Health supplements are among today’s modern approaches to nutrient replenishment and rejuvenation. Choosing the right health supplement can be tricky. From misleading claims to unnecessary additives, you must do some homework and research the basics of health supplements.
Today, let us know more about health supplements and how they work, and then guide you through recommendations for choosing the high-quality health supplement that’s right for you. Continue reading until the end and discover the perfect health supplement that would work for your needs.
What is a Health Supplement?
Health supplements are products used to supplement a diet and to support or maintain, enhance and improve the healthy functions of the human body. They cannot be injectables or preparations that need to be sterile, like injections and eye drops. Also, they cannot be items of meals or diets.
A health supplement must also contain one or more or a combination of the following ingredients:
- Bioactive substances, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, probiotics, and others;
- Substances derived from all-natural sources, which include materials of animal, mineral, and botanical natures in the forms of concentrates, extracts, isolates; and
- Synthetic sources of ingredients mentioned earlier in Items (A) and (B).
Furthermore, you must administer health supplements in small unit doses in dosage forms such as the following:
- Capsules
- Liquids
- Soft gels
- Syrups
- Tablets
Products used on animals and products presented in the form of food and beverages, such as biscuits, cookies, coffee, and juice, are not health supplements.
What Health Supplements Do You Need?
Not everyone needs a health supplement — many people get the nutrients they need from a healthy, balanced diet. So the first step is to understand if you need to take one. The most common reasons someone might take a health supplement include the following:
- Age – e.g., the risk of vitamin D deficiency increases as we age
- Food allergies – e.g., some people with allergies have limited or restricted diets, so they can’t get all the vitamins and nutrients they need from food.
- Medical conditions – e.g., a coeliac disease that can cause nutrient deficiencies because of damage to the part of your gut that’s involved in absorption
- Medications – e.g., proton pump inhibitors or PPIs that can inhibit the absorption of vitamin B12
- Pregnancy – e.g., it’s highly recommended that all women trying to get pregnant take a folic acid supplement.
- Type of diet – e.g., it can be hard to get enough vitamin B12 from vegan or vegetarian diets
In addition, a vitamin blood test can also help you understand whether your diet is providing you with all the nutrients you need. Based on this factor, you can make an informed decision about whether you need a health supplement.
If you have a deficiency, you can treat it with our premium health supplements. Moreover, if you’re on any medications or have a medical condition, you should always speak with your doctor before taking any health supplement.
How to Pick High-Quality Health Supplements
Once you’ve decided that a health supplement is what you need, the next step is finding one that’s high quality. Here are three (3) recommendations advice you can follow when choosing your health supplement:
What to Watch Out For
Watch out for any health supplements that make bold claims. For example, a health supplement helps build muscle or burn fat. If this idea sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Read the Ingredients Thoroughly
Always make sure to read the ingredients. If it lists any element you need to recognize or understand, research them to ensure it’s not an unnecessary additive. Low-quality health supplements can contain additives that block your body from absorbing the active ingredient or the nutrient you want.
Often, you can get an indication of the quality of a health supplement by checking the ‘free from” information. This list might include the following, ‘free from’:
- artificial colorings
- artificial preservatives
- eggs
- gluten
- GMOs
- lactose
- peanuts
- shellfish
- soy
- tree nuts
- wheat
Furthermore, reading the label is essential if you have an allergy.
Check the Dosage
It’s crucial to choose a health supplement that has the correct dose for you. There can be a delicate balance between getting enough and over-supplementing. More is only sometimes better!
Taking too much of a health supplement can cause health problems. For instance, too much Vitamin D can lead to Vitamin D toxicity. This condition is rare, but it’s still worth paying close attention to the doses in your health supplements.
On top of this idea, the dose only makes up part of the picture. It would be best if you also consider the active ingredient’s bioavailability.
Check the Bioavailability
Bioavailability refers to the number of nutrients that your body can absorb. There are many different nutrients; some are much easier to absorb than others.
For example, magnesium is available in many forms, such as bis-glycinate, citrate, chloride, sulfate, or taurate. Some of these nutrients are easier to absorb but can also have different benefits. So, it’s worth researching or working with a health professional to find a suitable form.
BONUS
Consider the cost
Health supplements can be costly — so look for a price that works for you and, if needed, a price you can afford long-term. There can be a trade-off between the cost and quality of the health supplement, so you need to get the balance right.
Remember that health supplements are only worth the money if you remember to take them — set the alarm to remind yourself!
Check Where It’s Made
If you want to get comfortable with your carbon footprint, check if your health supplements are made in the UK, where some of the most reliable ones come from when dealing with health supplements.
Final Thoughts on Health Supplements
When used correctly, certain health supplements may help reduce the risk of some health conditions and diseases. Others may also reduce discomfort resulting from particular conditions or medicines or help you feel better, improving your quality of life. Most people can use health supplements safely as long as they don’t take too much.
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