5 Things to Consider When Choosing Dietary Supplements

Updated on September 14, 2020

Are you on the hunt for the perfect dietary supplements that will help you to feel energized, ensure you’re getting all the proper nutrients and minerals, and ensure you’re doing the best for your body possible? Like so many others who take dietary supplements on a daily basis, your expectations are probably pretty high. You want to see and feel results and know that you’ve made the right decision. 

While taking the supplement in the first place is a step in the right direction, there is actually more to it than just popping a multivitamin each day. In fact, there are a number of things to consider when choosing which dietary supplements to take and purchase. These considerations will determine just how effective the supplement is. So, let’s take a look at the top five things you’ll want to consider.

Are All the Ingredients Listed?

The first thing to look for is a company that offers transparency about their products. All ingredients should be clearly listed on the product, and you should be able to find out how the products are grown/sourced, if there are fillers added, artificial sweeteners and colors, whether it is organic, and so forth.

A product that offers clear transparency means it’s a product the company feels confident to stand behind.

Does it Address Your Specific Needs?

Just because a particular vitamin or supplement may be all the rage right now, it doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. Choosing a dietary supplement is a personal thing, and should address your own personal lifestyle and health considerations. If you are a vegan, for example, then you need to find options made with the vegan diet in mind. Then again, perhaps you are a senior, so you need to be sure that the dietary supplement addresses the needs of seniors.

By taking your own health and lifestyle into consideration, it will help to drastically cut down on the number of options, which can make the shopping a whole lot easier.

Is There Any Sort of Guarantee or Satisfaction Policy?

You may also want to look to see if the company/manufacturer offers any sort of guarantee or satisfaction policy to back up their product. Again, it’s about feeling confident enough in their product that they can stand behind it. It also means they are putting the satisfaction of their customer first.

Where is the Product Made?

Because the supplement market doesn’t have the same rules and regulations of the food and drug market (regulated by the FDA), you need to be your own advocate. Looking for products made here in the United States can certainly offer some sense of relief, as you know they are most likely using ingredients that are safe and the manufacturing plant is following safety and health guidelines.

Don’t Get Sucked in By the Marketing

The final tip is easier said than done, but it can save you from spending all kinds of money on products that don’t end up being effective. The supplement industry is filled with products that have huge and effective marketing campaigns behind them. It’s not unusual for a top athlete or actor/actress be the spokesperson for the product. What you need to do is look past all the fanfare and hype, and get down to the nitty gritty of the actual product to determine how effective it is, where and how it’s made, what the ingredients are, and if it’s something you even need.

Making an Informed Purchase Decision

By using these top tips, you’ll be able to make an informed decision when it comes to shopping for dietary supplements.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.