With so many choices in food and health supplements, choosing the right one to suit your needs can be quite a challenge. Websites such as http://healthenergyguru.com/ can help you immensely in choosing the health supplements that really work and those that are worth their price. However, choosing health supplements that work as intended is one thing, using and supplementing with them properly is altogether a different thing.
It is always best to get your nutrition from whole foods. However, there are cases where someone can only receive the right amount of nutrients to address their particular health needs through supplementation. So what then, should you consider before you start using health supplements? What is the right way of using health supplements?
How You View Supplementation
Food and health supplements should be viewed for what they are—supplements. They primarily serve to provide you with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that you need but are lacking in your diet. Supplements cannot give you all the nutritional benefits that you can get from whole foods such as micronutrients, essential dietary fiber, and antioxidants.
Supplementation is also a good alternative for those who are suffering from medical conditions that make their bodies inefficient at absorbing important nutrients from whole foods. For example, herbal supplements, like chanca piedra, can help soothe various conditions, like disorders of the urinary tract and kidney stones. Learn more about this herbal supplement and whether it is right for you
Supplementation is a must for pregnant women who need at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, prenatal vitamins and iron. Those who are over the age of 50 should take multivitamins that are fortified with vitamin B-12 patch. Adults over the age of 65 should start supplementing with vitamin D to help strengthen their bones and reduce the risk of injury from a fall. Supplementation is also a good alternative for those who are suffering from medical conditions that make their bodies inefficient at absorbing important nutrients from whole foods.
It will be a good idea for you to start taking health supplements if you don’t have a healthy, well-rounded diet, eat less calories or are a vegetarian or vegan. If you follow a certain diet that prevents you from eating entire categories of food, then supplementation should provide the nutrients that are missing in your diet.
You should never view supplementation as a means to cure a medical condition. If you have a serious health issue, you should see a medical professional and not try to self-medicate with health supplements.
Your Research
If a health supplement caught your interest, don’t be taken in by the hype that comes with it. Sketchy vendors who are only out to convert you into a sale often use words such as “cutting-edge,” breakthrough, and “amazing”. When you see these words to describe a product, consider them as red flags.
It is wise that you should do more research about a “miracle” product before buying it. Do your research outside the vendor site and in reputable online sources of scientific health research. Among the most reputable websites where you can read up more about a particular health supplement include PubMed, JAMA, and Examine.com.
Your Physician’s Take
Once your doctor gives you the go-signal to use a health supplement, follow his recommendations when it comes to dosage and take them only as your doctor directed. If you suffer any adverse reactions, stop taking the supplements immediately and go see your physician.
