Getting Your Daily Dose: How to Choose the Best Herbal Supplements

Herbal supplements can help improve your health. Read on to learn how to choose the best herbal supplements.

Many people around the world are deficient in vital nutrients, such as iron, iodine, vitamin D, and calcium. While we generally eat a healthier diet nowadays, there are still some nutrients we’re lacking.

For these essential things, there are supplements you can take. That way, you can not only make up for vitamins and minerals you lack in but also feel better in your day-to-day life.

If you’re considering adding some to your daily routine, here are some tips on getting the best herbal supplements for your situation.

Take Claims With a Pinch of Salt

Herbal supplements may be excellent to take if you have some deficiencies, but not all supplements are made equal. Since they don’t have to go through FDA approval to be on the market, it’s easy for manufacturers to make false claims on what their products can do.

When you read the description for a supplement, it may sound like a fantastic cure-all for things like insomnia, lack of energy, or other minor ailments. But these are just marketing methods, and the supplement may not actually be beneficial to you.

If you’re interested in purchasing an herbal supplement, do some further online research to ensure you’re getting a product that’ll help you. For example, finding scientific studies that back up a manufacturer’s claim is great for confirmation before you click on “purchase.”

Check for Independent Testing

Any supplements that come from reputable companies will have gone through rigorous testing from independent labs. Make sure you look for the results of these tests.

When they have independent labs run tests on their products, it proves that results aren’t skewed in their favor. Third-party labs have no stake in how well a product does, so you can trust in those results if the company has them posted.

Check the FDA List

Although the FDA doesn’t have to approve herbal supplements for them to be on the market, they still keep an eye on consumer reactions. They should have an updated list available that tells you which supplements are under review. You can also find out if people have reported adverse effects; obviously, you should avoid purchasing these products.

Ask Your Doctor or Pharmacist for Help

Your doctor will have extensive knowledge and access to your medical history to suggest the best supplements for you. For instance, they’ll be able to tell you if you have iron-deficiency anemia; your doctor can also suggest a certain brand of iron supplement for you to take.

You can also pick some supplements up from your local pharmacy. While your pharmacist probably won’t have access to your medical history, if you come prepared with some information, they can also give you some suggestions on which supplements would be ideal for you.

Pick Something Easy to Ingest

Because they’re packed with so many vitamins and other minerals, supplements tend to be on the bigger side. While some people can take these tablets with no problem, for others, it’s a real struggle.

If the supplements are hard to swallow, it’ll become an unpleasant experience taking them, which can discourage your loved ones from

For instance, the Citric C tab comes in a chewable form, which means it’ll be easy for children to take since they don’t have to swallow a big pill. It’s even water-soluble so you can dissolve it in water and drink it too. This makes it simpler for the entire family to take herbal supplements, both young and old.

Check the Dosages

An important factor to consider is the daily recommended intake (DRI). The number of minerals and vitamins in a supplement may not always be optimal for your lifestyle.

Let’s say you’re deficient in vitamin D, but you have a pretty healthy diet and get an adequate amount of sunlight. You might be interested in a supplement that packs a lot of vitamin D in each pill, but that’s not the best option for you since you may end up way over your DRI.

When you’re looking at supplements to buy, you have to take everything into account: your age, gender, diet, health condition, and if you’re pregnant or nursing. All of these factors can change how much of supplement you need.

Herbal Supplements May Interact With Medications

People think that just because something is “herbal” or “natural” means it’s completely safe to take. But that’s not the case at all.

For example, take St. John’s Wort; people take this herbal supplement to treat mild depression, anxiety, stomachaches, and muscle pain. Since it’s an extract from a plant, people don’t think twice about it. But it has the potential to interact with birth control pills, prescribed anxiety medications, some anesthetics, and more.

As you can see, there’s a huge possibility of herbal supplements interfering with the medications you’re already on. We highly suggest you discuss what supplements you want to take with your doctor so they can note any possible interactions before you do so.

Choose the Best Herbal Supplements for You

By using the above tips, you’ll be able to select the best herbal supplements to lead a healthier and happier life. Not only can this benefit you, but it can also help your family members out too.

Every person is different, which means there’s no one right supplement to pick. So take your time to do your research, take into account your current health, what your areas of improvement are, and go from there.

Ready to purchase some herbal supplements for you and your family? Then take a look at our selection now!