Before starting to buy supplements online, it is worth doing a little research otherwise you may find yourself with supplements that contain harmful fillers or dangerous ingredients.
Many people struggle to get the vitamins and nutrients they need from their diets. In fact, almost 80% of Italians are already taking food supplements. Before you start buying supplements online, however, it is worth doing a little research or else you may find yourself with supplements that contain harmful fillers or dangerous ingredients.
Not sure where to start your search? Here are the tips that can help you when shopping for different types of supplements online. With these tips, you can make sure that you are buying supplements that will benefit your health.
Read on to learn more.
Explore first
When shopping for drugs online it is really worth doing your research. This will allow you to gain experience in understanding who is a safe supplement provider and who is definitely not.
Where can you search? If you want to buy drugs or supplements online you can start by looking at the database of online pharmacies, either on the website of the Ministry of Health or on professional research platforms such as this site.
Sources like this one will give you hard facts rather than flashy promises as online pharmacies often do. Take your time to analyze and check the products and sellers. You can read reviews and articles based on recent research and by the end you will have the clearest ideas about supplements.
Consult a specialist
Before you start looking for different types of supplements online, schedule a visit with your doctor.
Your unique biochemistry and health status can determine which supplements you need. Chances are you need vitamins other than those of a friend or family member. Visiting a doctor can help you determine a supplement plan based on your specific needs.
During your appointment, ask your doctor if they can complete a blood test. Your blood test will help them determine which vitamins and minerals your body is missing. You can then use supplements to fill in the gaps.
You can also take certain supplements to reduce the risk of a future health condition. For example, your doctor may recommend that you take calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, or vitamin K to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Supplements can also help you function better by optimizing your overall health. If your blood test determines that you are deficient in a vitamin, supplements can help.
Do you feel lacking in energy during the day? You may have a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Seeing a doctor will help you determine which supplements you need. Otherwise, you may end up buying different types of supplements that won’t benefit your health. You can also speak to a doctor or dietician to see what supplements you need.
Study the ingredients and read the labels
Have you ever heard of excipients before? Excipients are inactive ingredients used in prescription drugs and supplements. The excipients provide no medicinal use but allow companies to produce a stable product that patients can consume. For example, there are some excipients that color, sweeten or dilute the supplement.
Excipients aren’t a bad thing when companies use the right ones. Professional brand health supplements will use excipients that are safe for your health.
Whereas off-brand supplements will try to save money by using cheap and toxic excipients. Some toxic excipients to avoid include polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, benzoates, and sodium saccharin. Polysorbate 80 is linked to blood clots and heart attacks.
We must also be careful with some natural ingredients because with a high dosage they can also bring side effects.
When reading the label, pay attention to the size of the capsules and how many capsules the package consists of, amount per serving, percentage of the daily value (% DV), ingredients, excipients (other ingredients), expiration date and batch number. This information indicates that the product is good and that the manufacturers have performed laboratory calculations creating the correct formula that meets European standards.
Source: https://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pubblicazioni_1717_allegato.pdf
Be cautious and do your research
When shopping for supplements, doing your research will help you get the best product at the best price. Cheaper doesn’t always mean better, and in many cases, cheaper supplements are more likely to contain adulterants.
Going online gives you an edge that in-store buying doesn’t. You can read consumer reviews on the supplement you are interested in to help you choose the best brand.
Research the ingredients of each supplement. If you come across an ingredient you don’t recognize, consider looking for it in a trustworthy database. Some fraudulent supplements may contain ingredients known to cause health problems.
Buying supplements safely is of the utmost importance. Fake supplements can contain harmful pollutants and adulterants that could cause serious health problems. Never buy anything that you are not 100% sure about buying.
Don’t go overboard with taking many supplements at once, and recommend the option of using a diary when you start using new supplements. Write down when you are taking the supplement, what you are eating and how you feel that day.
Keeping a record of your progress will help you figure out if the supplement works for you or if it’s time to try something else. As with anything, always talk to your doctor before starting any treatment.
Conclusions
Take your time when shopping for supplements online. Staying selective can help you avoid a potential scam. With these simple tips, you can find the products you need to supplement your health.
We hope you never have a complication or adverse event from taking a dietary supplement, but if it unfortunately does happen it is important to report this in the reviews. Taking time for this improves safety for everyone. You can do it directly on the website of the Ministry of Health.