Will taking dietary supplements improve my health?
The short answer: They can, but there are risks.
The explanation: Dietary supplements can be beneficial, helping you improve or maintain your health and meet your daily requirements of essential nutrients. But it should be remembered that they are meant to be just what their name says: supplements to a healthy diet. Additionally, some supplements can interact with medicines, contain unsafe ingredients, or involve health risks, so it is advised that you consult with your health care provider and purchase only those marked as third-party certified.
Although dietary supplements are subject to FDA regulations, the agency does not have the authority to review the products for safety or effectiveness before they are marketed. Rather, FDA is charged with identifying products on the market that cause harm, have unsafe ingredients, are illegally marketed, etc., and then taking legal action, such as having the products removed from the market.
A few tips for safe use of dietary supplements:
- Look for USP Verified, NSF Certified, CL Seal, or other third-party certification, verifying that the product was tested for ingredients and contaminants to ensure quality and labeled ingredient accuracy. However, they do not evaluate the truthfulness of health claims or other potential individual risks, thus a health professional should always be consulted and informed of dietary supplements you are taking.
- Adverse health effects are most likely to occur if you take too high a dose; combine or take a variety of supplements; mix supplements with certain medicines; or use supplements to replace food or medicine. Some herbal ingredients may have side effects because most people have never digested that plant-type before.
- Don’t take or give dietary supplements to pregnant/nursing women or children without a physician’s advice because many dietary supplement ingredients have not been tested on these populations.
- Be wary of products promoted mainly for weight loss, sexual enhancement, and bodybuilding. These types of supplements often make unsubstantiated and unrealistic claims that have not been proven or tested. Many also contain ingredients not listed on the label or even prescription drugs not allowed in dietary supplements.
- Although dietary supplements can be purchased online, they should only be purchased directly through the brand’s website or a trusted online retailer as there have been numerous reports of counterfeit and fake supplements sold online, posing serious safety concerns.
Dietary supplements can be beneficial as long as risks are considered, recommendations are followed, and they are used to supplement, not replace, a healthy diet.
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