Home
>
Nutritional Supplements
>
Shopping for Supplements -- Living Healthy and Saving Money

Shopping for Supplements -- Living Healthy and Saving Money

When it comes to personalized weight loss programs and their role in weight loss success, diet gurus and so-called experts have had a lot to say when it comes to nutritional supplements. Usually what they are writing and saying and urging you to do is BUY! BUY! BUY!

And what you should be buying is their particular brand of vitamins, minerals, healthy weight loss shakes, etc. What most of them are doing is using the same company to produce and package the same product, same ingredients, under a different name.

They can then call theirs the latest and greatest supplement--something they've discovered or the latest secret revealed. Really?

If it weren't so serious, it would be laughable. But anything that effects your health is serious!

Here are some simple "healthful" tips on buying nutritional supplements. I'm not recommending any particular supplements. Whether you need more Vitamin D, E, Calcium or Iron is a determination you and your doctor can make together.

Instead, these health tips are meant to arm you with knowledge to guide you when you are looking to add vitamin and mineral supplements to your diet.

Common Sense

As with a lot of things, common sense should help us in making decisions. Whenever you read or listen to any advice about nutritional supplements, what you are hearing should have the ring of truth. In other words, if it doesn't sound right, don't pull out your wallet just yet!

Weight loss professionals and nutritionists agree with what you already know is just plain common sense: the best way to stock up on vitamins and minerals is by eating right.

Popping a pill is no substitute for a balanced diet. You can never expect the same results nutritionally speaking when you take a supplement as opposed to eating the right balance of carbohydrates, protein, and some fat. That's why they are called supplements. They are meant to help make up deficiencies which could lead to serious health conditions.

But if you decide to take a vitamin and mineral supplement, here are some things to keep in mind.

1) Don't waste your money on natural vitamins.

Your body can't tell the difference between synthetic (man-made) vitamins and so-called natural ones. However, the synthetic ones are usually cheaper. The exception to this rule is vitamin E. Your body absorbs the natural form better than the synthetic version, although vitamin manufacturers add enough synthetic vitamin E to make up for the difference--and it's still cheaper!

2) Generic brands are just as good as the more expensive ones.

3) Read the label to make sure the expiration date hasn't passed.

Just like foods, supplements should not be used after their expiration date. Check before you buy, don't assume your local (or online) pharmacy checks expiration dates.

4) Don't assume that more is better.

In fact, vitamins A and D, iron, zinc, and selenium can be toxic in high doses, while others can have unpleasant or serious side effects. Your safest bet is to look for supplements that provide no more than the recommended daily dose of each nutrient.

5) Keep supplements away from children.

Those pills may look and sometimes taste like candy to a child, but they can be deadly. Iron supplements cause more poisoning deaths in children than any other substance.

6) Tell your doctor about all the supplements you're taking.

Some vitamins and minerals can interfere with certain medications. Many bad side effects have occurred because of a lack of communication between doctor and patient. I blame BOTH sides in these cases.

You are the only one responsible for your health. Interact with your health care provider and antispate her questions.

The Verdict?

Nutritional supplements can be a very helpful part of your overall health and fitness program. There are many good and well priced brands.

But as with any other pill you might be considering adding to your body's system, use common sense, consult with your doctor, and don't forget that if you want to live healthy and look fantastic while doing it, you have to eat a balanced diet. There's no substitute for that. . . . I guarantee it!

Mark Fuqua
http://www.weight-loss-professional.com
With 3 earned degrees and more than 16 years of experience as spiritual leader, pastor, director of marketing and investment banker, Mark Fuqua brings to the discussion table a breadth and depth of unique experience coupled with academic acumen. He is Consultant and Chief Editor of Diet Basics, a website dedicated to healthy weight loss success.

Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..

In The News:

Red flags like processing fees, urgent countdowns and requests for full Social Security numbers expose fraudulent settlement sites targeting consumers.

Comprehensive analysis of Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps examines usability, routing accuracy, data handling and features across the top navigation platforms.

Expert analysis reveals whether wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connections are safer for home internet use, plus practical steps to secure your network from attackers.

Australian construction robot Charlotte uses sand, crushed brick and recycled glass to 3D print fireproof, floodproof homes with reduced carbon footprint.

Cybercriminals are using fake invitation emails to trick recipients into downloading malware and stealing personal information and data.

Flying drones could help retailers fight a 93% increase in theft rates as Flock Safety promotes airborne security systems to track suspects and deter crime.

The Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter brings you the latest news on the emerging technology every Saturday, highlighting top stories.

Hacker group Radiant stole data from 8,000 children at Kido nursery chain, demanding ransom and directly contacting parents with intimidation tactics.

As 18 states implement bell-to-bell cell phone bans, creative students use Google Docs, iMessage on MacBooks and Post-It notes to stay connected in class.

A sheriff's captain says deputies often spend hours writing reports between calls, but Axon's AI program, Draft One, helps them save crucial time in the field.

Sora 2, OpenAI's new video-generation app, can create AI-generated videos based on a singular prompt. The results are both mind-blowing and terrifying.

iPhone and Android users can reduce Wi-Fi calling battery drainage through settings adjustments, background app limits and stronger Wi-Fi connections.

Work email scams are becoming harder to detect as criminals use AI and spoofed addresses to trick employees into opening malicious attachments and links.

From her Arizona living room, Christina Chapman ran a covert hub that helped North Korean operatives infiltrate U.S. firms, netting $17 million in stolen salaries.

UC Santa Barbara researchers developed a soft robotic intubation system that achieved 100% success rates for experts and 96% for paramedics with minimal training.

Scammers exploit probate filings to target grieving families with fake fees and debts, Kurt "Cyberguy" Knutsson reports.

Automotive giant Stellantis becomes latest victim of widespread Salesforce breaches affecting companies like Google, Cisco and Adidas this year.

A woman from Washington reunited with her missing Maine Coon cat Louie after 11 days using Love Lost, a free AI-powered pet recovery platform.

Expert cybersecurity tips help Mac owners remove malware infections and strengthen defenses with antivirus software, password managers and system updates.

Meta's AI chatbot training rules bans sexual roleplay with minors and block access to child abuse material as regulators scrutinize its safety measures.

Online banking users face a new threat: web injection scams that overlay fake pop-ups to steal logins. Here’s how to spot them and protect your accounts.

Meta introduced Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger while launching a School Partnership Program for U.S. educators to report bullying within 48 hours.

Executive order signed by President Donald Trump tasks Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA Commission with using AI to find new cures for childhood cancers.

New FileFix attack tricks Facebook and Instagram users into running malicious PowerShell commands disguised as Meta account maintenance to deploy StealC infostealer.

Step-by-step instructions help users migrate to Windows 11 while preserving emails, contacts, documents, and software licenses during the transition.

Shopping for Supplements -- Living Healthy and Saving Money

Nutritional Supplements