Frequently Asked Questions
All NewMark Supplements
Q: What makes your whole food vitamins and minerals better than conventional supplements?
A: NewMark’s Synbiotic Nutrients™ deliver vitamins and minerals in the form of probiotically cultured whole food rather than the chemical forms found in conventional vitamin and mineral supplements. Research has shown that nutrients from cultured foods are more potent, bioavailable, and safer than the synthesized or isolated forms. Synbiotic Nutrients are also the only line of nutritional supplements made with at least 70% organic ingredients and certified by a third party to the USDA’s National Organics Program.
Q: Vitamins usually upset my stomach; will I have this difficulty with NewMark's vitamins and minerals?
A: Unlike conventional vitamins and minerals, NewMark’s vitamins and minerals are food. Better yet, they are pre-digested, organic cultured food. So when you take NewMark vitamins your stomach is NOT empty: it has inside it a good friend – cultured organic food – waiting to be comfortably digested. NewMark’s Organic Synbiotic Nutrients are also rich in ferment metabolites, bacteriocins and plant enzymes, and they are thus soothing to the entire gastrointestinal tract and promote digestion, detoxification and elimination.
Q: How does NewMark ensure the quality, purity and potency of their products?
A: NewMark’s Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Regulatory Compliance team have over 47 years combined experience divided equally between NewMark and related industry experience. From Paul Schulick, NewMark’s Founder & Chairman, down through the organization, all NewMark Associates share in our commitment to quality. NewMark requires that all lots of raw materials used for the manufacture of our products are tested for potency markers, heavy metal contamination and/or microbiological content. Our co-processors forward this information on a Certificate of Analysis for our approval prior to use or shipping. We randomly verify information contained on C of A’s through third-party laboratory analysis. NewMark does finished product testing on weights, potency, marker assays, micro and heavy metals. We also do expiration date testing on a random basis for the duration of declared shelf life: 18 months to 3 years.
Q: Why are NewMark's potencies lower than conventional pharmaceutical supplements?
A: Short answer: they are not. We reject the theory that supplementation must be taken in huge doses of inert or bi-phasic isolated vitamins. It is a common misunderstanding that milligrams measure potency. They do not! Milligrams measure only weight and do not reflect cellular activity. NewMark’s Organic Synbiotic Nutrients™ deliver biotransformed vitamins and minerals in their finest cultured form, much in the same way as miso, kefir, tempeh, and yogurt. Research consistently demonstrates that NewMark’s Organic Probiotic Nutrients are more active than conventional isolated or synthetic vitamins.
Q: Does NewMark offer supplements for children?
A: NewMark products were not specifically designed for children but the following may be safely administered under the guidance of a healthcare practitioner: Advanced Omega 1000, Ginger Tonic, and Fruits ‘n Greens.
Q: Are any of your products made China?
A: No.
Allergens
Q:Are NewMark's products gluten-free?
A: Yes. All NewMark products are naturally gluten-free.
Q: Should I be concerned about products containing maltodextrin if I have a food allergy or sensitivity to corn?
A: Generally, corn allergies or sensitivities are a response to the protein portion of the grain, and since maltodextrin is derived from corn starch, it rarely creates immune responses in individuals sensitive to corn protein. However, trace amounts of the protein may be present and we recommend that individuals speak with their health care practitioners about their personal experience with products containing maltodextrin to determine if they are appropriate.
Q: Should individuals susceptible to Candida overgrowth take Synbiotic Nutrients or eat fermented foods?
A: There is a misunderstanding about the relationship between Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The truth is that probiotic organisms like Saccharomyces and Lactobacillus have evolved to produce compounds which support healthy microbial balance.* These valuable compounds are secreted into the culturing medium during the creation of NewMark’s Synbiotic Nutrients and delivered in the final product. Thus, it would be highly beneficial for anyone concerned about maintaining normal levels of Candida to include Synbiotic Nutrients in their daily regimen.
Q: Do any of your products contain dairy?
A: None of the NewMark formulas contain dairy.
Soy
Q: I don't do well with soy foods. Since NewMark’s Synbiotic Nutrients are cultured in a soy media, will they agree with me?
A: Although true soy allergies are very rare, many people have difficulty digesting unfermented soy. Whole, unprocessed soy contains nutrient blocking factors, such as phytate, which interfere with its potential benefits. Fermented soy, on the other hand, agrees with almost everyone, even people with soy sensitivities. Probiosis of soy also changes isoflavones from inert forms into their activated aglycone genestein, dadzein, and glycitein forms.
Q: Is the soy in your Synbiotic Nutrient formulas safe for someone at high risk for breast cancer?
A: Yes. NewMark’s Synbiotics deliver non-GMO organic soy in its fermented whole-food form, similar to miso, tempeh and natto. Unlike unfermented soy or isolated soy components, these traditional soy foods have been consumed for thousands of years and are associated with the health and longevity of traditional Asian cultures. Many research studies suggest that regular consumption of fermented soy is associated with numerous health benefits, including the maintenance of normal cell growth in breast tissue.*
Q: Is the soy in your Synbiotic Nutrient formulas safe for someone with a sluggish or hypo functioning thyroid?
A: Yes. A recent peer-reviewed scientific review of fourteen clinical trials examining the effects of soy on the thyroid concluded that in the absence of an iodine deficiency, there is little evidence that soy foods or soy isoflavones adversely affect thyroid function and that “hypothyroid individuals need not avoid soy foods.” In fact, some studies suggest that soy may actually promote normal thyroid cell growth. To help ensure healthy thyroid function, our Synbiotic Nutrients contain a whole-food form of iodine.
Product Usage
Q: Can I take NewMark products if I am also taking prescription medications?
A: NewMark™cannot provide information about combining prescription medicines with herbal or nutritional supplements. We suggest you always advise your prescribing physician or pharmacist about the use of dietary or herbal supplements. Only he or she can determine the risk for herb-drug interactions and supervise your response to the prescribed therapy*. You may also want to consider consulting with a qualified expert in herbal and nutritional therapy on this matter. For a referral database of licensed Naturopathic Physicians and Holistic Medical Doctors in your area, please visit: www.naturopathic.org or www.holisticmedicine.org. Herb-drug interactions have been identified with respect to a handful of herbs and vitamins, however the vast majority of this information remains unknown. While herbal medicine has experienced a long history of safe use, this history has not included many of the modern pharmaceutical medications that are frequently used today. By making your health care provider aware of your supplement regimen, you are protecting yourself from any known potential interactions and allowing for any future information on this topic to come to light.
Q: Can I take NewMark products if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
A: Prenatal Synbiotic Nutrients, Advanced Omega 1000, Ginger Tonic, Fruits ‘n Greens, DART Immune, and Botani-Cal Complex are the only products NewMark recommends for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Although many herbs and nourishing whole foods have long been used to promote health and comfort during pregnancy, the majority have simply not been thoroughly evaluated in clinical studies for safety during this cherished phase in a woman's life. Therefore, we suggest that pregnant or breastfeeding women use any of our products only after consulting with their health care provider or qualified expert in herbal and nutritional medicine.
Q: Why do you recommend taking NewMark’s Full Spectrum herbal extracts in the middle of a meal?
A: These herbal extracts, formulated by Founder & Chairman Paul Schulick, contain medicinal spices like those grown at our Costa Rican certified organic farm. These healing herbs are extracted using a dense, superfluid form of carbon dioxide and are concentrated up to 300 times. Although it is safe to take our supercritical extracts on an empty stomach, we recommend taking them with meals, as they may create a slightly warming feeling in the stomach for some individuals who are not used to such concentrated healing spices. When taken with a meal, that healing heat will work to activate phytonutrients in the herbs while facilitating optimal digestion.
Q: Do I need to refrigerate NewMark's products containing live probiotics: Fruits ‘n Greens, Gastro Complete, and Blueberry Probiotic Complex?
A: NOT UNTIL AFTER THESE PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN OPENED, NewMark's "live active culture" probiotics are designed to be shelf-stable in their growth medium and deliver the labeled potency of probiotic species for the life of the product. To maintain optimal effectiveness, we suggest refrigerating all live probiotics after opening and using them before the date on bottle.
Specific Products
Q: Why were the Men’s and Women’s Synbiotic Nutrient multi-vitamins reformulated?
A: In early 2010, NewMark launched a newly reformulated series of Men’s and Women’s Synbiotic Nutrient multi-vitamins. Driving the reformulation was the desire to incorporate the latest innovations in whole-food nutrient sourcing, update nutrient levels based on the most current science, deliver more herbal support, and enhance compliance by reducing the number of tablets required per serving. Examples of these changes include:
- An increase in the level of probiotic vitamin D3 in all multi-vitamins from 400 IU per serving to 1000 IU which is the amount of vitamin D most nutritional experts now believe is required on a daily basis for maintaining healthy blood levels
- The addition of Lithothamnium, a sea algae featured in our Botani-Cal Complex, as a whole-food source of bioavailable calcium and magnesium
- The addition of MenaQ7, the only clinically researched form of vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is now understood to be essential for proper calcium utilization throughout the body.
- A change in the serving size of Men’s Synbiotic Nutrients and Women’s Synbiotic Nutrients from 3 tablets to 2 tablets.
- An increase in the total amount of herbal support in Women’s Synbiotic ONE and Men’s Synbiotic ONE from 12 mg to 100 mg
Q: What is InflamaSYN™?
A: InflamaSYN™ is an extensively researched patented formulation comprised of specialized extracts of ten herbs and spices, many of which have been used for thousands of years by millions of people to promote health and longevity. The product was formulated based on a large body of scientific research showing that these ten herbs contain hundreds of plant compounds that support a healthy inflammation response.* The herbs are delivered in their whole form, as they are found in the diet, rather than isolated plant constituents, and many are extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide to concentrate the herbal constituents and maximize their effectiveness. InflamaSYN is currently being researched at Columbia University and the Cleveland Clinic. It enjoys enthusiastic world-wide support from physicians and patients alike.
Q: Does InflamaSYN support connective tissue health or just modulate inflammation?
A: Both! InflamaSYN works to promote a healthy inflammation response, which is required for maintaining the health of joint cartilage.
Q: Is Advanced Omega 1000 independently tested for purity and potency?
A: Yes, Advanced Omega 1000 is tested by independent laboratories for peroxides/TOTOX value (measures of freshness), heavy metals, PCB, and dioxins. The results confirm that the oil meets and exceeds the Norwegian Medicinal Standard as well as the standards set by the Council for Responsible Nutrition and GOED for heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins and freshness. Advanced Omega 1000 is also tested to verify the levels of fatty acids, vitamin D and astaxanthin claimed on the label.
Q: Why does it state on the label not to refrigerate Advanced Omega 1000?
A: Refrigeration may cause the oil to precipitate making it appear cloudy, however, the quality or beneficial effects of the oil will not be negatively affected.
Q: Is the amount of omega 3s delivered in a serving of Advanced Omega 1000 enough?
A: Many nutritional experts, including the American Heart Association, recommend that healthy individuals consume 2 servings of fish per week or 250-500 mg of omega 3s per day. Every 2 gram serving of Advanced Omega 1000 delivers the 500 mg of omega 3 fatty acids from wild-Alaskan salmon along with other beneficial omegas and vital nutrients such as vitamin D and astaxanthin. When taken daily, it provides on a weekly basis the equivalent amount of EPA and DHA contained in two and half servings (3.5 oz) of wild Alaskan salmon. Thus, Advanced Omega 1000 provides a convenient means of obtaining the food-form and food-dose omega 3s so many experts recommend.
Q: Is the 770 mg of calcium provided in a serving in Botani-Cal Complex enough to meet my body’s daily calcium needs?
A: The recommended calcium intake for adults is 1000-1300 milligrams per day and is inclusive of both dietary and supplemental calcium. Since the average diet supplies roughly 500-600 mg of calcium a day, it is only necessary to supplement the remaining 500-800 mg per day. A serving of NewMark’s Botani-Cal Complex provides 770 mg of elemental calcium from Lithothamnium, a sea plant rich in bioavailable calcium. Therefore, combined with dietary calcium, one serving of Botani-Cal Complex (3 tablets) a day allows one to meet the calcium recommendations being made by their physician and other health authorities.
Q: Is DART Immune best used on a daily basis or acutely?
A: Ideally, it is best to take one DART Immune lozenge daily to help maintain healthy immune health. However, the product can also be used to support defenses when they are challenged. If using the product in this way, we suggest taking 2-4 lozenges daily.
Q: Why did NewMark reformulate its mushroom product?
A: NewMark is dedicated to delivering the most effective and innovative dietary supplements available. This requires continual evaluation of available science and raw materials. With our new Immune Defense formula we were able to introduce several new innovations to mushroom supplementation. First, Immune Defense only contains species of mushrooms supported by both science and tradition. Next is the delivery of the whole mushroom lifecycle – the mycelium, extracellular exudates, fruiting bodies and spores. Each stage of a mushroom’s life cycle adds unique and critical nutrients, which leads to greater activity and protection. Unfortunately, some growers interrupt mushrooms’ life cycles after just two weeks. But NewMark’s Immune Defense is grown for the full cycle -- up to 90 days – to deliver the mushroom’s whole protective shield. Third is the use of superior strains of mushrooms or mushrooms that are selected for the highest Growth Potential. By using such high quality strains, NewMark offers yet another innovation and a natural products industry first: a mushroom formula grown and crafted exclusively in the USA that guarantees potency with a minimum level of 15% beta-glucans.
Q: Is it true that mushrooms must be extracted with hot water in order to provide health benefits?
A: No, the mushroom constituents delivered in hot water extracts have not been proven to be any more bioavailable than from the dry heat-treated whole mushroom powders featured in NewMark’s Immune Defense. Both processes serve to break down cell wall chitin so that the biologically active polysaccharides, such as beta-glucans, can be absorbed and used by the body. Because not all mushroom constituents are soluble in water (i.e. triterpenes and sterols), the obvious drawback to hot water extracts is that they do not deliver the full-spectrum of mushroom bioactives. NewMark takes a holistic approach to mushroom therapy. We believe that the greatest benefits for immune, respiratory, cognitive and liver health as well as overall vitality will be achieved when the whole protective shield of mushroom compounds from the mycelia, fruiting body, spores and ferment metabolites are delivered. And, because NewMark Immune Defense is Potency Assured to provide a minimum of 15% beta-1,3/1,6-glucans, optimum benefit is guaranteed.
Q: Why is there sugar in DART Candida?
A: DART Candida has less than one half gram carbohydrates per serving – most come from the excipients, but a good percentage (40%) comes from the actual cranberry extract. The small amount of carbohydrates present in DART Candida has not been shown to affect the efficacy of the products microbial balancing properties.
Q: Are all of your products organic?
A: Not yet! Currently, close to half of our products are either certified organic or made with at least 70% organic ingredients. As a certified organic company NewMark is committed to the organic movement and will continue to source the finest organic ingredients whenever possible. Please refer to the product label or catalog information for the organic status of individual products.
Q: Are your products GMO-free?
A: Approximately 75% of all NewMark products have been verified as fully compliant to the Non-GMO Project Standard. To date, NewMark is the only supplement company to have achieved this breadth of compliance.
Q: Are your products vegan?
A: All of the following NewMark products are considered vegan: Baikal Skullcap FSE, Cruciferous Complex, Fruits ‘n Greens, GWT 1000, Rhodiolaforce 100, Blueberry Probiotic Complex, Gastro Complete, DART Candida, DART Immune, and E and Selenium.
NewMark’s Synbiotic Nutrients™ Made with Organic Ingredients do not meet strict vegan standards as the vitamin D utilized for culturing with organic whole food ingredients in our vitamin D-containing products is derived from wool wax.
The following Synbiotic Nutrient formulas contain vitamin D: Men’s Synbiotic Nutrients, Men’s Synbiotic ONE, Women’s Synbiotic Nutrients, Women’s Synbiotic ONE, Prenatal Synbiotic Nutrients, and Botani-Cal Complex.
Q: Is NewMark certified by a third-party?
A: Yes, NewMark is certified by several third parties. We are GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) registered by NSF International, the world's leading expert in independent GMP audits and product safety. Additionally, NewMark and many of its co-processors are certified to the standards of the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP), as well as, in certain instances, the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) and the European Organic Standard (EEC 2092/91). The third party agency providing NewMark's limited organic certification is by International Certification Services (ICS). Luna Nueva, our organic ginger and turmeric farm in Costa Rica, is certified biodynamic by Demeter International, the largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture and the oldest traditional organic certification in Europe. NewMark follows all GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) protocols for GMP compliance and is currently operating under the FDA's guidelines as mandated in 21 CFR for the food industry Parts 100 - 169. We also have a certified Site License with Health Canada's Natural Health Products Directorate, which we renew every year.
Q: Why do you use animal-based softgels instead of vegetarian capsules in many of your full spectrum extract herbals?
A: Because full spectrum extracts are so highly concentrated, they will dissolve most vegetarian capsules.
Q: Is there a way to get relief from hormonal imbalances without taking HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or phytoestrogen supplements?
A: FHB (Female Hormone Balance) supports both pre- and post-menopausal hormone imbalances. FHB contains full spectrum, whole-herb extracts of schizandra, ginger, black cohosh, chastetree and rosemary. The phytonutrients in these herbs safely promote hormone balance, inactivate free radicals associated with aging, and modulate 5-lipoxygenase, thereby promoting normal bone growth and breast health. Supercritically extracted Evening Primrose oil, providing a rich source of the Omega 6 fatty acid GLA, is also added to FHB to support hormonal health.
If you are seeking to support hormone balance in the body, you might also want to consider suggesting NewMark’s Women’s Synbiotic Nutrients for a balanced broad spectrum multi-vitamin supplement and Cruciferous Complex to support the liver’s role in maintaining hormone balance and detoxification.
Q: What is DARTvision™ technology?
A: DARTvision™ is a breakthrough analytical tool that allows for the accurate identification of the full range of chemistries in a botanical. Information provided by DARTvision™ can help to identify key bioactive chemistries in a botanical. DARTvision™ analysis verifies that herbal extracts created using a chemical-free extraction process are dose-assured i.e. contain the same profile and potency of critical components in every dose. NewMark is the only nutraceutical company currently selling herbal extracts researched with DARTvision™.