It’s always better to get the nutrients your body needs from your diet. That’s not always possible. Poor absorption, dietary restrictions, or deficiencies may require additional nutrition. Opting for a supplement may be your only answer. When you look at a supplement label, do you understand everything it’s telling you? Most people don’t. They may have a picture on the front or some phrase indicating they’re extremely healthy and perfect for your needs, but don’t let that fool you. Always check the ingredients list before you buy.
Dietary supplements are not monitored by the FDA.
A supplement is any product that’s not tobacco and contains vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, or dietary substances. It can be a powder, pill, gummies, or power bar. It’s meant to boost nutrients that might be missing because of poor appetite, lack of absorption, or poor diet. For most people, it’s because of making unhealthy choices. Supplements aren’t meant to replace a healthy diet but add to it. For instance, people in northern areas can’t get adequate sun to produce vitamin D, so supplements help. Supplements open the door for abusive use. Taking too much vitamin D causes increased thirst and urination, digestive issues, muscle weakness and fatigue, bone pain, bone loss, and high blood pressure.
Check for the type of nutrient the supplement contains and how much.
Bioavailability is important. Bioavailability is the amount available to the body. Some forms are easier for the body to use and provide maximum benefits. Chelated and methylated vitamins tend to be more bioavailable. Does your body require the supplement? Does it do what they say it’s supposed to do? How much is necessary? Use the daily value—DV—percentage. It’s not so easy when you look at herbal supplements. Remember, the FDA doesn’t regulate them like medicine, but instead, like they do food. If the supplement is to improve vision, do your homework to see if the ingredients do that.
Identify the active ingredients and fillers.
Check the ingredient list as you would on a food product. The ingredients are listed by the amount included in the supplement. The most abundant ingredients are listed first. What are the fillers? Are they healthy? Do some nutrients counter the effect of others? If you take iron and calcium together, calcium interferes with the absorption of the iron.
- Look for the recommended dosage. If you need to take two pills a day to get the same amount as another bottle offers in one pill, you have to buy twice as much. Even if the first has a lower price per bottle and the same number of capsules, you aren’t getting the most for your money.
- Price doesn’t always reflect quality. Many things determine the product’s price, including advertising. Look for a seal of purity from an outside testing agency like the U.S. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com, and NSF International.
- See if the supplement uses whole foods. Using them ensures you also get the phytonutrients that have a synergistic relationship and boost the benefits.
- Don’t abuse supplements. Follow the recommended serving size. The benefits diminish the more you take and the potential for harm increases. Always check the use by date.
For more information, contact us today at Hawaii Fit Camp!