3 Secrets Nutritional Supplement Companies Hide From You

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.

Surprising Secret #1 The difference between drugs and nutritional supplements.

Surprising Secret #2 The consequences of taking prescribed drugs with supplements.

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

The Difference Between a Nutritional Supplement and a Drug

In many cases, there is not much of a difference. Both substances can have extremely powerful effects and cause problems if taken incorrectly. A key element is how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) view them. For the most part, the FDA treats supplements as if they were foods. They are technically defined as products taken by mouth that contain an ingredient intended to supplement the diet. Drugs on the other hand are legally defined as substances intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease. Because of this definition, most supplements get as much attention from the FDA as a package of throat lozenges.

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.

Now that the secrets have been revealed, you may want to know where reliable information can be obtained regarding supplements. You will not find it online on a website through Google, or by talking to anyone who's not a medical doctor. Instead, try calling the FDA or the National Institute of Health.