A study published in 2021 revealed that close to 58% of American adults over the age of 20 used dietary supplements.
As a result, if you’re trying to lose weight or maintain your physique, you might have considered options for supplements. As they’ve become more commonplace, you can head to your local dietary supplement store and find great options.
But you’ll want to avoid the common dietary supplement-buying mistakes. This guide will break down some of these mistakes and how to rectify them.
Here’s what you must know.
1. Not Buying Animal-Based Supplements
Often, newcomers to the fitness industry ignore animal-based supplements thinking that they’re not effective. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Animal-based supplements are often great for helping to lose, gain, or regulate weight — whatever your goal might be. They are ideal for maintaining your overall health and can also help fight against diseases such as osteoporosis.
If you’re looking for a great animal-based supplement, make sure you check out deer antler velvet.
2. Not Talking to Your Doctor
Many dietary supplements are sold over the counter and many aren’t exclusively sold in pharmacies or supplement stores.
As a result, many fitness enthusiasts buy supplements without consulting their physician first. But you want to first speak to your doctor and inquire which supplements are safest for your needs.
No matter how popular certain supplements might be, you shouldn’t take them without your doctor’s approval first. Skip any supplements that your doctor advises against.
Even after you start taking supplements, you want to see your doctor regularly. They’ll ascertain whether you’re improving your health after taking the supplements.
3. Not Using Them as Supplements
Remember, these are supplements and not substitutes. You have to still maintain a healthy diet along with your supplements. Otherwise, you’re rendering your supplements useless.
For example, let’s suppose you’re trying to lose weight. You must still cut out sugars and foods with high cholesterol. If you continue to eat fattening foods, then no supplement can save you.
Make sure you understand how to diet properly first. Only once you discipline yourself to maintain a healthy routine should you consider taking supplements.
4. Not Looking for Verification or Certification
Most supplement products aren’t certified by the FDA or any other governmental body. But this doesn’t mean that you should buy just any dietary supplement.
Check the label to see if it has any other verification or certification from an authorized company. There are companies that test supplements and certify that they’re safe for the average consumer.
While you can buy supplements without any certification, it’s not a good idea. Make sure you always ask the retailer if the supplements have verification. When buying online, make sure you ask the manufacturer if they have any certification.
5. Not Moderating Your Supplements
You have to avoid taking an excess of supplements. This will cause serious issues to your health and won’t help you solve your dietary problem.
Let’s return to the example of trying to lose weight. You might be required to take one pill per day. But you might think that if you take 2 or 3 pills per day, you’ll lose weight faster.
Even if you do, this is an unhealthy approach to losing weight and will cause serious damage to your body. Make sure you never take more than what you’re prescribed.
Sometimes, you might even find that the required dose is too much for you. In such a scenario, start by taking half a dose at a time until you find the dose level that works for you.
6. Not Looking at the Ingredients
You can’t blindly trust any supplement you see in the store. You have to look at the ingredients to see if you’re comfortable with what you’re ingesting.
This should be obvious, yet the average person will just trust anything that an “expert” might suggest. So even if your doctor recommends a particular dietary supplement, you must not take it unless you feel comfortable first.
It’s time-consuming, but you should research every single ingredient to know what you’re consuming. Make sure you also look out for any ingredients that don’t agree with you.
For example, you might have a nut allergy. Many dietary supplements either contain nuts or are made in factories that use nuts.
You should also ask your doctor about what ingredients to look out for you. They’ll tell you what ingredients are good for you and which ones you should avoid.
7. Not Buying From the Right Retailer
When comparing supplement prices, we often make the mistake of trying to find the supplement store website that sells the cheapest products.
But these are cheap for a reason. It’s because they’re low-quality and in some cases might even be illegal or fraudulent items. This doesn’t mean that you always have to buy the most expensive item, either.
You want to choose supplements that are at a reasonable price. You can expect to pay at least $40 to $50 in general. At times, you might pay around $100 for a dietary supplement.
But you should never go above or below the aforementioned pricing. Any retailer that prices their products too low or too high should be avoided.
Make sure you also research the retailer before buying from them. Look them up to see if they’re registered as legitimate businesses. You also want to speak to the customer service department before buying.
Ask them about the dietary supplements you wish to buy. If they’re knowledgeable about the products, then you can consider buying from them.
Avoid These Dietary Supplement Buying Mistakes
Now you can avoid these dietary supplement buying mistakes and get the right products for your needs.
You shouldn’t be scared of animal-based dietary supplements as these are some of the best quality products. Make sure you always speak to your doctor before trying a supplement.
Do your research on the ingredients and take your time to find a great retailer. Always buy certified dietary supplements and never take them in excess. Follow these best practices and you’ll be fine with your dietary supplements.
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