8 Things to Know Before You Try Health Supplements

I n a study conducted between 2017-2018, 57.6% of the adults aged 20 and above reported using a supplement in the past month. Owing to the growing popularity of health supplements, you may also feel tempted to try. But it is important to weigh the pros and cons. Here are 8 things to know before you try health supplements, so you can make a well-informed decision about your body and what you put in it.

Consult an Expert

This is probably the most significant and the first and foremost thing you should do before trying any supplement. Talk to your nutritionist, and if you don’t have one, then talk to your doctor. You can also talk to your pharmacist. Your doctor can help you figure out which supplements are safe and which are effective, and your pharmacist can help you with any possible drug interactions based on your medical history and the medicines you take on a daily basis.

Avoid Dubious Ingredients

Some ingredients have been shown to have adverse (and quite serious) side effects, which are not worth whatever positive aspect of the supplement they advertise. Look for these ingredients on the back of your supplement bottle before you consume it. Some of these ingredients are:

• Kava, which has been studied to likely cause liver damage
• Bitter orange, which includes synephrine, a substance that has been related to heart attacks and strokes in healthy persons especially in combination with coffee
• Contaminated L-tryptophan, which is related to neurotoxic reactions
• Chromium, the overuse of which can lead to anemia and kidney failure

It is important to be careful before consuming them in bulk quantities.

Check for USP Verification

If there is a United States Pharmacopeia Mark on a product, it means that the ingredients listed on the packaging are all that the product contains. Furthermore, it ensures that the product does not have unacceptably high amounts of contaminants, which make the product go bad.

Shop at Selective Places

It is crucial to know where you are buying your supplements from and whether they stock original supplements with an expiry that is far from your date of buying. It has also been noted that large-chain drug stores, pharmacies, and supplement stores, such as GNC or the Vitamin Shoppe, often act more quickly to remove recalled goods, so shopping at a well-known place will give you the peace of mind that you are not buying something that is banned and/or restricted.

Avoid Certain Types of Supplements

It is okay to want to make up for nutrient deficiencies, and many times doctors recommend that too. However, supplements promising weight loss or sexual enhancement regularly contain ingredients that are banned in the US. For example, multiple weight-loss pills studied in a JAMA study included sibutramine, which is an amphetamine-like substance that raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes and is prohibited in the United States, Asia, and Europe.

Avoid Bargain Hunting

We all love a good deal, but oftentimes trying to cut back costs on health means cutting back quality too. This holds true for supplements as well. According to a University of Minnesota study that looked into six different herbal supplements, the higher the price of a supplement, the more likely the suggested dose was to be compatible with recognized guidelines.

Do Your Research From Reputable Sources

For things such as medicine, it is best to rely on accurate sources. You may browse supplement fact sheets from the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements to receive all the information you need, from the recommended daily allowance (RDA) to the most recent research on the health benefits of a certain supplement.

It's also a good idea to remain on top of FDA warnings and recall notices. If you're ready to buy, the USP website includes a store directory as well as a list of all the participating supplement firms if you want to double-check before you go.

Supplements Are Not “One Size Fits All”

Something that works for someone else may not work for you, and that is okay. This is why it is important to rely on prescription supplements because your doctor will likely take into account your medical history before suggesting a supplement. The chances of your doctor being right are significantly higher than taking supplements without consulting a doctor.

If you are pregnant, avoid self-medicating on supplements at all. Although you may be at a risk for several deficiencies, it is best to let your doctor judge that. So, these are the 8 things to know before you try health supplements. Be careful in what you consume.

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