It's not always possible to know which dietary supplement is
the best and made of quality ingredients. Some ingredients can have
harmful effects. The proliferation of similar products on the market can be
overwhelming. It is too easy to buy these dietary supplements – direct from the
manufacturer, through third-party websites, supermarkets, or pharmacies, mostly
without needing a prescription. Fortunately, if you click here for details, you
can find a review site called Analyze that can be used to evaluate these
products. Either way, there are some rules you can follow to make sure you use
these supplements to benefit your health and not harm it.
1. Speak To Your Doctor
This goes not only for those who are pregnant, nursing, or
on prescription medication. Everyone should discuss the idea of a particular
supplement with their doctor or other healthcare providers (e.g., dietitian or
pharmacist) before taking any such dietary supplement. Your healthcare provider
can guide you on which type of supplement will be of value for you and which
you should rather avoid. Such guidance
limits risks to your health.
2. Know That Some Supplements Can Interact With Your Prescription Medication
Your dietary supplements can interfere with your
prescription medication, affecting how those drugs are broken down
in the body. Supplements can also increase the effects of prescription
medications or even reduce the effectiveness of your prescription medications.
For example, cranberry can interact with blood thinners and lead to bleeding or
even bruising. CoQ10, used for heart and brain health, can negatively influence
the effects of blood-thinning drugs and thus increase the risk of developing a
blood clot. Echinacea is another example. This herb can decrease the metabolism
of caffeine, manifesting in side effects such as insomnia, headaches, and
jitteriness. Other substances that can influence the effectiveness of various
drugs are vitamin K (on blood thinners), St. John's Wort (on anti-depression
medication), and vitamins C and E (on cancer chemotherapy).
3. Follow The Recommended Dosage Instructions
The manufacturer will normally state a recommended dosage
and instructions. It is important to follow such directions for optimal
results but also to avoid an overdose. For instance, CoQ10 is normally safe to
use, but an overdose can lead to diarrhea, headaches, kidney stones, nausea,
vomiting, or even a coma.
4. Read The Label On The Bottle
The label will provide you with adequate information to
ensure that you buy a product that will provide the daily value you
want, naming the ingredients. Some supplements may contain substances that can
cause an allergic reaction. For instance, if you are allergic to bees, you
would want to avoid products that contain beeswax. So too, if you are allergic
or sensitive to gluten, wheat, soy, nuts, or dairy. Also, the formula may contain ingredients
that are not good for your health. For instance, titanium dioxide, a
natural mineral whitener, can be problematic, as it has been linked to cancers
and other health problems. In addition, a product may contain gelatine, making
it unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians.
5. Go For Quality
As a rule, you should always opt for quality. However,
finding a quality product can be difficult. Check for an FDA stamp. However,
unlike prescription medication, dietary supplements do not carry the same
weight as supplements. The FDA merely notes the manufacturer's quality standards – such as purity, composition, identity, and strength of the
supplements. Under the guidelines of the Dietary
Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the FDA is not compelled to test the efficacy of
supplements. Instead, the onus rests on the manufacturers themselves.
Therefore, it is best to check on a GMP certificate for the company. Such
certification offers assurance that the supplement has been properly
manufactured and contains the items listed on the label; it is also free from contaminants. In addition, a quality manufacturer guarantee should
be present, allowing you to test the product yourself. Any product that lacks a
guarantee questions the effectiveness of product.
The Bottom Line
With the multiplicity of health products on the market, it can be difficult to select the one best suited to your use. However, the key is to look behind all the claims a manufacturer makes about a product, rather than focusing on the substance of the supplement – what it contains, how it will react to other medications, and the possible side effects. Above are the five main points on selecting the best supplement for you.

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