can potentially worsen any gut issues you already have.

Gums we recommend avoiding: Carob Bean or Locust Bean, Carrageenan, Cellulose Gum, Gellan Gum, Guar Gum and Xanthan Gum

Gums we recommend consuming in moderation: Agar Gum, made from red algae and Acacia Gum (aka Gum Arabic or Acacia Fiber), made from the sap of acacia trees.

To identify greenwashing, lookout for unregulated buzzwords like \”green\” or \”natural\” on product packaging or websites. It’s most important to do your own research as many products labeled as eco-friendly, clean, and non-toxic may still contain harmful chemicals. 

The best way to identify if a product is non-toxic or not is to look up the ingredients in the product. 

Bookmark the GWE comprehensive Ingredient Glossary with over 900 ingredients (and growing)! 

Remember, you don’t have to do everything all at once. Your non-toxic lifestyle change should be sustainable. Small changes add up to a big impact, so start with one or two key swaps and gradually continue as your budget allows.

Prioritize the things you use everyday like cookware, water filters and air purifiers – then move on to other products. Shopping sales as you see them like Black Friday/Cyber Monday is also another opportune time to make swaps because brands typically offer their largest percentage off.

Here are some quick tips: 

• The best materials for furniture are wood, wool, and fibers like jute.
• When selecting mattresses, make sure the finished product is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) Certified. A GOTS certified mattress is made with at least 95% organic content and meets strict environmental and social standards. 
• Look for brands that do not use flame retardants in their products, most commonly found in mattresses and upholstery.

Candles are a staple of most homes, but are also one of the most toxic products. Candles emit toxins into the air as they burn, so ditch conventional candles for:

• Coconut wax, beeswax, or organic soy candles
• A wood or 100% cotton wick
• Organic essential oils or naturally-derived fragrance that are transparent with what exactly is in them.

Click here for the best non-toxic candles on Amazon. 

Determining the credibility of a supplement company involves more than just looking at ingredients. 

Follow these steps when vetting brands (which may include emailing them): 

1. Start by looking at the ingredients
2. Review the inactive ingredients as this is where you will find a lot of sneaky ingredients
3. Verify that the company conducts third-party testing and request the Certificate of Analysis (COA). On the COA, look for a date within the last 2 years and ideally the lab name as this indicates that the company is actually third party testing vs. just saying they do and what exactly they are testing for.

We’ve personally contacted over 200 brands for optimal transparency and quality. It is a red flag if companies say they cannot share COAs, especially due to confidential information, as all confidential information and formulations can be hidden.

It is recommended to undergo yearly blood tests as they are the most reliable method to identify the specific supplements your body needs. These tests can usually be conducted through your primary care doctor. It\’s advisable to call your insurance company before scheduling bloodwork to make sure it is covered and what your out of pocket expenses may be.

For more affordable options, consider services like Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, and Any Lab Test Now, which offer out-of-pocket walk-in blood work.

Working with a doctor, especially one who specializes in functional or integrative medicine, is highly recommended. Their unique approach to analyzing blood work and their emphasis on holistic, root-cause solutions differentiate them from conventional medical practices.

Start by looking for common red flag ingredients like gums, sugars (anything that ends with -ose is a sugar), and natural flavors. Typically a product will have one of these so it’s easy to skim the label and if you see one, you know to leave it behind.

Read the label! Don\’t be deceived by the information on the front of the packaging because there is so much greenwashing in the industry. 

Instead, flip the product around and look at the ingredient list. Start by looking for common red flag ingredients like gums, sugars and natural flavors. Typically a product will have one of these so it’s easy to skim the label and if you see one ditch it! 

GWE’s free Ingredient Glossary has over 900 ingredients spanning across food, supplements, beauty, and household products to help you become an ingredient label expert. Bookmark this page on your phone + desktop!

While these ingredients may be recognized as “safe”, the research we have conducted has influenced decisions on what is considered clean/non-toxic and what should be avoided. Ultimately, the choice is personal, and this glossary is intended to serve as a guide for becoming an informed consumer.