Due to a lack of a healthy diet, people are more susceptible to developing vitamin and mineral deficiencies. If you have visited the supplement section of a drug store, you must have been overwhelmed by the range of choices. Dietary supplement products have been flooding the market as their demand has increased significantly.
There are several factors to count when selecting a specific supplement. Although brands like Pure Encapsulations offer hypoallergenic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and research-based products, you still need to do a lot of homework before choosing one.
Know why you need them
Most people take dietary supplements to fulfill the daily requirement of essential nutrients. For this purpose, multivitamins serve the purpose. However, you need specific supplements such as calcium, vitamin D, and iron to treat particular health issues such as osteoporosis or anemia. In these cases, your doctor recommends the proper dosage and the brand he trusts.
If you want to prevent illness, a combination of good dietary choices and supplements can be effective in keeping a healthy immune system with which to fight off disease. it is better to rule out the need for supplements from your diet. Research shows that supplements can treat a disease but do not prevent it. It is better to depend on a healthy diet to avoid illnesses.
Third-party testing
Third-party testing is not necessary per the law; however, some brands, such as Pure Encapsulations, voluntarily go through the procedure to ensure their products are safe and high-quality.
You can find COA (Certificate of Analysis) on the brand’s website to know if their products are third-party tested or not. This certificate should be earned by a renowned company such as USP, BSCG, NSF, or BSCG. They test the product on various grounds such as:
- A complete list of ingredients is included in the product, with the amounts indicated.
- Each batch of products is standardized.
- It is free from contaminants.
- Absence of any undeclared ingredient.
Moreover, if you are an athlete, you should choose NSF-certified sports products. This certification assures that the product is free of 270 substances banned by most major sports organizations.
Choose a reputable brand
You might have seen some brands delivering supplements for several years. They are around because they probably deliver genuine products. You can ask someone for a suggestion in a drug or health food store; however, you are your own man at such a store. Choosing brands that have acquired COA from the labs mentioned before should be your priority in such situations.
Dosage
Supplements should also be taken in the correct dosage. “More is better” is not the case with them, as you might develop a rare but severe reaction to some vitamins and minerals. For example, too much vitamin D supplement can cause Vitamin D toxicity in some people.
Conclusion
Your goal should be to meet your nutritional needs through diet. However, your doctor will prescribe specific supplements if you suffer from nutritional deficiencies, inadequate access to healthy food, conditions causing malabsorption, or going through pregnancy.
Due to the FDA’s limited regulation of supplements, it can be hard to know which of them are safe and effective. You must do thorough research to avoid companies’ misleading claims and potential side effects.
Make sure you buy a third-party tested supplement with high-quality and safe ingredients. Also, contacting your doctor before making any dietary changes, especially if you are pregnant or suffering from a medical condition, is necessary.
