Are you looking into taking a supplement to get all the nutrients your body needs? Before you do, there are a few things you must know about supplements that many people probably don’t know about yet!
Understandably, shopping for supplements from brands like Integrative Therapeutics in Supplement First might seem like an overwhelming task. But if you do your research and know what you’re looking for, it won’t be too intimidating.
Read on as we share the things you must know about supplements from reputable stores like Supplement First.
- Supplements do not need to undergo safety testing
The FDA does not regulate all supplements but this doesn’t mean all supplements are unsafe. You just need to conduct deeper research to know which supplements are regulated by the FDA and have no recalls or complaints made about the product and manufacturer.
You can check out the FDA’s official website where they have a list of companies and products. Moreover, choose supplements that are labeled that they were tested by the FDA or other appropriate regulatory bodies.
- There are no regulatory definitions for multivitamins
If you buy a multivitamin from, let’s say, Centrum, then it might be totally different company product. This makes it very confusing if you are comparing brands as you shop for supplements.
- Vitamins and supplements are different
Did you know that there are only 13 vitamins? There are vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and eight B vitamins.
This is different from supplements, which are a substance ingested by mouth intended to supplement a diet. Vitamins are dietary supplements while dietary supplements are not vitamins. There are about 85,000 dietary supplements available in the US marketplace alone.
- Most supplements aren’t made in America
While some supplement products are manufactured in the USA, the raw ingredients usually come from abroad. Most dietary supplement ingredients come from China, and there are almost no vitamin manufacturing plants in the USA.
- It’s tough to tell if a supplement is a good quality
Given the state of regulation of supplements at the moment, it’s difficult to determine what supplements are of good quality. However, it’s helpful to look for evidence that the supplements have been tested by a third party. You can check out sites like ConsumerLab that randomly tests products.
Moreover, there are independent verification programs called the NSF International and United States Pharmacopeia.
- More does not equal better
Taking more supplements won’t give you any extra benefit to your body. In fact, it can cause more harm than good.
That’s why you must make sure you tell your doctor about the supplements you’re taking, as they can negatively interact with any other medications you currently take. Moreover, do not take more than the recommended dosage as stated in the packaging.
Plus, you probably already ingest supplements without realizing it, aka from the food you eat!
Wrapping It Up
Before you purchase any supplements, make sure you take everything above into account.
