| Health food supplements are one of the hottest selling | | | | Composition of some health food products may not |
| products in the market these days. Their total | | | | match the label claims and the quality of raw materials |
| consumption values billions of dollars in the U.S. alone. | | | | and finished products is not guaranteed. Therefore, |
| Recent surveys show that more than half of the | | | | consumers should only buy from reputable health food |
| adults in the U.S. consume health food supplements in | | | | manufacturers, read the labels carefully and read more |
| different forms, such as tablets, capsules, powders, | | | | related literatures.Here are some general rules for |
| soft gels, gel caps and liquids.The increased | | | | buying health food supplements:1) Supplements made |
| consumption of health food supplements can be | | | | from whole foods, natural sources are better than the |
| attributed to public awareness of health issues and | | | | synthetic ones. They are more bioactive, can be |
| improved standard of living in our society. Many studies | | | | absorbed readily, and less likely to be contaminated by |
| have shown that there is a close correlation between | | | | chemicals such as coal tars used in chemical |
| health and nutrition. Insufficient supply of nutrients can | | | | synthesis.2) Protein-bonded vitamins and minerals |
| weaken our body defense mechanism, causing | | | | (vitamins and minerals in organic form, binding to amino |
| medical problems from common ailments to more | | | | acids) are more bioactive than the inorganic forms.3) |
| severe illnesses in the long term.There are different | | | | Buy supplements using safe extraction methods, such |
| types of health food supplements, including | | | | as cold pressed extraction or supercritical extraction. |
| macronutrients (amino acids, proteins, essential fatty | | | | This can avoid the harmful residue from chemical |
| acids), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), enzymes | | | | extraction.4) Herbal concentrate and extract are |
| (digestive enzymes and antioxidant enzymes), | | | | usually more effective than the raw herbs.5) |
| probiotics (beneficial bacteria in the gut), and herbal | | | | Organically grown or wild crafted herbs are less likely |
| supplements. These supplements have unique | | | | to be contaminated by heavy metals, pesticides and |
| functions in our body. They are either essential for life | | | | other chemicals.6) Read the labels, do not consume |
| and good health, modulate our immune system or help | | | | more than the recommended dose.7) Be careful when |
| with liver detoxification, digestion, mental clarity, | | | | consuming certain herbal supplements, such as Ma |
| etc.Many people argue that there is no need to | | | | Huang / ephedra, Kava Kava, comfrey, etc. Some |
| consume health food supplements as long as you | | | | studies have shown that these herbs may cause |
| have a healthy lifestyle and eat a balanced diet. While | | | | severe side effects to some people. Stop use if |
| this may be true, the fact is maintaining a healthy | | | | unusual signs appear after consumption.8) Some health |
| lifestyle and proper diet is difficult to achieve by many | | | | food supplements may interact with drugs, either by |
| people.Over the past few decades, the green | | | | decreasing or increasing their effects. Consult your |
| revolution has changed the farming practices over the | | | | doctor if you are currently taking medications.9) |
| world. We use more chemical fertilizers, more | | | | Pregnant and nursing women, people with specific |
| pesticides to grow the food produce in order to | | | | medical conditions such consult the doctors when |
| increase harvest and shorten the growth period. As a | | | | consuming health food supplements.10) If in doubt, |
| result, soil nutrients and the population of beneficial soil | | | | contact the supplement manufacturers or distributors |
| bacteria are depleted rapidly, and the produce we | | | | for more information of their products.11) Health food |
| grow today contain less micronutrient than before.A | | | | supplements are available in many places, such as |
| stressful lifestyle, improper eating habits, imbalanced | | | | grocery stores, health food stores, drug stores, |
| diet and increased exposure to chemicals such as | | | | pharmacies, supermarkets, department stores, online |
| environmental pollutants (air, water) and pesticides, | | | | stores, etc. Be a smart consumer, compare the price |
| drugs, hormones, heavy metals in foods also weaken | | | | and service before purchase.To learn more about |
| our body gradually.Although health food supplements | | | | health food supplements, please visit Lo holds a Ph.D. in |
| can be beneficial to our health, consumers should still | | | | Biology and is the owner of a review site providing |
| choose the products carefully. Currently, there is little | | | | information on discount health food supplements, |
| regulation on the quality of health food supplements. | | | | common ailments and online vitamin stores. |