| Food supplements - do you need them? How do you | | | | carefully. Here are some general rules for buying food |
| choose the right ones for your health conditions? Read | | | | supplements: |
| these general rules to protect yourself. | | | | 1) Supplements made from whole foods, natural |
| Food supplements are one of the hottest selling | | | | sources are better than the synthetic ones. They are |
| products in the market these days. Their total | | | | more bioactive, can be absorbed readily, and less likely |
| consumption values billions of dollars in the U.S. alone. | | | | to be contaminated by chemicals such as coal tars |
| Recent surveys show that more than half of the | | | | used in chemical synthesis. |
| adults in the U.S. consume food supplements in | | | | 2) Protein-bonded vitamins and minerals (vitamins and |
| different forms, such as tablets, capsules, powders, | | | | minerals in organic form, binding to amino acids) are |
| soft gels, gel caps and liquids. | | | | more bioactive than the inorganic forms. |
| The increased consumption of food supplements can | | | | 3) Buy supplements using safe extraction methods, |
| be attributed to public awareness of health issues and | | | | such as cold pressed extraction or supercritical |
| improved standard of living in our society. Many studies | | | | extraction. This can avoid the harmful residue from |
| have shown that there is a close correlation between | | | | chemical extraction. |
| health and nutrition. Insufficient supply of nutrients can | | | | 4) Herbal concentrate and extract are usually more |
| weaken our body defense mechanism, causing | | | | effective than the raw herbs. |
| medical problems from common ailments to more | | | | 5) Organically grown or wild crafted herbs are less |
| severe illnesses in the long term. | | | | likely to be contaminated by heavy metals, pesticides |
| Many people argue that there is no need to consume | | | | and other chemicals. |
| food supplements as long as you have a healthy | | | | 6) Read the labels, do not consume more than the |
| lifestyle and eat a balanced diet. While this may be | | | | recommended dose. |
| true, the fact is maintaining a healthy lifestyle and | | | | 7) Be careful when consuming certain herbal |
| proper diet is difficult to achieve by many people. | | | | supplements, such as Ma Huang / ephedra, Kava |
| The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has | | | | Kava, comfrey, etc. Some studies have shown that |
| increased yield and shortened the growth period, but | | | | these herbs may cause severe side effects to some |
| these farming practices can deplete soil nutrients and | | | | people. Stop use if unusual signs appear after |
| beneficial soil microorganisms rapidly, making the farm | | | | consumption. |
| produce less nutritious than before. | | | | 8) Some food supplements may interact with drugs, |
| A stressful lifestyle, improper eating habits, imbalanced | | | | either by decreasing or increasing their effects. Consult |
| diet and increased exposure to chemicals such as | | | | your doctor if you are currently taking medications. |
| environmental pollutants (air, water) and pesticides, | | | | 9) Pregnant and nursing women, people with specific |
| drugs, hormones, heavy metals in foods also weaken | | | | medical conditions such consult the doctors when |
| our body gradually. | | | | consuming food supplements. |
| Although food supplements can be beneficial to our | | | | 10) If in doubt, contact the supplement manufacturers |
| health, consumers should still choose the products | | | | or distributors for more information of their products. |