The food supplement market is worth billions, unregulated, and full of promises. Every day we're bombarded with ads, influencer recommendations, and „miracle" formulas – but how many of us actually know what we're putting into our bodies?
As part of the „I am a Bulgarian woman, I know what I choose" campaign, we talk to someone who knows the industry from the inside: Samuela Valkova from Prolact – with over 10 years of experience as a food supplement manufacturer and one of the few voices in the sector openly calling for stricter regulations and a more educated consumer.
In this article you will learn:
- How to read a food supplement label and why a single letter can change everything
- Which manufacturer certifications actually matter and which are just „paper on the wall"
- Why not all forms of vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin E work equally well
- What microencapsulation is and how the technology affects absorption
- A message from Samuela that every woman needs to hear
You can watch the full interview with Samuela on our YouTube channel.
Where does a conscious choice actually begin?
Before we even open a package, Samuela puts something fundamental on the table. „The first and most important thing is what we actually need", she shares. „To identify, based on our lifestyle, where and what we're lacking."
Sounds simple. But we rarely do it.
Instead, we follow friends' recommendations, social media trends and advertisements, without ever asking the basic question: do I actually need this?
Samuela makes an important clarification: food supplements are supplements. Not substitutes. „A supplement cannot replace a full night's sleep. It cannot replace a balanced diet. But, given today's fast-paced lifestyle, it can help us manage the deficiencies that come from it."
The market is unregulated – and that's a problem
Here Samuela says something rarely heard from manufacturers. „I think I'm the only food supplement manufacturer you'll hear calling for more regulation in the sector", she notes.
Because the reality is: when you choose a food supplement, you're literally trusting the manufacturer's conscience. And if that's missing – the consequences are entirely yours.
Certifications matter
Samuela points out that not all certifications are equal. Here's what you should look for:
- GMP – a basic standard, relatively easy to achieve
- HACCP – focuses on food safety
- FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000 – certifications that indicate a genuine standard
„These certifications show not only food safety, but the entire flow of raw materials – what goes into and out of the facility", she explains.
The difference? FSSC-type certifications include surprise audits. „You never know when the inspecting body will show up." That's exactly what separates „paper on the wall" from a real quality system.
What to read on the label
After certifications comes the second critical point: the raw materials and their form.
Samuela gives a concrete example with vitamin E. „Vitamin E as D-alpha-tocopherol is absorbed very well by the human body. But if the label says D-L-alpha-tocopherol – one small 'L' – that's a completely different form, one that isn't absorbed nearly as well."
The same applies to vitamin D – and here Samuela doesn't miss the chance to mention that, as a consumer, she's very happy that RealFood started importing the Cytoplan product and vegan vitamin D. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is absorbed significantly better than D2 – and it's exactly these kinds of products that deserve attention.
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Three things to check before you buy:
- Manufacturer certifications – look for FSSC 22000 or ISO 22000
- Form of the active ingredient – not just the ingredient itself, but its bioavailable form
- Manufacturing technology – microencapsulation, liposomal delivery and similar processes increase absorption
The technology behind absorption – the things no one talks about
Samuela talks about microencapsulation – a process in which the active substance is coated with molecules (fats, polysaccharides, etc.) so that it is better preserved and absorbed.
Samuela shares that in probiotic production, each bacterium is coated with double protection – with proteins and mucopolysaccharides – so that the bacteria can survive passing through the stomach's low pH.
An example many people have come across: RealMagnesium by RealFood is exactly that – liposomal magnesium, where the molecule is coated with fatty substances for improved absorption. The difference compared to regular magnesium is noticeable.
When and how should we take supplements?
Consistency and timing matter, Samuela emphasizes.
„Vitamin D and fish oil are absorbed well after a meal rich in fat. Fat-soluble vitamins and substances should be taken after such a meal – that's the rule."
And something important: „You can't just take a supplement, leave it on the counter, and magically expect it to work." Regular intake is the key.
Your body is the one thing you can't replace
Perhaps the most powerful moment in the conversation is when Samuela makes a comparison that changes the way you look at the topic.
„I see people who take much better care of their cars than of their bodies. You wouldn't put bad oil in your car. You wouldn't wait until the tank is running on fumes before you refuel it. So why do we do that to our bodies?"
Our body, she notes, is the one constant thing in our lives. Clothes, hairstyles, jobs – everything can change. The body – can't.
A message to women
At the end of the conversation, Samuela offers a message that feels so necessary in today's world of endless standards and perfect social media routines.
„You are enough, and you're doing enough."
„We live in a time when dozens of ads constantly tell us: you're not enough, you're not doing enough, you don't have the right routine. I want to tell women: you're doing fine. Start small. Clean food has no label. Bananas have no label. Vegetables have no label."
Making an informed choice is a habit that builds gradually – at the store, in front of the supplements shelf, at the doctor's, with nutritionists.
