What’s in your supplements? Ingredients to look for and avoid in the vitamins you’re taking – and why it matters.

There is no shortage of options available when it comes to dietary supplements, and it’s easy to assume that they’re all pretty much the same. After all, they all just contain the nutrients featured prominently on the bottle, right? Not necessarily. While most supplements do contain some level of the nutrients that they advertise on the bottle, it may not be the amount listed and they also may contain other hidden ingredients that aren’t so good for you. There are plenty of excellent supplements out there that can help you maintain a healthy balance of nutrients in your body; the key is being informed about what ingredients – and brands – you can trust. Today, we’re giving you a quick rundown of some potentially harmful ingredients to avoid in dietary supplements, along with tips about how you can find the best supplements for your body.

Supplements and the FDA

Dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as food items, not drugs, despite the fact that some supplements can contain ingredients that do impact your health and may even interact with medications you’re taking in a variety of ways. It’s possible that some supplements can have adverse effects on your health depending on what conditions you have, what medicine you’re currently taking, and what your predispositions are. We don’t say this to alarm you, but to caution you to be as thorough as possible when researching your supplement options.

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How to Find Great Supplements

Always speak to your doctor before trying out new supplements, regardless of how appealing their advertisements may be. Your physician can orient you about which brands are the most reputable, as well as about which brands and ingredients you should steer clear of depending on your health profile, medication regimen, and goals. By working hand-in-hand with your physician to create a personalized nutrition and supplements plan, you can make sure that you’re helping to fuel and nourish your body without causing any harm.

Supplement Ingredients to Avoid

No amount of independent research is a substitute for talking to your physician about your supplement plan. With that said, there are certain hidden ingredients that you need to avoid in your supplements:

Toxic Metals & PCBs

Believe it or not, some supplements can include potentially harmful metals, like lead and mercury, as well as PCBs, which are toxic man-made compounds that can cause illness in humans. This is particularly common in fish oil supplements, so it’s critical that you talk to your doctor about which Omega-3 fish oil supplement brands thoroughly test their products for toxic metals and PCBs.

Artificial Coloring

Many supplement brands use artificial coloring in their products. These ingredients are especially pointless, because their purpose is purely aesthetic. There is no physical benefit whatsoever to consuming foods featuring artificial colors; in fact, artificial food coloring can lead to a variety of negative effects, including hyperactivity in children.

Talc, magnesium silicate, or asbestos

Unfortunately, you read that right. Talc and magnesium silicate can be included in certain supplement brands in order to prevent caking and to help supplements maintain their shape. The issue? Inhaling or otherwise consuming these compounds can lead to respiratory difficulty and lung illness. Magnesium silicate has also been known to become contaminated with asbestos during its mining process. If you are currently taking or considering supplements that contain these ingredients, talk to your physician about finding a better alternative.

Though this list of potential hazards can be intimidating, think of it as a resource to help guide you as you seek to make the best possible decisions about which supplements to take. By talking to your physician about your goals and overall health profile, you can rest easy knowing that the supplements you are recommended are of the highest quality possible.

“What’s in your supplements?” is a crucial question to ask if you’re looking to optimize your nutrition. The best thing you can do to make the most of your supplement intake – and your overall health – is to work with a trusted physician to create a supplement plan that you can count on. To learn more about which supplements are the best for your unique lifestyle, we invite you to schedule a consultation with us.

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