Shopping for Natural Supplements: What to Avoid

Natural supplements are a great value to help support and improve your health. Because a supplement can have an impact on your body, it is imperative that you are careful in choosing which supplements you take. Not all of the supplements on the market are equal in their efficiency and benefit. Because of this, it is important to know what to look for to find the best natural supplements. To help with this, here are suggestions for things you should avoid.

Buying from an Unknown Source

Take caution when purchasing supplements. It is best to stick with name brands and get them from known sources, such as your local health food stores or pharmacies. Never purchase from direct sales or ads in the mail. You really don’t know where these products are made or if they contain what they say they do. Always consult with your doctor before starting any type of supplement. Their advice will be valuable as your doctor knows the type of medications, if any, that you are currently taking and how they might interact with supplements.

Multiple Ingredient Supplements

There are supplements on the market that have more than one ingredient. A product may, for example, have both calcium and vitamin D. You may be tempted to get one product that serves two purposes, but it might not be your best option. Often one of the ingredients will have a lower concentration than the other. If you are needing a certain amount of either calcium or vitamin D, you might not get the level you need when combining the two. It is usually best to stick to single-ingredient supplements to get the optimum results. 

Unverified Products

Choosing a brand name supplement will guarantee the integrity of the product. Never, ever, use a supplement unless you can verify that the ingredients are safe for human consumption. The USP Verified Mark on a dietary supplement will indicate that the product contains only the ingredients that are listed on the label, and in the declared potency and amounts. This will help you to know that you are getting what you expect from the product. The USP Verified Mark will also guarantee that there are not harmful levels of contaminants in the product. Choosing supplements with the USP verified Mark will give you peace of mind.

Products Without Complete Labels

A product’s label should have all of the relevant information in terms of the ingredients and the manufacturer. If there isn’t enough information provided on the label, or if there is only a partial label, don’t buy the product. Flea markets and close out stores are not the place to be purchasing supplements. If you are going to ingest a substance, get a supplement from a reputable dealer.

Take the Right Supplements

You might have a rough idea of what you need to take as far as supplements go. Most of us know that vitamin C, A and D are essential to a healthy body. There are other factors to consider before you start on a supplement regime. As always, consult with your doctor for advice. You might also want to consult with a nutritionist. 

There are several factors to take into consideration before you start with supplements.

Age:  As your body ages, your need for certain supplements will change. You may not need as much calcium in your teens as you do in your twenties. You may need more calcium if you are a woman. Age is a definite factor in what, and how much, you may need of certain supplements. 

Health: It is not wise to take an iron supplement because you have low energy. There could be other conditions that contribute to low energy and you could do more harm than good by adding iron to your regime. That is why it is important to rule out any health concerns before starting on supplements. 

Diet: If you dislike vegetables, you may need vitamins like K, potassium, or magnesium. If you get plenty of green vegetables on a daily basis, you might not need those supplements. Your diet will have a big impact on the type of supplements you should take on a daily basis.

In Conclusion

Not all of us get the needed vitamins from the foods we eat. Supplements can help to bridge that gap and give you the nutrients that you need for a healthy life. Consulting with your doctor or nutritionist will be a good starting point to get on the right track. Purchase name brand supplements with the USP Verified Mark to make sure you are getting a quality product and those supplements will help you to live a healthy life.