How to Choose Quality Health Supplements
There are hundreds of different companies marketing vitamin and nutritional supplements. As a consumer, you should conduct extensive research to learn which supplments work for you. There are several things that you can look for to determine whether a supplement is beneficial.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Look for fillers. Fillers are used in supplements to make the production easier and faster. Unfortunately, these fillers compromise the effectiveness of the nutrients in the supplement. Fillers are often called "flowering agents" on the label. Some common fillers include stearic acid, magnesium stearate and gelatin.
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Read the warning statement. Some supplements are not safe for certain medical conditions. For example, some will read, "Do not use if pregnant."
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Look for recommendations for use. A good product will state when and how to take the product. It also may include different doses for different ages and men and women.
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Look for the "USP" label. This will ensure that the vitamin meets all the standards of the U.S. Pharmacopea (USP). The USP tests for proper strength, purity, disintegration, and dissolution properties.
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Choose standardized herbal supplements when looking for a herbal supplement. Standardizations guarantees consistency in the product. You may also want to look for herbs that are bio-available so that they are able to work past the digestive system.
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Always check the expiration date. Health supplements like medications can lose their potency over time.
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Tips & Warnings
Health supplements should not be used to replace a health diet. Natural whole foods are the best sources of nutrition.
A supplement that is labeled "megadose" does not mean that it is any better. Your body can only absorb so much of a nutrient and the rest is eliminated from your body as a waste product. Therefore, a supplement that provides you with 100 percent of the daily value is sufficient.
You should always consult your physician before taking any supplement.
