Over the past couple of years, supplements have become insanely popular. Whenever people start asking questions about their health, such as “Why do I feel tired constantly?” or “Why am I experiencing muscle cramping all the time?” the answer is always simple.
It’s not, go to the doctor, or something like that, but the fact that they are probably lacking a certain nutrient. So what’s the next logical step in this situation? To consult a healthcare provider, or?
It is highly likely that you’ll be advised to take a good supplement because it is going to provide you with the proper support and will help your body function normally. Still, how to know we found the right one? Below you’ll find the answer!
Useful Tips To Help You Pick The Best Supplement For You
Focus On The Ingredients
This is for sure one of the most important steps when it comes to choosing a high-quality supplement. Why is it so crucial? Well, it’s because a lot of supplements are filled with additives, especially low-quality ones.
Namely, if they enter your body, they will not allow it to absorb the necessary ingredients. That’s precisely why this is essential to do. One of the best ways to check the quality of a certain supplement is if you notice that it is “free-from”:
- Wheat
- Gluten
- Eggs
- Lactose
- Soy
- Shellfish
- Peanuts
- Free nuts
- GMOs
- Artificial preservatives
- Artificial colorings
Now, in case you have an allergy to a certain ingredient then it is particularly important to focus on the label.
Tried And Tested
In case you haven’t heard of a certain supplement before, yet you’re intrigued by it, then it would be recommendable to gather all the facts about it before you consume it. For instance, there are many health supplements online that will provide users with information regarding the type of clinical trials that the corporation has utilized to prove its effectiveness. If you’re able to, you can ask the company to give you some copies of these trials to see if they batch-test all their products.
Of course, it doesn’t mean that the company is going to provide you with this info, but it surely doesn’t hurt to try just to get yourself familiar with all essential facts regarding the supplement.
What Else Is Important?
Think About Your Goals
A recent study showcased that a lot of people will gladly decide to purchase a particular vitamin or mineral without actually knowing why they are doing it in the first place. The answer that he or she has seen the ad in the magazine isn’t actually valid.
Therefore, before you “embark on this journey” you should first see if you really need a certain supplement or you’re buying it just because you’re curious to see how it feels like. Now, in case you’re feeling tired, or feel like you have no strength, then it’s the perfect time to consider purchasing a supplement. But remember you shouldn’t be doing it without having at least one reason!
Check The Bioavailability
What does this term mean? It refers to the number of nutrients your body is capable of absorbing. Bear in mind that there are numerous forms of nutrients and some are easier to absorb than others.
For example, magnesium can be found in so many different forms, such as magnesium sulfate, chloride, taurate, bis-glycinate, citrate. Some of these types are quite easy to absorb, which is not the case with others, hence, it would be recommendable to conduct research or consult your doctor before you purchase the product.
See If There’s A Third Party Verification On The Bottle
A plethora of supplements is certified by either NSF International or USP (the U.S. Pharmacopeia Convention). Both of these represent third-party organizations that perform testing on various supplements to see if what is presented on the label is really inside of the bottle.
Besides that, they also want to make sure none of these products contain a lot of contaminants, for instance, heavy metals. Furthermore, these credentials can be seen on the label, however, since it is quite pricey, not every company can afford their verification services.
Dosage And Formulas
Another important factor that should definitely be checked out before you start supplementing. Namely, more doesn’t necessarily mean better when it comes to it. It all depends on the supplement.
That’s why, for starters, you should choose supplements with a lower dose than you can consume a couple of times a day because there’s a better chance of them being absorbed. Besides that, another thing worth considering is the ease of application.
For instance, swallowing huge capsules is not always easy, especially to those who are having insufficiencies or digestive problems, hence, acquiring supplements in liquids, oral sprays and other methods can be a much more acceptable alternative.
What About Side-Effects?
Just because supplements appear to be harmless, since they are not traditional medications, it doesn’t mean that some of them do not come with certain side effects. They normally involve things like digestive problems, fatigue, hair loss, and many other things.
Of course, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll experience any of these side effects, but it still doesn’t hurt to get yourself familiar with them before you purchase any supplement. Only then you’ll be able to tell whether a particular side-effect is worth the benefit.
The Price
Generally speaking, supplements are supposed to be affordable, however, it doesn’t mean that if they are too cheap, that they are necessarily good. Namely, a lot of cheap brands do not utilize properly researched ingredients which means that their product is not going to be effective enough.
Of course, at the end of the day, you should buy something that is of high-quality, yet not too expensive, especially if you want to use a certain supplement for a long period of time. Finding the perfect balance is probably the best.
As you can see, finding the right supplement doesn’t have to be all that difficult, especially if you already know what you need, or you’ve already gotten some recommendations. Anyhow, if you want to find something that is suitable for you, make sure to follow these tips!