| We all know that optimum health is now achievable | | | | shelf-life. Freshly made health supplements do exist, |
| through the vast categories of vitamin nutritional | | | | but are not as common as the mass-produced |
| supplements available off the shelf and even over the | | | | multi-vitamins, so shop around. Many minerals and |
| Internet. We also know that these nutritional | | | | vitamins that get exposed to light and air lose their |
| supplements are needed to replace the vitamins we | | | | health-giving attributes and are rendered no good to us. |
| know are lacking in the modern diet. It's true that many | | | | So make sure that when you do by fresh vitamins |
| foods today are lacking in nutrients - are junk food - | | | | and other nutritional supplements that you keep them in |
| but what about the nutritional supplements we take? Is | | | | cold, dark place and in an airtight container to retain |
| there such a thing as a "junk supplement"? That is, | | | | potency. |
| something that fills our need for optimum health, just as | | | | Custom-made or Off-the-Shelf Vitamins? |
| junk food fills our need for a full stomach, but that | | | | Eating healthily often costs more in time and money, |
| doesn't actually provide the health we crave. The | | | | yet we all know that the investment is worth it in |
| answer is yes: and this is why all health consumers | | | | terms of overall health. Nutritional supplements are the |
| should be informed in how to choose the correct | | | | same: there are a lot of "junk vitamins" out there that |
| nutritional supplements or vitamins for them. The key is | | | | do not work properly. Getting a custom-made |
| to think healthy, and particularly think in the same way | | | | nutritional supplement is like getting a home-cooked |
| you do when buying healthy foods. After all, if we can | | | | meal using fresh ingredients. It's better quality, better |
| choose a healthy diet, we can choose a healthy | | | | suited to what you want, better tasting, and ultimately |
| vitamins regimen. | | | | better for your health( |
| Read the Label of Your Vitamins | | | | Check that You aren't Allergic to Your Vitamins( |
| We are constantly becoming more conscious of the | | | | There is nothing wrong with dairy products, and they |
| ingredients in our food, looking for hidden ingredients | | | | contain many health benefits. However people can still |
| and scrutinizing every "fat-free" claim with cynicism. | | | | be born with, or develop, allergies to common-place |
| But how much do we do the same for our nutritional | | | | foodstuffs making them something to be avoided. |
| supplements? There are many vitamins companies out | | | | While allergies to vitamins are not possible, it is possible |
| there who would try and falsify claims in order to | | | | for people to react badly to certain herbs that show |
| make a quick buck. At the moment, nutritional | | | | positive health benefits when taken by others. Make |
| supplements are not as strictly regulated by the FDA | | | | sure you're not allergic to any botanical or herbal |
| as food and medicines are. Always check the labels, | | | | ingredients in your nutritional supplements( |
| claims, and "gold-standards" of every health-vitamin or | | | | Don't Overdose on Vitamins( |
| nutritional supplement you are thinking of buying. | | | | Overeating can lead to weight gain and related health |
| Check Your Vitamins' Expiry Date | | | | problems such as heart disease, liver disease, and high |
| Food has a shelf-life and so do multivitamins. Nutritional | | | | cholesterol. Excessive use of nutritional supplements |
| supplements, especially those containing herbs or other | | | | can have an even more dramatic effect on the body |
| botanical ingredients can lose their potency with time. | | | | so care should be taken. In fact, it is better to compare |
| Many vitamins, especially vitamin C, are also prone to | | | | vitamin supplements with medicine: both have |
| being degraded with time. | | | | side-effects, and with both there is a danger of |
| Make Sure You Get Fresh Vitamins | | | | overdose. Always consult your physician or health |
| Even ignoring a product's expiry date, we all know that | | | | practitioner about safe usage of nutritional supplements |
| fresh food is better than pre-packaged meals stuffed | | | | for your personal health. |
| full of additives and preservatives. Vitamins are the | | | | Today's mantra is "you are what you eat." But it is also |
| same, and it might surprise some people to find out | | | | true to say "you are what you take". Don't just |
| that a large number of store-bought nutritional | | | | practice healthy eating; ask the experts about healthy |
| supplements contain preservatives for a longer | | | | supplementation too. |