| v> | | | | large number of store-bought nutritional |
| We all know that optimum health is now | | | | supplements contain preservatives for a longer |
| achievable through the vast categories of vitamin | | | | shelf-life. Freshly made health supplements do |
| nutritional supplements available off the shelf and | | | | exist, but are not as common as the |
| even over the Internet. We also know that these | | | | mass-produced multi-vitamins, so shop around. |
| nutritional supplements are needed to replace the | | | | Many minerals and vitamins that get exposed to |
| vitamins we know are lacking in the modern diet. | | | | light and air lose their health-giving attributes and |
| It’s true that many foods today are | | | | are rendered no good to us. So make sure that |
| lacking in nutrients - are junk food - but what | | | | when you do by fresh vitamins and other |
| about the nutritional supplements we take? Is | | | | nutritional supplements that you keep them in |
| there such a thing as a “junk | | | | cold, dark place and in an airtight container to |
| supplement”? That is, something that fills | | | | retain potency. |
| our need for optimum health, just as junk food | | | | Custom-made or Off-the-Shelf Vitamins? |
| fills our need for a full stomach, but that | | | | Eating healthily often costs more in time and |
| doesn’t actually provide the health we | | | | money, yet we all know that the investment is |
| crave. The answer is yes: and this is why all | | | | worth it in terms of overall health. Nutritional |
| health consumers should be informed in how to | | | | supplements are the same: there are a lot of |
| choose the correct nutritional supplements or | | | | “junk vitamins” out there that do |
| vitamins for them. The key is to think healthy, | | | | not work properly. Getting a custom-made |
| and particularly think in the same way you do | | | | nutritional supplement is like getting a |
| when buying healthy foods. After all, if we can | | | | home-cooked meal using fresh ingredients. |
| choose a healthy diet, we can choose a healthy | | | | It’s better quality, better suited to what |
| vitamins regimen. | | | | you want, better tasting, and ultimately better for |
| Read the Label of Your Vitamins | | | | your health. |
| We are constantly becoming more conscious of | | | | Check that You aren’t Allergic to Your |
| the ingredients in our food, looking for hidden | | | | Vitamins |
| ingredients and scrutinizing every | | | | There is nothing wrong with dairy products, and |
| “fat-free” claim with cynicism. But | | | | they contain many health benefits. However |
| how much do we do the same for our nutritional | | | | people can still be born with, or develop, allergies |
| supplements? There are many vitamins | | | | to common-place foodstuffs making them |
| companies out there who would try and falsify | | | | something to be avoided. While allergies to |
| claims in order to make a quick buck. At the | | | | vitamins are not possible, it is possible for people |
| moment, nutritional supplements are not as | | | | to react badly to certain herbs that show positive |
| strictly regulated by the FDA as food and | | | | health benefits when taken by others. Make sure |
| medicines are. Always check the labels, claims, | | | | you’re not allergic to any botanical or |
| and “gold-standards” of every | | | | herbal ingredients in your nutritional supplements. |
| health-vitamin or nutritional supplement you are | | | | Don’t Overdose on Vitamins |
| thinking of buying. | | | | Overeating can lead to weight gain and related |
| Check Your Vitamins’ Expiry Date | | | | health problems such as heart disease, liver |
| Food has a shelf-life and so do multivitamins. | | | | disease, and high cholesterol. Excessive use of |
| Nutritional supplements, especially those containing | | | | nutritional supplements can have an even more |
| herbs or other botanical ingredients can lose their | | | | dramatic effect on the body so care should be |
| potency with time. Many vitamins, especially | | | | taken. In fact, it is better to compare vitamin |
| vitamin C, are also prone to being degraded with | | | | supplements with medicine: both have |
| time. | | | | side-effects, and with both there is a danger of |
| Make Sure You Get Fresh Vitamins | | | | overdose. Always consult your physician or health |
| Even ignoring a product’s expiry date, we | | | | practitioner about safe usage of nutritional |
| all know that fresh food is better than | | | | supplements for your personal health. |
| pre-packaged meals stuffed full of additives and | | | | Today’s mantra is “you are what |
| preservatives. Vitamins are the same, and it | | | | you eat.” But it is also true to say |
| might surprise some people to find out that a | | | | “you are what you take”. |