How To Choose Nutritional Supplements

The use of alternative medicines, especially herbal products and supplements, has increased significantly in the last decade. As we continue to learn about the benefits of herbal nutritional supplements the demand for them will probably continue to increase.

With all the news about the benefits of green tea and its impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties one of the many herbal nutritional supplements that have gained popularity in recent years is green tea pills.
Echinacea is always popular during cold season. Melatonin and Valerian have become popular to help people get a better night's sleep. And St John's Wart has gained a good deal of attention in recent years to help with mood swings.

But with all the herbal nutritional supplements available it can be overwhelming trying to sort through and decide what's best. For starters you need to educate yourself about the herbal supplements you're considering before you go out to purchase them. It's important to talk to your doctor about adding supplements to your daily routine as well.

New regulations are being put into place for dietary supplements, but it can still be difficult to know if you're choosing a high quality supplement. The regulations are designed to improve safety by requiring manufacturers adhere to specific manufacturing practices that will guarantee the supplements include exactly what their labels claim they do and that the supplements won't contain contaminants.

Look for herbal supplements that are standardized. When a supplement is standardized it means it has been tested for uniformity, and that each supplement is guaranteed to provide a specific amount of the active components. It's also good to make sure the product is certified. A few of the groups that certify herbal supplements include the US Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com and NSF International.

Generally it's best to buy products that only contain one herb. Products that contain a blend don't always list the specific dose of each herb per tablet. It's important to understand the dose you are taking.

Watch out for potential false claims. Herbal nutritional supplements have helped a lot of people, but no single supplement can deal with a broad range of health issues. If the claims sound too good to be true trust your instinct.

Since herbal nutritional supplements are easily purchased, and don't require a doctor's note, people often underestimate them. Herbs can be potent; they can produce side effects in some people, and as with any over the counter medicine you shouldn't take a larger dose than recommended on the bottle.

Also note that herbal supplements might produce side effects if mixed with other medicines - over the counter or prescription. This is exactly why you should talk to your doctor before taking them.

I suggest discussing this matter with a doctor, pharmacist or naturopath to help determine and prevent allergic reactions, contraindications and side effects.

Many people have had positive results taking supplements. It's just important to understand what you're taking before you take it.

About the Author:

John Stevens researches and writes about Green Tea Supplements. Browse to Green Tea Gum and learn more about the benefits of green tea.