What does it mean to be clean and clinical in the supplement world, and why is it so important? You’ll want to understand why because what you put inside of your body matters, full stop.
If you long for clear skin, a thriving gut, balanced hormones, or all these and more, we all should feel empowered knowing that the choices we make—and the products we buy—can lead us closer to our goals. Taking an inside-out approach is vital to HUM Nutrition’s DNA, which is why we take things a step further to ensure our supplements are potent and pure for optimal performance.
Ahead, we’re diving into what it means for HUM’s full supplement line to be clean and clinical.
What Does ‘HUM Clean’ Mean?
While there’s no cut and dried definition for what constitutes the term ‘clean,’ HUM has defined its own set of standards. First, HUM Clean entails skipping ingredients that may be harmful or suspect so you don’t have to think twice about the safety and quality of our supplements.
HUM avoids ‘ick list’ ingredients that evolving research has suggested can have negative consequences for your health and well-being:
- Artificial colors. While these are FDA–approved, a 2023 review published in Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry notes that some may have toxic effects on the brain, liver, kidney, thyroid, lungs, and bladder. Color us convinced that these hues deserve the boot.
- Artificial preservatives. Preservatives may help extend the shelf life of products, but they also run the risk of altering gut bacteria and triggering hypersensitivity.
- Artificial sweeteners. Per a 2023 review published in the journal Cureus, an unsweet truth is that these synthetic sugar substitutes have been linked to GI dysfunction, neurological symptoms, cardiovascular risk, and metabolic disorder.
- Artificial flavors. Why use fake and potentially harmful flavors when you can opt for real-deal alternatives?
- High-fructose corn syrup. Per the Cleveland Clinic, eating an excess of HFCS may promote issues with blood sugar, metabolism, blood pressure, and gut permeability.
- Hydrogenated oils. Aka the OG of trans fat, these oils spell bad news for heart health.
- Talc. Research on the safety of talc is inconclusive, but HUM prefers to err on the side of caution by doing without it.
- Magnesium silicate. A type of talc with a similar lack of research backing its lingering effects, magnesium silicate is another of HUM’s no-gos.
- Titanium dioxide. It’s banned in Europe, can accumulate in the body, and is potentially carcinogenic. Pass!
- EDTA and derivatives. These can bind to heavy metals. Unless you’re dealing with metal toxicity, you’re better off avoiding them so you can reduce the risk of developing mineral deficiencies.
- Shellac. Did you know that this coating for softgels is produced from the secretions of the parasitic lac insect? Well, now you do… and we definitely don’t blame you if you don’t want to ingest it.
- Pharmaceutical glaze. Last but not least, this tricky ingredient can contain shellac and/or titanium dioxide, hence why HUM skips it.
Aside from bypassing the Ick List, HUM also does rigorous, independent third-party testing to get unbiased seals of approval. HUM’s full lineup passes the exacting standards set by:
- The Clean Label Project, which tests for hundreds of contaminants and chemicals (including but not limited to heavy metals, pesticides, and plasticizers)
- Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP), ensuring that each and every supplement passes standards for strength, purity, and composition
- The Non-GMO Project, meaning you’ll never find genetically modified anything in your HUM bottles
Bonus: HUM is committed not only to the health of its customers, but also the health of the planet. As such, the company uses Prevented Ocean Plastic™ for its bottles. Each HUM bottle purchased prevents the equivalent of two plastic water bottles from polluting the world’s oceans.
What Does ‘HUM Clinical’ Mean?
What does it mean to be clinical? ‘HUM clinical’ means that:
- We use specific doses of each active ingredients that have been shown to yield beneficial results
- We employ clinical research to demonstrate efficacy of our products
HUM’s Commitment to Clinical Standards
In short, HUM takes a closer look at the science to see what ingredients yield a given benefit—be it less bloating (Flatter Me), significantly less bloating (Flatter Me Extra Strength), or less bloating and a balanced gut (Flatter Me Plus), and beyond—as well as how much of it has been shown to work and how well it pairs with other ingredients in the mix.
And don’t forget: We know that most people have at least a few wellness goals they’d like to target—hence why the vast majority of HUM products pair well with each other. In case you’re ever unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to your HUM RD!
The Bottom Line
You have enough on your plate, so HUM does the legwork to make sure that only the good stuff gets into your body. From R&D to testing to bottling and beyond, HUM delivers clean and clinical supplements to yield tangible results so you look and feel great. Tricky additives, random ingredients, and empty promises are never on offer here. You deserve the best, and HUM is committed to delivering it.
