Full ingredient info, and a few tips
Solar is a great brand in general. As a traditional naturopath I've been utilising Solgar products for over 20 years. They have been around since 1947, unlike many of the supplement brands/companies around today (many of which don't even produce supplements, they just get them private labelled from by a range of nutritional/pharmaceutical bottling companies). Solar products are in brown glass jars, which reduces damage from light, oxidation, and moisture (in general, it's a sign of a quality product). Solar is also very good at ensuring their products are free of common allergens, and great with listing what is NOT in the product. For instance, the Biotin 5000mcg is free of the following: Gluten, Wheat, Dairy, Soy, Yeast, Sugar, Sodium, Artificial Flavor, Sweetener, Preservatives and Color. As a vegetarian, I always choose veggie caps over gelatine. Although even if I was a health-conscious meat eater I would avoid gelatine caps as much as possible. I consider biotin to be an excellent nutrient for hair, skin, and nail health. Using it with a natural source of silica is also useful. 5000mcg would be considered a high dose of biotin. So consider this a high potency product. Because biotin in water soluable it's not likely you can take too much (within reason). Your body will eliminate what it can't utilise. It also means it is easier to be deficient in it. This review is not specifically about my experience with Solgar Biotin, because I can't objectively compare it to another source of biotin. However, I will say that I have found taking biotin on a daily basis noticeably improves the condition of my hair and nails. Stronger nails and less Hair loss when showering and brushing. But because benefits derived from supplements are somewhat subjective and very dependant on many other factors, I won't get into saying much about what taking biotin will or won't do for you. If you think supplementing with biotin might benefit you, I recommend trying it out and seeing what the results are (after a month or so). I know a significant number of people who see a significant improvement (especially with their hair) when using high-dose biotin. Actually the lady serving me at the post office recently was yet another case. My partner commented to the lady that she had very healthy looking nails. She replied that due to her auto-immune thyroid disease her hair, skin, and nails were previously terrible (weak nails, and significant Hair loss). BUT more recently (I am not sure how long, but perhaps a year or so) she had been taking 10,000mcg of biotin a day, and her skin, hair, and nails have improved to what they are now (which looked very good). This "review" is to simply provide the full product description. I find it a nuisance when food products don't have their full ingredients listed on the Amazon product page. If you also like to know exactly what you're putting in your body, this might save you from having to find this product on the Solgar site, like I just did. I am familiar with biotin and familiar with Solgar as a quality brand. So I am giving this product 5 stars. << FULL INGREDIENT INFO >> Here's the full product info from Solgar: - - - - - - - - Biotin 5000 mcg Vegetable Capsules Biotin is a water-soluble B-vitamin. It helps to promote healthy skin, nails and hair, and is necessary for certain enzymes to work properly. Biotin also supports energy production in the body, and is required for protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism.* Supplement Facts Serving Size: 1 Vegetable Capsule Amount Per Serving % DV Biotin 5000 mcg 1667% DV = Daily Value Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Vegetable Cellulose, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate, Silica. FREE OF: Gluten, Wheat, Dairy, Soy, Yeast, Sugar, Sodium, Artificial Flavor, Sweetener, Preservatives and Color. SUGGESTED USE: As a dietary supplement for adults, take one (1) vegetable capsule daily, preferably at mealtime, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition, please consult your healthcare practitioner before taking any dietary supplement. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not use if outer bottle seal is missing, torn or damaged in any way. Solgar's KOF-K certification # K-1250 - - - - - - - - - - << HAIR HEALTH SUGGESTIONS >> If taking Biotin to improve hair health (i.e. to reduce or reverse Hair loss, then using non-toxic hair products would be something else I recommend. I've not seen a mainstream hair product that doesn't have multiple toxic ingredients including detergents, preservatives, synthetic fragrances, etc. This includes all the common brands that have so-called "Natural" product lines. They typically add an insignificant amount of one or two plant based ingredients (such as an essential oil and herb extract) to their otherwise toxic shampoo base and then call it "natural". By "mainstream" I am referring to ALL the common brands found in supermarkets and the vast majority of hair solons (the exception might be a hair salon that has taken a special interest in stocking natural products, but I've never seen such a salon). One example of a relatively body friendly brand of hair products is Avalon Organics. There are many others, perhaps better that this bring. Here's a line in their range that has biotin in it. I have no idea if biotin applied externally is of any real value. I've not seen the scientific data backing up this concept, but I've not looked, so it may exist. Avalon Organics Biotin B Complex Thickening Shampoo 14 oz Avalon Organics Biotin B Complex Thickening Conditioner 14 oz I also suggest NOT showering (and hair washing) with chlorinated water. There are various shower filters that remove chlorine from the shower. The one I have used for 15 years or so is this one: Sprite HO-WH-M Universal Shower Filter and 3 Setting Shower Head, White . I find they work very well. Chlorine can irritate the scalp and skin in general. It also tends to dry out the hair. It can disrupt the sebaceous glands on the scalp and the may interfere with the hair follicles. I know many people who have found showering without chlorine makes a noticeable different in the health of their hair and skin (skin is less dry, eczema reduces, etc.) A source of silica many people report positive benefits from is Biosil. If you are taking biotin for skin/hair/nails, you may find it useful to try Biosil. Of course, if you want to know what is having what effect, it may be best to take biotin and Biosil apart (taking each for a month, for instance). I know it can be hard to resist though... and I tend to take various things at the same time and then use my intuition as a guide to what is helpful and what is not. I wish you all the best of health. - Jonathan Evatt Traditional Naturopath, and award-winning author of Peace, Power, and Presence: A guide to Self Empowerment, Inner Peace, and Spiritual Enlightenmen
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