Then, look at the images of the product package itself. If a supplement sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Credible supplements have peer-reviewed scientific literature that supports their use and effectiveness. Also, make sure the recommended dose is backed by science.
If it is, it will also be discussed in supporting studies. More doses don't always equate to better results, so be careful with mega doses. All supplements that InsideTracker recommends are backed by numerous studies and come with personalized dosing instructions. Talk to your doctor if you are taking medicine, are pregnant, or breastfeeding.
There are a few things you can do to avoid fakes and buy high-quality supplements. One of them is a verification seal from the U.S. UU. Also, when buying online, check who sells the product.
On Amazon, for example, the seller's name appears after the name of the product you want to buy. You can test the authenticity of the supplements by mixing a tablespoonful in water. If it is fake, the product will leave dust or residue on the glass, while an original product will not. Fake supplements also have a pungent smell and a bad taste.
Look for the words 100 percent natural on the product label. Some product labels may contain the words “natural,” but manufacturers can claim that they are natural in their nutritional products if at least 10 percent of the product comes from natural food sources. The Organic Consumers Organization recommends looking for products that contain 100 percent plant origin or 100 percent animal origin on the product label. Scientists don't know if a daily multivitamin prevents the disease, but many people take them to maintain or improve their health.
Others take only one vitamin or mineral, such as iron, to fill a gap in their diets. Before making decisions about whether to take a supplement, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you strike a balance between food and the nutrients you need personally. Because the Food and Drug Administration does not verify that supplements contain what they say they contain or are contaminated with heavy metals, bacteria, or pesticides before they are sold, some third-party groups have taken over the role.
If you are taking supplements in response to a biomarker level, recheck your biomarker to ensure that continuous supplementation is needed. Unlike medicines, supplements are not allowed to be marketed for the purpose of treating, diagnosing, preventing or curing diseases. The FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. Nowadays, people have become extremely cautious about their health, and many even take dietary supplements to stay in shape.
More than 50% of adults in the United States report using at least one dietary supplement,1 but just because supplements are consumed a lot doesn't mean they're heavily regulated. In addition, many brands of high-quality health supplements on the market today are imported, which makes them expensive (taxes, customs and import overheads), especially for young adults who are a considerable part of the target market. A pharmacist can identify a natural or synthetic vitamin supplement and help you learn to identify it yourself. If there is a serious problem associated with a dietary supplement, manufacturers should report it to the FDA as an adverse event.
If the dietary supplement contains a NEW ingredient, manufacturers must notify the FDA of that ingredient before it is marketed. Some manufacturers of commercial vitamin and mineral supplements add synthetics to vitamin products, usually to increase the potency of the vitamin, but many synthetics are made from derivatives of coal tar, a known carcinogen found in cigarette smoke. Keep in mind that supplements undergo rigorous testing and multiple quality checks before they finally arrive at your doorstep. According to DSHEA, supplement manufacturers and distributors are responsible for verifying the quality and safety of the dietary ingredients they use.
Learn how to read the product label by searching for keywords that indicate that the supplement is synthetic. However, with so many supplements available on the market, how to distinguish fake ones from genuine ones. . .
