People use dietary supplements to get various health benefits, but most importantly, to get some of the nutrients that they may not be getting in the needed amounts from foods. You may be surprised to know so many people take dietary supplements- about 77% of US residents report that they use the products.

Some of the most used supplements are for vitamins and minerals, and people hope to get the missing nutrients when they consume the products, hence boost their health. In addition, some supplements help to enhance energy levels, and some even assist in shedding extra pounds for obese people.

Here are some tips to help you to choose nutritional supplements:

Consider the Reason for Using Them

Typically, dietary supplements are meant to ensure you get an adequate supply of a specific nutrient, and this is usually the case where multiple vitamin pills help well. However, in some instances, dietary supplements are intended to treat particular problems. For example, your physician may advise you to take iron tablets to cure anemia, or Vitamin D and calcium, for osteoporosis.

In such instances where supplements help deal with a condition, your doctor will advise you on the dosage of the products you should take and even suggest particular brands. On the other hand, if you consider that a specific supplement can help you deal with some health issues like weight loss, you need to consult your doctor before using them.

Check the Ingredients

As you buy your supplements, you need to be keen on the ingredients used to make each of the products. However, you should avoid purchasing those products with many elements. For instance, if you want to buy a Vitamin C supplement, avoid choosing those with other ingredients like Vitamin C with herbs to improve immunity or even more compounds.

Although the extra ingredients may look helpful, the more the compounds used in the product, the higher the chances of suffering avoidable side effects. It would be best only to use the product with the critical nutrient like Vitamin C alone.

Check Third-Party Certificate

As much as the dietary supplement industry is regulated, the products lack the FDA’s seal to show they are safe. Therefore, to ensure you have a safe product, look for those that reliable third-party bodies have tested and indicated to be of high quality and safety. You can check for third-party marks of approval from such bodies as USP, ConsumerLab, and others.