Are you feeling fatigued more often? Maybe you’re concerned your hair is falling out. Either way, taking the right health supplements might help.
In fact, about 77% of Americans already consume dietary supplements.
Don’t rush to start choosing supplements for health online just yet! Instead, you need to vet your options. Otherwise, you might end up purchasing supplements full of harmful fillers.
You could get sick as a result.
Instead, use these seven tips before shopping from an online supplement store. With these tips, you can avoid potential scams. Instead, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ve chosen a legitimate shop.
Start your search for high-quality supplements with these tips today.
- Visit Your Doctor
Before you start shopping, it’s important to know which supplements you need. Otherwise, you might take supplements that are detrimental to your health. In fact, different health supplements can interact with one another, too.
Some supplements can also interact with prescription medications.
To avoid a potential interaction, visit your doctor. Ask if they can run a blood test.
The blood test will indicate which vitamins and supplements your body needs.
For example, your doctor might determine you have a vitamin B12 or vitamin D deficiency and suggest a vitamin B12 shot.
A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause:
- Weakness
- Exhaustion
- Lightheadedness
- Vision loss
- Mental health issues (memory loss, behavioral changes, depression)
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Gas
- A smooth tongue
- Pale skin
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
Many vegetarians and vegans are prone to vitamin B12 deficiency since the vitamin is common in animal products.
If these symptoms sound familiar, let your doctor know. They’ll evaluate the symptoms you’re experiencing while reviewing your blood work results. Then, they can help you choose the different health supplements you need.
Make sure to talk to your doctor about the medications you’re on. Ask if any of those medications will interact with the supplements you need. Otherwise, you could take a supplement that impacts your health.
For example, you shouldn’t take vitamin K if you’re on blood thinners.
Don’t take omega-3 fatty acids if you have surgery scheduled.
Some supplements can interact with your diet, too. For example, don’t take iron with milk. Milk’s calcium could interact with your iron supplement.
Your doctor will help you develop a plan with your health and safety in mind.
- Check the Label
Once you determine which supplements you need, you can start shopping!
Look for an online supplement store that offers the supplements you need. Don’t rush to shop from the first store you find. Instead, use the rest of these tips when choosing supplements for health to narrow down your options.
First, look for labels on products.
Many labels are designed with marketing in mind. These labels might display outlandish promises and claims. If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
Instead, do your due diligence. You can talk to your doctor to confirm some of the claims you read.
Otherwise, look for products with certifications from organizations you can trust. These include:
- NSF International
- United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
- ConsumerLab.com
These organizations ensure products are made while following proper manufacturing standards.
Check the label to determine how much of the nutrient you need is in the supplement, too. Ask your doctor about the daily recommended intake (DRI) you need. Then, make sure the DRI matches what’s mentioned on the label.
Look for a list of the product’s ingredients as well. If an ingredient doesn’t sound familiar, look it up.
Don’t forget to check for an expiration date as well.
- Explore the Website
Before choosing supplements, look at the online supplement store’s website.
Some online stores pop up overnight, take your money, and disappear. Their website can tell you a lot about the legitimacy of their business.
For example, do you see “HTTPS” at the beginning of the URL? Don’t give a website your credit card information unless you see “HTTPS.” These websites are secured with an SSL certificate.
They’re safe to shop from.
Otherwise, hackers can infiltrate an insecure website to steal your credit card information.
- Research the Company
Take the time to learn more about the supplement company, too. Remember, some companies pop up overnight.
How long has the company been in business? Do they have a pharmacist or doctor you can consult? If not, don’t shop from that brand.
Visit the National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements website. Learn more about the brand from their directory.
Does the brand have a recall alert from the FDA? Scratch them off your list.
The USP website lists reputable supplement companies as well. You can use their directory to streamline your search.
This Researched Nutritionals link can help as well.
- Find Online Reviews
Take the time to look for online customer reviews before you start shopping. Reviews can help you learn more from people who were in your shoes. You could have an easier time narrowing down your options as a result.
Check for reviews on the company’s Better Business Bureau and Google my Business listings. Supplement Reviews and Protein Daily are good resources as well.
If you see an abundance of negative reviews, scratch that business off your list.
- Compare Your Options
Start comparing supplement prices. Which store has the high-quality products you need at the right price? Try to prioritize choosing a high-quality brand over cheap products.
Otherwise, you might get what you pay for.
Make sure the company offers a return policy and guarantee.
- Avoid Tainted Products
Remember, you’ll want to check the labels on products for an ingredients list. Make sure to avoid ingredients like chromium or bitter orange. These ingredients can impact your health.
The FDA’s tainted products list can help you narrow down your options, too. If you find a product on this list, avoid it at all costs.
Become a Smarter Shopper: 7 Tips for Choosing Supplements for Health Goals
Don’t rush when choosing supplements for health online. Instead, use these tips to narrow down your options. With these tips, you can find a reputable online supplement store.
You’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ve chosen a store you can trust.
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