Nearly everyone knows that dietary supplements are an essential ingredient in remaining healthy and fit. Still, there are hundreds of them on the market with each one promising to deliver results for all sorts of needs. And there is no question that many of these promises are far out of the realm of reality and can actually cause damage to your health and well-being. For the average layperson the overwhelming number of options may be far more than they care to consider.

How can they choose the right supplements to meet their personal needs and still be safe in the process?

“Like drugs, dietary supplements have risks and side effects. But sellers aren’t required to do research studies in people to prove that a dietary supplement is safe. And unlike drugs, dietary supplements are mostly self-prescribed with no input from informed medical sources like doctors, nurses, or pharmacists.” – American Cancer Society

With that in mind, it is necessary that you take extra care in finding dietary supplements that are not only safe but will be of an added benefit to your overall health.

Watch Out for Drug Interactions

There are a number of supplements that can interact with your prescription or even your over-the-counter drugs that you’re normally using. Always consult with your primary care physician before starting any supplement regimen. Your doctor will most likely be able to identify possible risks that you may otherwise have not considered as well as give you practical advice on an effective dosage to take. Generally, the fat burning supplements are the ones you need to watch more closely, but again, it’s always recommended to consult with your physician.

Do Your Homework

Avoid giving into the claims of advertisers or manufacturers of these supplements, as they will most likely be biased or lack important information like negative side effects that come with taking them. Instead, seek out third party reviews that will provide scientific evidence that will support the claims made. Look for reports by health experts that give an unbiased and objective review of the products.

Look for Certification

If the US Pharmacopeia, NSF International, or the United Natural Products Alliance has certified the supplement it will also come with a seal of quality guarantee. You should be able to find the certification seal somewhere on the label of the product. This seal not only guarantees the quality but it also ensures that it will break down properly in your body so that it will be most effective.

Finally, you always want to check for possible side effects that may result from a dietary supplement. Many manufacturers will try to skirt the side effects or downplay the risks so you need to make sure that you are fully aware of them before you start adding them to your dietary regimen.

There are many reasons why side effects may occur.

“Supplements are most likely to cause side effects or harm when people take them instead of prescribed medicines or when people take many supplements in combination…. Dietary supplements can also interact with certain prescription drugs that might cause problems.” – National Institutes of Health

There are many dietary supplements on the market to choose from, some good and some bad. If you are serious about adding these to your regular nutritional program it would be well worth your effort to do your homework first to make sure that you’re getting a good dose of exactly what you need.