Wednesday, February 25, 2009

3 Secrets Nutritional Supplement Companies Hide From You

By DorthyWeatherbush

Americans spent billions of dollars last year on natural remedies. But with so many different products to choose from in the aisles of your local health food store, how do you know which ones are worth buying and which ones you should avoid. Its important to note that there are many vitamin and nutritional supplements that can work wonders for your health however if you make the wrong choice, you may cause yourself irreparable damage. Before you make any long term decisions about your health, take a moment and discover these 3 amazing secrets related to supplements.

Amazing Secret #1 The difference between a drug and a nutritional supplement.

Amazing Secret #2 The impact of taking supplement with prescriptions drugs.

Amazing Secret #3 The importance of buying name brand and approved companies.

The Difference Between and Drug and Nutritional Supplements

Often times, there is no significant difference. Both can have strong effects and can cause physical problems if taken incorrectly. One of the critical factors is how the FDA, or the Food and Drug Administration view them. Largely, supplements are handled like foods. They are intended to supplement the diet, to go along with it. Drug on the other side are substances intended to treat or prevent disease. Due to these differing definitions, most supplements get lots of attention from the FDA, almost as much as a package of cough drops.

The Consequences of Taking Both Drugs and Supplements

Be very careful because some supplements interfere with prescription medications or cause dangerous side effects when taken with prescription drugs. The simple solution to avoid this danger is to always consult your doctor before taking any supplements even if you think they are harmless. You should also discontinue use of supplements if you are scheduled for any invasive medical procedure. Studies have found that certain supplements interfere with anesthesia, can cause excessive bleeding or elevate blood pressure.

The Importance of Taking Only Brand Name Supplements

One myth is that supplements contain all natural ingredients and are therefore safer prescription drugs. However, this is not the case at all. Lab test and independent research has found that many supplements contain ingredients like pesticides, metal, and bacteria. Recently, Consumer Reports test fond that mislabeling of drug ingredients occurs often and that dosage instructions are wrong. Consumer Reports suggests that instead of picking anything off the shelf, try and stick to the companies that you are familiar with that have a long standing reputation like GNC and Vitamin Shoppe.

In light of your new found knowledge, the question you may wonder where you can find reliable information about supplements. The irony is that most of what you will find on the internet or from the grocery store clerk is not the most reliable source of information. To start you in the right direction, consider the following sources. (National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration) - 15438

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