Vitamins and other supplements can provide many health benefits in our modern, busy and stressful lifestyles. However, not all supplements are created equal.

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When buying health supplements, here are some common mistakes that you can avoid:

1. Asking The Store Clerk

The sales staff in the store are not the experts from whom you should be getting your nutritional or supplement advice. Most of the store clerks probably get the information from the marketing material provided by their major suppliers. Do your own reading and research, or ask the experts.

2. Unrealistic Expectations

Supplements are not a “quick fix” solution. They provide benefits when taken regularly over a period of time. Therefore, you should use the supplements as they are intended according to the label.They should not be used as a replacement for eating and living well. You should already have a healthy diet and lifestyle as a base, and take supplements to optimize your health.

3. Overdosing

More is definitely not better; taking too much of certain supplements can be harmful. For example, excessive iron and vitamin A can cause liver problems, and an overdose of vitamin B6 can cause nerve damage to the arms and legs. Therefore, you should always follow the recommended dosage instructions. If anything, I would prefer to underdose, but I always make sure that I take the supplements regularly.


4. Absorption Issues

The supplements you take need to be properly absorbed into the body for the full benefits to be felt. Fat-soluble vitamins need to be taken with fat in order to be better absorbed into the body; therefore, vitamins A, D, E and K should be taken with meals containing fat. Vitamin D should be taken with calcium and magnesium for better absorption.

5. Potential Interaction

Be careful of potential interaction of supplements with drugs and other supplements. Blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin and aspirin should not be combined with co-enzyme Q10, which can affect the bio-availability of the drugs. On the other hand, folic acid should be taken together with vitamin B12 for best effect, as they work together.

6. Additives In The Supplements

Many supplements have to be compressed into tablets for easier consumption. Binders are added to give the mixture the right consistency. Tablets can be coated with protein to protect them from deterioration, and to allow for easier swallowing. Be mindful about artificial flavoring, sweeteners, coloring agents and preservatives. Read the labels carefully and look out for ingredients such as FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 6, polysorbate 80, sodium benzoate, and butylated hydroxytoluene. These are all undesirable ingredients.

Supplements can be a positive addition to your lifestyle and a simple way to promote overall health and well-being. Choose only those that offer superior purity, reliability,guaranteed potency and have gone through rigorous quality control.

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