Health supplements are big business. Hailed by some as silver bullets against cancer and heart disease, scientific trials have repeatedly failed to confirm these claims.
Though many people use supplements, be wary of unscrupulous sellers who hide potency medicinal ingredients to create the illusion of an immediate cure. Furthermore, be wary of reports stating a supplement could lead to harmful side effects or even cause death.
Choosing the Right Supplement
Supplements can be an excellent way to supplement nutrient deficits in our diets; however, selecting an effective supplement could mean all the difference in its success.
Selecting the appropriate product requires first identifying your health goals and then finding a supplement that can best support them. For instance, vitamin C and zinc might be suitable options to boost immunity while omega-3 fatty acids could enhance brain function.
Selecting high-quality supplements with bioavailability rates that meet your specific needs is also key to making an informed decision about which nutritional products work for you. Different forms of nutrients may be easier for the body to absorb than others, so do some research and check labels to identify potential best options.
Search for supplements with transparent labels that indicate the form and source of each ingredient, as well as companies that believe in open communication and are willing to answer customer inquiries.
Researching the Supplement
When supplements promise to solve all your health issues, it can be tempting to buy. But it’s wiser to approach supplements with an open mind and critical viewpoint; Stanford Lifestyle Medicine Registered Dietician Marily Oppezzo offers advice for navigating the supplement world with care and reason.
Manufacturers utilize several methods for verifying the quality of their products. Many opt for third-party testing, which verifies that each ingredient claims match up with reality and that there are no contaminants present. Other companies utilize USP marking to confirm good manufacturing practices while conducting annual tests of their supplements.
Some researchers assert that more precise analytical methods are necessary to accurately characterize the quality of supplements. This is particularly true for botanical extracts and blends, which can be more difficult to identify than whole plants or isolated nutrients.
Checking the Dosage
Consumers frequently search the Internet, consult friends, and rely on reference books when trying to ascertain whether an herb or dietary supplement will benefit them. They may also wish to know whether their purchase matches up with what it claims and at what dosage.
In the United States, supplements must be accurately and truthfully labeled. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees this regulation to make sure dietary supplements contain what the company claims they do and do not exceed any Recommended Daily Allowance or Daily Value of nutrients for any one supplement.
The FDA also monitors the marketing of supplements to ensure their information is not false or misleading. They encourage anyone experiencing health issues possibly related to dietary supplements to report them via the agency’s Safety Reporting Portal; reports allow the FDA to refine its monitoring processes of dietary supplements.
Staying Safe
Many supplements, especially herbs, aren’t subject to as stringent regulations as prescription or OTC medications – meaning they could contain contaminants, unlisted ingredients and even high concentrations of certain nutrients that could pose risks.
Manufacturers don’t need to prove that their products work like pharmaceutical drugs before placing them on the market, which could lead to inaccurate or false claims being made on labels. Before buying anything that claims it works like medicine, check if third-party verification from NSF International, United States Pharmacopeia or Consumer Lab is in place; these organizations evaluate supplement ingredients and manufacturing processes independently.
As is always the case, it is vitally important to consider potential interactions between dietary supplements and other over-the-counter and prescription medications. Vitamin K can reduce blood thinner effectiveness, while St John’s wort accelerates their breakdown. Individuals should inform their healthcare provider of all supplements or OTC drugs they may take.
