Sunday, February 8, 2009

What Nutritional Supplement Companies Don't Want You to Know

By DorthyWeatherbush

Every year, Americans spend billions upon billions of dollars and natural remedies or cures for their sicknesses. There are millions of products in the stores to choose from for every conceivable illness, which can make it hard for you to decide which one is best for you. In addition, some of these supplements contain ingredients that are good for you, and other ingredients that can cause irreparable damage to your body. Before you swallow, take a few moments to uncover these shocking truths.

Amazing Secret #1 The difference between a drug and a nutritional supplement.

Secret # 2 The implications of taking supplements while also taking prescription drugs.

Surprising Secret #3 The importance of buying approved, name brand products.

The Difference Between and Drug and Nutritional Supplements

Many times, the difference between the two is not much at all. Both can be extremely helpful in relieving symptoms, but both can also cause a lot of damage if taken incorrectly or without the attention of a medical doctor. One of the critical factors is the way in which the FDA view these substances. They usually treat supplements like food because they are intended to supplement the diet or to go with it. Drugs, however, are intended to cure, to treat, or to prevent diseases. Because of these definitions, most supplements receive the same kind of attention as any other kind of food.

The Impact of Taking Both Drugs and Supplements

Be cautious with supplements because some of them can interfere with the doctor prescribed drugs that you may be taking, and they may also cause serious and dangerous side effects. The easy answer to this is to talk to your doctor before taking any supplement, even if you believe it to be perfectly fine. Whenever you are scheduled for surgery, make sure to discontinue all supplements, for they may interfere with the anesthesia and can cause high blood pressure and excessive bleeding.

The Importance of Taking Only Brand Name Supplements

One myth is that supplements contain all natural ingredients and are therefore safer prescription drugs. However, this is not the case at all. Lab test and independent research has found that many supplements contain ingredients like pesticides, metal, and bacteria. Recently, Consumer Reports test fond that mislabeling of drug ingredients occurs often and that dosage instructions are wrong. Consumer Reports suggests that instead of picking anything off the shelf, try and stick to the companies that you are familiar with that have a long standing reputation like GNC and Vitamin Shoppe.

In light of your new found knowledge, the question you may wonder where you can find reliable information about supplements. The irony is that most of what you will find on the internet or from the grocery store clerk is not the most reliable source of information. To start you in the right direction, consider the following sources. (National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration)

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