How to Choose Ayurvedic Supplements: 5 Red Flags to Watch For

The Indian Ayurvedic supplement market is projected to reach ₹80,000 crore by 2028. With that growth comes a flood of new brands — many cutting corners, making unverified claims, and selling products that are, at best, ineffective and, at worst, contaminated. Here's how to protect yourself.

Red Flag #1: No FSSAI License Number

Every food supplement sold in India must carry an FSSAI license number (14 digits). This isn't optional — it's law. If a product doesn't display this prominently on the label, walk away. You can verify any license at fssai.gov.in.

Red Flag #2: Proprietary Blends Without Dosages

Labels that say 'Proprietary Ayurvedic Blend — 500mg' without listing individual ingredient amounts are hiding something. They might contain 490mg of filler and 10mg of the active ingredient. ZIVAYU lists every ingredient with its exact dosage — because transparency isn't a feature, it's a baseline.

Red Flag #3: Unrealistic Claims

"Cures diabetes in 30 days." "Guaranteed weight loss." "100% disease prevention." These claims violate FSSAI advertising guidelines and are a clear sign of a brand prioritising sales over science. Legitimate Ayurvedic supplements support wellness — they don't replace medical treatment.

Red Flag #4: No Third-Party Lab Testing

Heavy metal contamination is a real risk in herbal supplements, especially those sourced from polluted regions. Look for brands that publish third-party lab reports for heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium), microbial contamination, and pesticide residues. ZIVAYU tests every batch and makes reports available on request.

Red Flag #5: Artificially Low Prices

If a bottle of ashwagandha KSM-66 costs ₹99 for 60 tablets, ask yourself: how? KSM-66 raw material alone costs more than that. Ultra-cheap supplements almost always use inferior extracts, synthetic fillers, or underdosed formulations.

What to Look For Instead

Traceability — Can the brand tell you where the ingredients were grown?
Certifications — FSSAI, GMP, organic certifications from credible bodies
Clinical references — Does the brand cite specific studies for its ingredients?
Founder transparency — Is there a real person behind the brand, or just a logo?

The Ayurvedic supplement space needs more honest players. As consumers, the best thing we can do is ask harder questions — and reward brands that answer them.