Washington, D.C., June 28, 2017—The 30th Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus luncheon briefing, held last week on June 21, featured celebrated U.S. soccer player Christie Pearce (formerly Rampone), who said dietary supplements saved her and her family’s lives. Speaking before an audience of 115 Congressional staffers and guests, Ms. Pearce shared personal stories and discussed the role dietary supplements have played in supporting peak athletic performance throughout her career, as well as the unique nutritional needs of her fellow players and family.
A three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, Ms. Pearce is the second most-capped soccer player in U.S. and world history and a long-time dietary supplement user.
“One thing I’m always focusing on is my fitness,” Ms. Pearce told her audience. “If it weren’t for the proper supplements, I don’t know if my level of play would be where it is today."
Before highlighting her supplement regimen, Ms. Pearce revealed that she questioned dietary supplements when she started training as a professional athlete. “I began looking to trusted sources of information, such as team nutritionists, and took a good look at product labels,” she shared. “As I transitioned from college playing to the national team, I realized that the foods I was eating were not enough. The right supplements give you something extra. They helped me prepare for each training session and game."
Ms. Pearce highlighted the critical role of consumer education and responsible supplement usage, stressing the importance of discussing dietary supplements with healthcare professionals and identifying companies that manufacture legitimate products. Ms. Pearce also echoed industry’s collective message that dietary supplements are not a one-size-fits-all solution for optimal nutrition. “Focus on what you need to eat,” she said. “The food is the fuel. Supplements fill in the gaps."
The educational event was sponsored by the bipartisan, bicameral Dietary Supplement Caucus and co-hosted by the leading trade associations representing the dietary supplement industry—the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the Natural Products Association (NPA), and the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA).
For more information on Christie Pearce, please contact Carie Goldberg of Gold Standard Sports & Entertainment at carie@goldstandardsports.com. To follow Christie on social media, please do so on Instagram, Facebook, and on Twitter @ChristieRampone.
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the national trade association and voice of the herbal and botanical products industry. AHPA is comprised of more than 300 domestic and foreign companies doing business as growers, processors, manufacturers, and marketers of herbs and herbal products, including foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and non-prescription drugs. Founded in 1982, AHPA's mission is to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products. Website: www.ahpa.org.
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) is the 134-year-old trade association representing the leading manufacturers and marketers of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and dietary supplements. Every dollar spent by consumers on OTC medicines saves the U.S. healthcare system $6-$7, contributing a total of $102 billion in savings each year. CHPA is committed to promoting the increasingly vital role of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements in America’s healthcare system through science, education, and advocacy. Visit www.chpa.org and www.KnowYourOTCs.org.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 150+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Visit www.crnusa.org. Follow us on Twitter @crn_supplements and @wannabewell and on Facebook.
The Natural Products Association (NPA) is the trade association representing the entire natural products industry. We advocate for our members who supply, manufacture and sell natural ingredients or products for consumers. NPA has set numerous industry standards, such as dietary supplement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), as well as a definition of natural for home care and personal care products. NPA, which represents over 2,000 members accounting for more than 10,000 locations of retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids, has led the charge to keep the natural products industry in business for 79 years. Visit www.NPAinfo.org.
The United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) is an international trade association representing many leading natural products, dietary supplement, functional food, scientific and technology and related service companies that share a commitment to provide consumers with natural health products of superior quality, benefit and reliability. Founded in Utah in 1991, UNPA was instrumental in the passage of the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and continues to take a leadership position in legislative and regulatory issues and industry best practices. Visit www.unpa.com.