10 TIPS ON HOW TO CHOOSE VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
Cover the basics - A good multivitamin should contain all the basic vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin A, B (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 & 12), C, D (2 & 3), E and K. It should also include the minerals iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, iodine, selenium and manganese.
Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) - Each supplement should provide close to the RDA level of each element in its recommended daily dose.
Avoid Excessive RDA - Make sure the supplement does not contain levels of any element far in excess of the RDA. Excessive consumption of any vitamin over the recommended upper level may accumulate to a level which can be toxic.
What Are The Extras? - Many supplements offer an extended range of nutrients. Look out for products that offer extras such as antioxidants and other nutrients like proteins, amino acids and enzymes.
Men, Women and Age Groups - Some supplements are formulated specifically for gender and age groups. There are products specifically formulated for men, women, children and seniors (50+). These formulae generally provide nutrients that better meet the requirements for each of these groups.
Product Popularity - Popularity may not always mean the best quality but frequently a product becomes very popular because it has proven itself. Some online health stores rank products according to sales volume. Look out for products with a high sales ranking.
Customer Reviews - Some online health stores capture customers' feedback and product reviews. While these reviews may not be scientific they do provide insights in to how well these products are working for people. You should check out highly rated products to see if they meet your needs.
Medications - If you are on medication, whether a short-term or a long-term prescription, you should check with your medical practitioner on the vitamins and supplements that you are taking or intend to take. Certain vitamins and supplements can affect the effectiveness of some medications. Some may even produce undesirable effects when combined with certain medications. Always read product labels carefully.
Quality - For a guarantee of a product's quality look for the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) symbol. Check out background information about the brand, the company, and their research as well as their product sourcing/manufacturing facilities and capability. Some suppliers provide good information online.
Product Research - There are thousands of vitamins and supplements in the market. Where do you begin to look? To save you valuable time and effort go to online health stores which pre-select and categorise the more popular products for your convenience. It's a good place to start.