Considerations When Choosing Supplements

There are many great ways to improve your health through food these days, but it can be hard to figure out which supplements are best for you. Which miracle foot pain relief cream are best for you really depends on who you are, what your body needs, and what your personal goals are.

If there's one thing we know, it's that the internet is full of unproven claims and, let's be honest, bad advice about healthy products that don't even come close to living up to their claims. Before you start buying supplements, please think carefully about the five points below.

Medicinal Intake

Think about your current health and any medicines you're on because they might be taking vitamins and minerals from your body that you need. For example, if you take antibiotics often, you might need to take a probiotic supplement to keep your gut flora healthy. Or, if you're taking hydroxychloroquine for an autoimmune problem, you'll need to watch how much folic acid you take in. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist when you're given a new medicine to find out if you need to add anything to your diet while you're taking it.

Goals for preventing

Some of us might worry about getting a certain disease and look for trace mineral supplements for humans that might help prevent it. If this is something that worries you, find out more! Find out which supplements have the nutritional benefits you want and if there is scientific evidence to back up any claims of benefits. But don't trust just anyone. Make sure the information you use to make decisions is good. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is a good place to start. You can also talk to your doctor.

Age

As we get older, our bodies need more of some nutrients in order to stay healthy. Bone loss is common in older women, which can make them more likely to break a bone, so taking more calcium is often a good idea. If Type 2 diabetes and heart disease are worries for older men, they might need more fiber in their diet. If you're over 50, talk to your doctor or check out the National Institute on Aging for suggestions on vitamins and minerals. They also have a lot of other great nutritional information.

Gender

Men and women have different needs when it comes to food. Women usually need more iron and calcium, while men often don't get enough of, well, just about everything. So it might be more important than you think to think about your sex.

Current Diet

This is really where everything starts. You might be on a strict ketogenic diet (low carbs, high fat), or you might be a vegan, or you might just eat whatever you want. No matter what you eat, you should keep a close eye on what you eat for a week and then look at it to see if there are any nutritional gaps. People often don't get enough fiber, vitamins D and E, probiotics, fish oils, and other nutrients. For example, someone may eat a lot of fish and white rice but forget to add fruits and vegetables with fiber. Another person might eat lots of fruits and vegetables but not enough protein.