FAQ's

The Real Thing Online strives to fulfill orders as soon as possible. Please allow 2 - 5 working days for delivery. Goods are only delivered during office hours on working days. Please make sure you or someone you trust is available at the shipping address provided. For payment by deposit, no dispatch occurs until the money has cleared.

You can contact The Real Thing directly for product related questions or concerns.

During the checkout process you will be prompted to select a payment method. If you select "EFT" you will be emailed our bank details for the deposit. In the email which you receive from us after placing the order, "reference details" will be given. The goods will be dispatched as soon as the payment clears.

Once your order has been dispatched, we will send you an email containing the courier name and tracking number for your order.

We have made shopping as simple as possible. Use our various search or product selection menus to find the product you require quickly and easily. Should you find anything you would like to purchase simply add it to your shopping cart. You will be taken to the checkout screen where you can either choose to checkout or continue shopping. Once you select the checkout option, you will then be asked for to enter in your delivery details as well as make a payment type selection.

Should an item not meet your satisfaction for whatever reason you may return the goods to us within seven days of receipt. You will then get a full refund less all direct costs incurred by "The Real Thing Online" associated with the order such as collection and/or delivery costs. The goods must be returned with all packaging, documentation and be undamaged/unopened in any way. A written reason for the cancellation must accompany the returned goods.

You have 7 days following the day that the goods are received under the Distance Selling Act from arrival of the goods to cancel your contract. The goods must be returned to us in the condition they were despatched, complete with all packaging and in a re saleable state. The goods remain YOUR responsibility until they are received and signed for by us.

If an order is cancelled/returned, a 15% handling fee will be levied to cover processing/handling fees.

If an unwanted product is returned and exchange for a different product, the customer will be charged or refunded any price difference plus return shipping.

Should the situation arise that the stock for which you have placed an order for is unavailable within the usual delivery period, we will contact you and notify you of the situation. You will then be given the option of canceling or amending the order, or waiting for new stock to become available.

You can call us on 087 470 0353 or else via email: info@therealthingonline.co.za.

Our trading hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 - 16:30 (Excluding public holidays)

In our commitment to compliance with the relevant local regulations for Health Supplements, The Real Thing has published Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) on our website for the majority of our products and are in the process of completing these for the balance of our complementary and alternative medicines (CAMS). A brief summary follows herewith but we encourage our customers to consult their relevant healthcare practitioner prior to use of any medicines including complementary and alternative medicines. Studies have shown DHA crosses the placenta and has been found in breastmilk. DHA can be safely used during pregnancy and lactation. With regards to the rest of The Real Thing products we encourage our customers to consult their relevant healthcare practitioner prior to use of any medicines or supplements, some have been insufficiently studied for safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding, whilst some are contra-indicated due to specific active ingredients like magnesium, curcumin, or bioflavonoids.

Only some of The Real Thing products are safe for use in children. The dosages per age group are specified in each Products’ Patient Information Leaflet available on our website. A summary of products suitable for use in children follows, however we encourage our customers to consult their relevant healthcare practitioner prior to use of any medicines including complementary and alternative medicines especially in the case of suitability for use in children. DHA Capsules, Mega Omega Liquid (Lemon and Natural) and Tri-Mag Capsules are suitable for use in children. Age groups range from 1 years to 18 years, and should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for optimal doses by your healthcare practitioner.

None of our products are indicated for use by pets. Any subsequent use of The Real Thing products would be considered off-label use, and are not registered as an animal remedy according to The Medicines and Related Substances Act (Act 101 of 1965 as amended).

Whilst most of The Real Thing Products do not contain sugar (or other forms of sugar defined by the SAHPRA), we encourage our customers to consult their relevant healthcare practitioner prior to use of any medicines including complementary and alternative medicines if there is a pre-existing condition or if you are on chronic medication. If you are diabetic, please consult your healthcare practitioner and consult the Patient Information Leaflets for more details.

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) shortened to Hypromellose.

Bovine (Beef) gelatin.

Synthesized from Lanolin (by product of wool also known as wool grease) – suitable for vegetarians

You suggest 2 capsules a day…  what is better: 1x capsule in the morning and 1x capsule in the evening,

or 2x capsules in the morning?  As they are both fat soluble and remain in the system for 12 hours?

When dosage is suggested at 2 capsules daily, you can either take one in the morning and one in the evening or both at the same time which may be more convenient and makes it easier to remember to take. Where dosages are specified as 2 capsules orally daily, you can determine which approach works best for you, however, in some instances, there is a maximum per dose, like MSM-Body Capsules where 2 g is not to be exceeded in a single dose. Please refer to each product’s PI and/or PIL for specific dosage information.

We considered feedback from our valued customers during the evaluation of our product offering i.e. formulations and packaging. We are cognizant of the impact of our products on the environment, consequently we reevaluated the use of secondary packaging for the Complementary Medicine range. New batches from 2022 is being packed into amber glass bottles only, that is significantly superior in assuring the product's quality. Secondary packaging in the Complementary Medicine range will be phased out for all products except that packed into the 75 ml glass bottle.

Yes, The Real Thing reformulated the Anti-X formulation to ensure those with a fish allergy would be able to take Anti-X Capsules.

Chlorella is a fresh water alga. The Real Thing procures its Chlorella from a supplier in Taiwan who grows it at their factory. The supplier draws its water for the factory from ground water via a 400-foot well. The water is filtered and tested to comply with the Taiwan drinking water standards. Testing includes daily pH value test, weekly Arsenic testing, annually heavy metal analysis and annually external 3rd party micro testing to meet Taiwan FDA (food and drug regulator) requirements. The Chlorella is grown under controlled conditions in outdoor ponds filled from the factory water supply and not in the "natural" lakes and rivers. Upon receipt of raw materials, The Real Thing makes use of independent ISO 17025 and/or GMP accredited laboratories to test microbiological quality as well as other parameters as required.

Chlorella is a single-cell green algae that grows in fresh water whilst Kelp is a long stemmed brown algae seaweed. The British Pharmacopoeia, a pharmaceutical industry reference, includes Bladderwrack fucus, Fucus vesiculosus L., F. serratus and Ascophyllum nodosum Le Jolis (Rockweed) as Kelp. A second important difference between the two is that Chlorella contains trace (minute) amounts of Iodine whilst Kelp contains significant amounts of Iodine which may be of significance in people with thyroid problems.

Yes, each batch is tested and confirmed gluten free prior to releasing the product for sale to the market. The Real Thing Barley Grass consists of the leaf portion of freshly harvested Barley Leaf (Hordeum vulgare) which has been cut, washed, dried, sorted and milled. The Real Thing Wheat Grass is harvested from the young tips of the wheat plant before ‘jointing’ or reproductive phase in the growing cycle, ensuring the product is gluten free.

Grasses are cultivated, fertilised, irrigated and grown in harvest bins. The grasses are then harvested and transported to the processing facility where the materials are received via incoming quality control inspection. Grasses are washed with treated water, dried and classified according to size. During the sifting process, grasses are subjected to metal detection to ensure no metal contaminants, from processing (sieve shards) are present in the grasses. Grasses that have passed the metal detection is filled into bags. Samples are taken and tested for microbial, mycotoxin and heavy metals. Grasses that have passed the quality control tests are passed through a second metal detection and only grasses that pass this are palletised and shipped to our Warehouse.

Our grasses are not organic or pesticide free. Pesticides are not applied directly to the crops of grasses but are applied to the soil, between crops to control weeds, which may result in residual pesticides being present in the ground when new crops are grown. It is therefore not possible to guarantee the absence of pesticides in the grasses, however test results show that the grasses are well below the maximum permitted levels as required by the New Zealand Regulatory Authority.

As the Barley Grass Powder and Wheat Grass Powder contain only the respective grasses (i.e. no colourants, flavourants or taste masking agents are added), natural seasonal variation exists, and may differ from lot to lot.

Take special care if you are allergic to shellfish. There is a theoretical concern that Glucosamine products derived from seafood may cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to shellfish. Joint Revolution contains Glucosamine Sulphate that is derived from wild aquatic organisms (mainly wild shrimp and crab shells) obtained from the South China Sea. No farmed crustaceans are used for production.

In our commitment to compliance with the relevant local regulations for Health Supplements, The Real Thing has published Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) on our website for the majority of our products and are in the process of completing these for the balance of our complementary and alternative medicines (CAMS). A brief summary follows herewith but we encourage our customers to consult their relevant healthcare practitioner prior to use of any medicines including complementary and alternative medicines. Studies have shown DHA crosses the placenta and has been found in breastmilk. DHA can be safely used during pregnancy and lactation. With regards to the rest of The Real Thing products we encourage our customers to consult their relevant healthcare practitioner prior to use of any medicines or supplements, some have been insufficiently studied for safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding, whilst some are contra-indicated due to specific active ingredients like magnesium, curcumin, or bioflavonoids.

The Real Thing Medicinal Mushroom Capsules contains full spectrum mushrooms i.e. it contains the full fungal material consisting of all the biologically active components including the mycelium, primordia, fruiting bodies and most importantly, the extracellular compounds produced throughout the entire life cycle of the organism.

During production the full spectrum mushrooms are dried, size reduced and sieved to meet specification and passed through metal detection prior to packing and quality approval.

The Omega-3 fish oil used in the Mega Omega Supreme Capsules is ethyl ester, whilst the Omega-3 fish oil in the Mega Omega Fish Oil (Lemon or Natural) are triglycerides.

Iodine is naturally present in the fish sourced for Omega-3 Oil present in the Mega Omega oils in extremely low quantities however is not routinely tested for.

This information is readily available on the Label, the PI and PIL.
Per example, the Mega Omega Supreme Capsules contain:
each capsule contains: EPA = 422 mg + DHA = 287 mg
each dose (2 capsules) contains: EPA = 844 mg + DHA = 574 mg
The average mass per capsule is 1 565 mg

The fish is from deep sea wild fish species per a statement from the Fish Oil Supplier. The Professional Information and Patient Information Leaflets list the fish species for each individual product. For instance, the omega-3 fish oil in the Mega Omega Supreme “Fish Oil” Capsules is sourced from wild fish caught off the Peruvian coast. The omega-3 fish oil is obtained from Engraulidae (anchovies), Clupeidae (sardines), Osmeridae (smelt fish), Scombridae and Carangidae (mackerels).

Omega-3 softgels e.g. Mega Omega Supreme Capsules, Omega 3+6+9 Softgel Capsules and DHA Capsules:

Our omega-3 softgel supplements are manufactured and enclosed in a softgel casing, along with the anti-oxidant Vitamin E. The softgels are tested to quality specifications, including oxidation parameters, prior to release for shipping to our Warehouse in South Africa. Upon receipt, The Real Thing tests softgels at an independent ISO 17025 accredited laboratory for oxidation parameters prior to release for packing.

The oxidation parameters tested are stipulated by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), and include p-Anisidine value and Peroxide value. These two parameters determine the TOTOX, the total oxidation value, which influences the rate of oxidation. Low TOTOX, low oxidation - simple, and necessary.

Our Omega-3 liquid products are packed under nitrogen fill, this means that the air inside a bottle is replaced with nitrogen, hence the storage and use instructions - to store the liquid in the refrigerator once opened and use the liquid within 60 days from opening. The liquid oil (Natural) is also tested for oxidation parameters.

There is no significant difference between the powder and the capsules. The dosages in both powder and capsule are described in the PI and PIL available on the webpage.

The Methylsulphonymethane (MSM) used in The Real Thing MSM-Body Capsules and Powder is synthesized and distilled to produce a material that is more than 99.8% pure. The OptiMSM website confirms it does not contain corn. You may find additional information as follows: https://optimsm.com/optimsm-research/.

MSM-Body Capsules are made using vegetable (hypromellose) capsules shells and minimal pharmaceutical excipients, none of which are derived from maize / corn origin. The Real Thing does not test this product for allergens including corn or gluten.

Our collagen is derived from wild codfish sourced from the Pacific Ocean.

Our supplier confirmed that the Pro-Protein Powder should not be added to liquids above 90°C, therefore it may be added to ready made coffee and not to the water or coffee being boiled or percolated.

Our collagen is derived from wild codfish sourced from the Pacific Ocean.

It is advisable to allow 2 hours between consuming supplements or medication and using Zeolite i.e. taking medication 2 hours earlier or later, due to Zeolite's preference for attracting positively charged minerals.

The Real Thing sources an Ultrafine grade of Zeolite for our product. The suppliers Certificate of Conformance confirms that 90% of the material is smaller than 40 (µm) micrometers. Our product is not micronized but only sieved to a more appropriate size in order to be consumed by consumers.

It is advisable to take Zeolite after meals and allow 2 hours between consuming supplements or medication and using Zeolite i.e. taking medication 2 hours later, due to Zeolite's preference for attracting positively charged minerals.