I believe that eating a balanced diet is the best way to ensure that you’re meeting your vitamin and mineral needs. Still, under certain circumstances, taking a supplement may be necessary.
Shopping for supplements can be incredibly challenging as a consumer.
With so many supplements out there and so much information packed onto every product label, it can be tricky to even know where to start . As I have mentioned before, its really important to keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate the safety or effectiveness of supplements the same way, that it monitors drugs.
Supplement facts
The supplement facts label includes most of the basic information about a supplement: including the serving size, number of servings per container, ingredients in the product, and amount of each nutrient that it contains. Start by checking the serving size, which can give you an idea of how much you should take to reach the desired dosage. Then toward the bottom of the supplement fact label, other ingredients are listed, including herbs, extracts, additives, and other compounds. Ingredients
When selecting a supplement, reading the ingredient label is key :
-Check carefully for ingredients like fillers, sweeteners, preservatives, and additives, all of which will be listed on the label. -Fillers are often used by manufacturers to help cut costs or add substance to tablets and capsules. -Some additives also increase the shelf life of supplements, help bind ingredients together, or improve the texture, color, taste, or consistency of products.
A few of the most common additives found in supplements include:
cellulose
stearic acid
gelatin
soybean oil
maltodextrin
potassium sorbate
silicon dioxide
citric acid
titanium dioxide
soy lecithin
magnesium stearate
sorbitol
Supplements may also contain artificial colors, sweeteners, or flavorings, all of which will also be indicated on the label.. Steer clear of supplements that contain a long list of additives, including fillers, binders, sweeteners, or preservatives. Allergies and dietary restrictions
If you have any allergies, it’s important to always check the label of your supplement carefully. Food allergens that are required to be disclosed include : milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, soy, wheat, and peanuts. Some supplements may note that they’re allergen-free or don’t contain a specific allergen. It’s important to note that these terms are not regulated by the FDA, and companies are not required to conduct allergen protein testing on their products. In addition, for those with celiac disease or a sensitivity to gluten, selecting products that are certified gluten-free may also be a good option to guarantee that a supplement doesn’t contain any traces of gluten.
Vegans and vegetarians may also want to watch out for animal-derived ingredients like gelatin, carmine, magnesium stearate, collagen, and lanolin.
To ensure you’re getting a high quality supplement, look for products that have undergone third-party testing, and are certified by organizations like USP or NSF International. Not all supplements are equal, and I encourage all of you to read my original blog-post " What's in your supplement", to get a better idea.
Its also best to avoid products that make unfounded health claims, promise unrealistic results, or state that they can cure or treat a disease.
Hopefully, with these points, you will have an easier time, next time you are shopping for supplements. Also, you can always sign up for my fullscript dispensary to get medical grade supplements, at a discounted price, delivered to your house.( see my blog post on " How to get Medical grade supplement )
Stay well and stay healthy. Dr. Naghmeh, pharm.D.
Yorumlar