To Supplement or Not to Supplement?

When considering whether or not to start taking dietary supplements, it's important to remember that many of the people & companies peddling pills may not have your best interests in mind. So, be skeptical!

Just because it comes in a nice package and sits on the shelf of a "health food" store, does not necessarily mean it's good for your body.

Our philosophy is that most people can get all the nutrients they need as long as they are very conscientious about eating a wide variety of whole foods, including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, seeds and lean protein.

Rather than wasting money on expensive supplements, we'd prefer that you spend your precious time, money and effort on buying and preparing healthy, well-balanced meals.

Of course, there may be some circumstances when a specific supplement is warranted. If you're considering taking a supplement, the first question you should ask yourself is: "Why do I need them?" Be sure that you can answer this question fully & thoughtfully before ingesting something new.

Here are some interesting facts:

• Federal law does not require dietary supplements to be proven safe to FDA's satisfaction before they are marketed.

• For most claims made in the labeling of dietary supplements, the law does not require the manufacturer or seller to prove to FDA's satisfaction that the claim is accurate or truthful before it appears on the product.

In other words, there is NO guarantee that any dietary supplement on the market is either safe or effective, no matter how compelling the advertisements seem! So how do you know whether you should be taking a specific supplement?

Check as many resources as possible for information before putting an unknown substance into your body!

The FDA receives reports of adverse side effects in supplements, including muscle enhancement supplements, hormonal supplements, herbal supplements and weight loss supplements. To see the substances that the FDA has warned people from using, click here.

Finally, remember that a supplement is supposed to make up for a deficiency to put your body in proper nutritional balance. Using an unnecessary supplement or using an excessive amount of a supplement may throw your body out of balance, which can lead to severe body dysfunction.

Before taking any supplement, check with your healthcare provider to find out if your body really needs it and if so in what dosage. If you don’t need it, don’t waste your money.

There is a place for some supplements, but to make sure your body really needs them, do your research and consult with your health care provider.