Below are points to consider when considering using a dietary supplement:
- Determine if the supplement is really necessary or not
- Consult your healthcare provider and ask if the supplement under consideration is safe and will be beneficial to your heath
- Use noncommercial sites (e.x. FDA, USDA) rather than depending on information from sellers/ manufacturers
- Choose well-known brand names
- Look for evidence of third-party testing on the label, which ensures:
- What’s on the label is inside the bottle (nothing more)
- The quality of manufacturing
- Do not be naive- if a claim sound too good to be true, it probably is. Be mindful of product claims such as “works better than [a prescription drug],” “totally safe,” or has “no side effects”
- Be aware that the term all-natural does not always means safe
- Do not take more than the recommended serving size
- Most importantly be an informed consumer – take the time to educate yourself!