FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Using McCord Supplements

People often have questions about properly using vitamin and mineral supplements for improving health. Here are some questions we hear most often about when and how to use vitamin supplements safely and effectively, plus more information about our products and customer service.

Do you have free shipping?

Yes, we offer free shipping on all orders over $50.

Do you have auto ship as an option?

Yes, you can select to have a 1 month supply sent every 30 days, or a 3 month supply sent every 90 days.

Is there a discount for ordering more products?

Yes!  Our discount structure is outlined below.  Note that the discounts do not stack – the largest qualifying discount will be applied to the entire order.

• Good, Better, Best Deal for products in our Proprietary Blend Essential Collection (ImmuneHealth, VitalBoost, MultiVitamin, DigestiveHealth)
  • Good: 5% off entire order if you purchase 2 essentials
  • Better: 10% off entire order if you purchase 3 essentials
  • Best: 15% off entire order if you purchase 4 or more essentials
• Special Conditions Supplements (SleepHealth, BrainHealth, EnergyBoost, CalmMind, HeartHealth, JointHealth)
  • 5% off your entire order if you order 2 or more special condition supplements
• Please note that if you order a 90 day subscription for a product, the base price also starts with an extra 5% discount reflected in the pricing.

How long does it take to get my order?

Depending on where you live, you can expect to receive your order within 3-5 business days.

I eat a healthy diet – do I still need supplements?

Even people eating a healthy diet frequently come up short on many nutrients. For example, we’ve known for decades that more fiber is important for good health but national surveys indicate fewer than 3% of people eat enough fiber every day. We’re willing to bet there’s more than 3% of the population that believes they are eating a whole healthy diet.

We look at supplements as a sort of insurance policy – making sure that all the gaps are covered even when our diets fall short. That’s especially true since the nutrient content of most fruits and vegetables has been on the decline over the past 40 – 50 years.

Also, there are a number of beneficial nutrients that you just cannot get enough of from diet alone. For example, the most potent antioxidants with the most proven benefits from olives – hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein – are very bitter tasting, so olives and olive oils generally undergo some light processing that reduces the concentration of these compounds to make more palatable foods. They are still present in olives and olive oil, but in such small amounts that you would have to drink gallons of olive oil or consume hundreds of green olives to get the antioxidant capacity found in concentrated extracts used in supplements. Disclaimer: we do not recommend drinking gallons of olive oil or eating hundreds of olives as a form of supplementation!

Another good example is curcumin, the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound found in turmeric. It is not absorbed very well from food sources, so to get enough to start seeing health benefits you generally need to use a supplement that contains a soluble form of curcumin.

For more information related to this, check out the following blog posts:

• 6 Reasons to Consider Using Supplements
• 100% Daily Value – Is it Enough?
• 4 Nutrients You Should Probably Be Supplementing
• Defeating Dietary Deficiencies

Should I take my supplement with food?

Consider that your body normally gets vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients when you eat a meal. So it makes sense to also use nutritional supplements with a meal as a way to boost the nutritional content. I consider nutritional supplements like another bite of my meal – the one with all the nutrients in it. It’s best to use things like Proprietary Blend MultiVitamin with breakfast or lunch because some of the vitamins can help you feel energized throughout the day.

An exception would be for supplements that you use at bedtime, such as SleepHealth. It’s best to avoid eating too much before bedtime because it can cause heartburn and indigestion that disrupt your sleep. It’s fine to use them with a small snack if you prefer.

Will it interact with my medication?

You should never rule out the possibility that any food, supplement, or medication might interact with other medications. Foods are not as likely to interact with a prescription medication but it is definitely still possible. The fact that Olivamine supplements are made with nutrients found naturally in the diet means they are most likely not going to interact with medications any more than whole foods might, but there is always a possibility.

If you use prescription medications, you should always check with your personal health care provider before making any major changes in your diet, use of dietary supplements, or over-the-counter and prescription medications.

Can I take more or less than the suggested serving size?

All of the Proprietary Blend supplements have a recommended serving size of 2 capsules (except the DigestiveHealth Prebiotic Fiber powder which is 1 scoop or packet). It’s not a bad idea to start with one to make sure you tolerate it OK, and once you know that you can go ahead and increase to the recommended dose.

If you feel like you need to take more than the recommended amount, it is best to check with your personal healthcare provider who can evaluate your individual situation and provide direction.

Can I use all of your products at the same time?

Proprietary Blend dietary supplements were formulated in a way that they could all be safely used simultaneously in most adults. We intentionally use nutrients with exceptional safety profiles, even at very high doses and avoid any ingredients with known toxicity issues. But again, we stress that every individual is different and it is best to work with your personal healthcare provider to determine what is best for you. This is especially true anytime you are using combinations of products.

It is a good practice with most medications and dietary supplements to only start with one individual product to establish that you tolerate it, then add additional products. This will help you identify if a specific product causes you any issues. For example, if you take 4 new medications all at once and then get a stomach ache, how do you know which medication caused the problem? But if you add them one at a time over a few days, and the stomach ache doesn’t happen until the third medication – you would know that the first two were fine and the third one caused you the issue. This concept also applies to dietary supplements and whole foods as well.

How big are the capsules?

All Proprietary Blend Dietary Supplement capsules are size “00” which are approximately 7/8″(2 cm) long and 1/4″ (0.64 cm) wide. The HeartHealth Omega-3 softgels are smaller, at 1/2″ (1.27 cm) long and 1/4″ wide.

Can the capsules be opened and poured out?

Yes, the capsules can be gently twisted apart and the powder emptied out and mixed into a soft food or beverage. We cannot make any promises about the taste as everybody has different preferences and opinions.

What is the source of the Omega-3 fish oil in the HeartHealth supplement?

The pharmaceutical-grade fish oil is from a company that sources from species that conform to the European Pharmacopeia monograph for Omega-3-acids and may include anchovy, mackerel, sardine, smelt, and/or tuna. Our specific ingredient is sourced primarily from tuna species and further purified to concentrate the Omega-3 oils and remove any potential environmental contaminants.

The ingredient is in compliance with Friend of the Sea Criteria for Sustainable Fish Oils, which ensures fisheries operate responsibly without overfishing, no by-catch of endangered species, and no illegal, unreported or unregulated fish.