Herbs versus Vitamins

Herbs and botanicals have a somewhat distinct position within dietary supplements. Many other supplements, such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids are essential nutrients or bodily substances. Herbs (and botanicals) are not. The use of herbs for health should be seen as an extra: the body can do without them but can benefit greatly from them. And so herbs are also used in cooking; food without herbs can be fine but with herbs it becomes tastier, nicer and can also keep food longer.

Thousands of years of health support

Herbs also have a much longer history than vitamins, for example. Most vitamins have been known for barely a hundred years and have only been used more widely for a few decades while the use of herbs for health has a rich tradition of thousands of years.

Much scientific research with herbs

The use of herbs as dietary supplements has been on the rise for several years. In previous decades, the "alternative herb corner" image prevailed but that is no longer the case. Scientists, doctors and researchers have turned their attention to herbs and the number of studies conducted with, for example, Curcuma, Rhodiola, Ashwagandha or Ginseng is hardly keeping up anymore.

Big difference in effectiveness between brands

Manufacturers have also started to take herbs much more seriously. By now it is clear that herbs in their standard form are often poorly absorbed by our bodies and are therefore only moderately effective. By developing special extracts and combining herbs with fatty substances, their absorption can be increased dozens of times.

Quality controls

Quality has also increasingly become an issue. Air, soil and water pollution and incompetent production can introduce undesirable substances into herbs. Quality brands take this problem seriously and set stringent requirements for raw material suppliers and also do extensive quality checks themselves.

Smeets & Graas Assortment

At Smeets & Graas too, herbs now occupy a prominent place in the assortment. You can choose from hundreds of herbal products and we have several variants of many specific herbs. And at Smeets & Graas too, absorption and quality are paramount. You will find only reliable brands and in our advice is always the starting point.