The use of supplements has increased over the years. There have been wide theories suggesting the importance, benefits, and effects of various kinds of supplements. Many people have taken supplements to improve their health or reduce the effect of a particular ailment. However, some of these supplements have also been proven to have certain risks.
Nevertheless, whether or not you believe in supplements, with the explosion in dietary supplements brands, there is a need to know which one to patronize and what type of supplement is good for your health.
You may think that online reviews are the only key, however, there are many other things to take note of that can help you in getting suitable supplements that are healthy for you. These tips are given below.
1. Not all popular brands are great
The fact that a brand is popular doesn’t make its product safe. This may not even be the case. A company’s supplement could be healthy but also inappropriate for you. This may be due to incompatibility. What the product contains may not be what you need.
Thus, it doesn’t matter whether the product comes from Unify Health Labs or some other popular brand; you have to ensure that the product is what you need. This still brings us to the fact that you need someone like a trained Dietitian to help you.
2. Higher Doses is not always the answer
Taking a higher dosage of a supplement doesn’t always mean you will get an extra advantage in terms of nutrients and it doesn’t mean a certain product is better than another. In truth, it may even be that you are doing yourself more harm than good by taking a higher dosage of some vitamin supplements.
When you have evaluated your health and dietary intake, it will be easier to know what type and amount of supplement you need to boost your health. Thus, you may not need to take a high dosage of a supplement. You will need a healthcare expert to ensure the evaluation is done appropriately.
3. Read consumer reviews
Reviews have become increasingly important when it comes to buying products whether online or in physical stores. This is also applicable when buying supplements.
Reviews from users of a particular supplement will give you vital information on how the product works and whether there are side effects you should take note of.
However, you should also know that a supplement that provides great results for one person may not be suitable for you. Factors like health issues, dietary needs must be evaluated.
4. Knowledge about dietary supplements regulation is important
The way dietary supplements are regulated is entirely different from food or drugs. The FDA provides approval through the registration of producers or brands. However, these manufacturers do not need the FDA’s backing to manufacture and market their products.
But this doesn’t mean there is no regulation of dietary supplements in the market. Each manufacturer is, as a matter of necessity, required to stick to the standards and regulations known as Good Manufacturing Practices for dietary supplements under FDA’s 21 CFR 111 regulation.
The FDA does a follow-up by keeping a close eye on any dietary supplement on the market through monitoring of reported adverse events. A warning or product recall can be issued if a manufacturer’s product is found wanting.
5. Don’t ignore the label
Manufacturers of dietary supplements are needed to include a Supplement Facts panel in their products. This facts panel includes information about the product such as title, amount of content, brand name, distributor, ingredients, nutritional facts, and more.
This will provide users to know and evaluate what the product is all about and can help in knowing if it is suitable for an individual.
Conclusion
With these tips in place, you will find it easy to choose a suitable dietary supplement to help maintain and achieve your health goals.
