How to Read a Supplement Label (And Spot the Red Flags Instantly)

The front of a supplement packet can look reassuring — words like natural, clean, high strength and expertly formulated are everywhere.

But the real story is always on the back of the supplement label.

At Luthco, we don’t choose products based on branding or trends. Every supplement we stock goes through a simple but strict ingredient check — because what’s not included matters just as much as what is.

Here’s how to read a supplement label properly — and the red flags to look out for.

1. Start With the Supplement Label

Ingredients are listed in order of quantity.

If the first few ingredients are:

• Sweeteners

• Bulking agents

• Fillers

…that tells you the supplement is built around convenience or taste — not purity.

A clean supplement should prioritise the active nutrients first, not the extras.

2. Watch for Common Fillers & Additives

Many mainstream supplements contain ingredients that don’t add nutritional value, such as:

• Magnesium stearate

• Silicon dioxide

• Maltodextrin

• Artificial sweeteners

• Artificial colours or flavourings

These are often used to improve manufacturing speed or shelf life — not to support your body.

At Luthco, products containing unnecessary fillers simply don’t make the cut.

3. Check the Form of the Nutrient

Not all vitamins and minerals are created equal.

For example:

• Some forms are cheaper but poorly absorbed

• Others are chosen because they’re easier to stabilise, not because they’re optimal

We look for bioavailable, well-absorbed forms that make sense in the body — without making medical claims or overpromising results.

4. Fewer Ingredients Is Usually Better

A long ingredient list isn’t a sign of quality.

In fact, many of the cleanest supplements contain:

• One active ingredient

• A plant-based capsule shell (if needed)

• Nothing else

If you can’t recognise most of the ingredients, that’s your cue to pause.

5. “Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean Clean

This one surprises a lot of people.

Products can legally be labelled natural while still containing:]

• Highly processed ingredients

• Sweeteners

• Artificial flavourings

That’s why we don’t rely on marketing claims — we rely on ingredient transparency.

The Luthco Standard

We don’t believe supplements should:

• Taste like sweets

• Contain ingredients you don’t need

• Be confusing or misleading

Our role is simple:

✔ Read every label

✔ Question every ingredient

✔ Only stock products we’d use ourselves

If it isn’t clean, it doesn’t belong at Luthco.

Final Thought

You don’t need more supplements. You need better ones — with ingredients you trust.

And once you know how to read a label, you’ll never shop the same way again 🌿