How to Evaluate Vitamins and Supplements

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Vitamins and Supplements Lifestyle Guide
Getting the Most From Supplements Your guide to the benefits of taking vitamins and supplements.
Vitamins and Supplements Glossary What does that vitamin label mean? A vitamin and supplement glossary of terms.
How Many Supplements Should I Take? How many supplements should you take each day? Get answers and facts here.
Your Guide to Protein Powders Got protein? What you should know about whey and other protein powders.
Understanding Prenatal Vitamins Get the basics on prenatal vitamins and your baby's health.
Iron Supplements Explained Who needs iron supplements? Get the facts on how iron works.
Vitamins that Fight Inflammation Facts on which vitamins and supplements may help decrease inflammation.
Nutritious & Delicious Foods Find out how these tasty and nutritious foods can benefit you.
How to Use Supplements Wisely A handy guide to taking supplements wisely.
Supplements to Boost Your Mood Depressed? Get the facts to see if supplements can help improve your mood.
Natural Sleep Supplements If you're in search of a good night's sleep, try these natural sleep aids.
Energy-Enhancing Supplements Low on energy and tired all the time? Find vitamin fixes here.
Libido-Boosting Supplements Can dietary supplements help put the spark back in your sex life?
Chronic Pain Supplements Don't let chronic pain keep you grounded. Find out which supplements ease pain.
Supplements for Skin & Beauty Which vitamins help keep you looking your best? Get the facts here.
Arthritis & Joint Pain Supplements Find out which supplements can help ease joint pain.
Memory-Boosting Supplements Fortify your memory naturally with the right vitamins.
Allergy Vitamins & Supplements Vitamins and supplements to help ease bothersome allergy symptoms.
Supplements for People With Cancer If you have cancer, you may have special nutrition needs. Vitamins may help.
Supplements for Cold and Flu Can vitamins help you stay healthy during flu season?
Evaluating Supplements What should you know before taking vitamins and supplements?
Heart Health Supplements Find out which supplements can help lower cholesterol.
Weight Loss Supplements Stuck in a diet rut? Find out if supplements can boost your weight loss efforts.

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Vitamins and Supplements: How to Choose Wisely

4 Tips for Smart Shoppers

When you’re ready to purchase supplements, keep these tips in mind:

Look for evidence about how well the product works in scientific studies from credible publications. Search for such studies in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) PubMed database: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed. You can also call the manufacturer and ask what published studies they have to back up their claims. It’s also a good idea to find out how they ensure the ingredients listed on the supplement label are actually in the bottle.
If a product claims it will “cure” a disease, is “all-natural,” or has a “money-back guarantee,” be on guard. Any supplement that sounds too good to be true likely is.
Choose brands labeled with the NSF International, US Pharmacopeia, or Consumer Lab seal. These verify that the product actually contains the ingredients that the label says it does, and that the product doesn’t have any potentially harmful ingredients.
Be wary of supplements made outside the United States. Many aren’t regulated, and some may have toxic ingredients.

3 Tips for Storing Vitamins

Supplements don’t last forever, and they need a little care to keep them working well. After you buy them:

Keep them in a dark, cool, dry place. Avoid bathrooms and other damp spots.
Make sure you keep them on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet, out of children’s reach.
Some vitamins and supplements wear out when they sit on the shelf for too long. Do a regular check of your stash and throw out any that are past their expiration date.

Finally, always let your doctor know about any vitamins or supplements you plan to take, especially if you have a health condition or are on regular medication. Not all products work well for everyone, and some can be dangerous.