In 2019, as many as 77% of Americans reported that they consumed dietary supplements.
Of those, 58% took multivitamins, while between 12% and 21% consumed products that fall into the general health supplement category. The number of players has grown exponentially in this very competitive industry.
And that’s the problem. Some products sold online are of poor quality, or worse. They could even contain fillers or contaminants harmful to humans. If you are residential of canada, you can buy original medicines from the Canadian Pharmacy.
That’s our motivation for giving you tips on picking health supplements safely, especially when shopping online. Keep reading to learn more!
Picking Health Supplements the Safe Way
The first thing is to look for signs that the product on sale is reputable. Apart from being a well-known brand, you need to look for certification. In the US, these could be the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), NSF International, or ConsumerLab.com.
Be aware that there are fraudulent companies in the market. You have all heard about the fake luxury watches at unbelievably low prices. Well, the health supplement market is no different.
Our second tip is that you should read the label. Do the ingredients match the marketing claims of the product and are they in the quantities you need? Make sure that the product comes from a company that can show proven research preceded the manufacturing of the supplement.
The FDA has a Tainted Products list that gives the hidden ingredients per product name and the company that makes or distributes it. Looking up the names of the ingredients on this can be an eye-opening exercise.
Third—although perhaps it should be first, and certainly before you buy anything—consult your doctor. Your doctor will be able to advise you on whether the product will be of benefit to you. Your doctor will also be aware of FDA warnings or product recalls.
Medical professionals can tell you whether the supplements you think you need are compatible with the prescription medications you’re already taking. It is also possible that your health status would make it inadvisable to take certain supplements. If there’s any doubt, there are a number of blood tests you can have to determine dietary deficiencies.
Side Effects Can Be Serious
Read the product specifications and check for possible side effects.
For example, the once-popular antacid Ranitidine, also branded as Zantac, was discovered to have carcinogenic effects. The cancer-causing side effects have prompted zantacsettlement.org to dedicate a website to providing information about the Zantac Lawsuit. The website has an extensive FAQ for anyone concerned about their consumption of this medication.
If you have already gone through the four steps listed above, then it is still a good idea—our tip number five—to check online customer reviews. Doing so will give you some peace of mind that you are not unwittingly participating in a scam or purchasing a harmful product.
Be Sure of the Website’s Bona Fides
Our last tip is to check out the website and make sure it is not a disreputable or bogus site. Ask yourself seriously whether the amazing claims they make for the products they’re selling are too good to be true.
If they provide solid product information and are easy to contact, they are probably reputable, but you need to be alert all the same.
Looking for more great advice? Keep browsing our site for other articles related to picking health supplements and health in general. We’re up-to-date with the latest useful info!
