| Have you got a cupboard full of vitamin bottles | | | | Monosaturated fat.c. What vitamins, minerals, etc |
| unopened or half full because you thought you | | | | are in the product?d. A list of the ingredients. |
| were buying the rightproduct? | | | | From the 1st January 2006, the FDA requires |
| Did you read the label? | | | | dietary supplements (68FR41434) to have trans |
| Did you buy it on the internet but didn't have the | | | | fatty acids declared on the |
| resources to do your own research first? | | | | Nutrition label. They should be listed as "trans fat" |
| Do you know what the definition of a dietary | | | | or "Trans" on a separate line under the listing of |
| supplement is anyway? | | | | saturated fat in the nutrition label and expressed |
| Feeling frustrated? | | | | as grams per serving. |
| Here are some good tips. | | | | If the information on the product isn't there or it's |
| According to the U.S. Food and Drug | | | | in language you don't understand contact the |
| Administration (FDA ) "today's dietary | | | | manufacturer or distributor. |
| supplements are not only vitamins and minerals. | | | | However make sure you have checked the |
| They also include other less-familiar substances | | | | F.A.Q's first and use their "Contact Me" navigation |
| such as herbals, botanicals, amino acids, enzymes | | | | tab as you will then go throughto the dedicated |
| and animalextracts." | | | | contact person. This will save you time. |
| 1. What should you look for when buying a natural | | | | 3. A website will have a statement on it similar to |
| dietary supplement on the internet?a. The first | | | | this example: |
| fact you should know is that natural dietary | | | | "The products and the claims made about specific |
| supplements are not pre-approved by The | | | | products on or through this site have not been |
| Government for safety or effectiveness. This is | | | | evaluated by the United |
| different to drugs which go through clinical trials | | | | States Food and Drug Administration and are not |
| and take years before coming on to the | | | | intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent |
| market.b. The manufacturer is by law responsible | | | | disease. The information provided on this site is |
| for ensuring their product is safe. | | | | for informational purposes only and is not intended |
| This view is reinforced by this comment in the | | | | as a substitute for advice from your physician or |
| U.S. Food and Drug administration paper called | | | | other healthcare professional or any information |
| "FDA's Consumer Health | | | | contained on or in any product label or packaging. |
| Information for Better Nutrition Initiative." | | | | You should not use theinformation on this site for |
| "In 1994, Congress enacted the Dietary | | | | diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or |
| Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). | | | | for prescription of any medication or other |
| Under DSHEA, dietary supplementsdo not need | | | | treatment. You should consult with a healthcare |
| pre-market approval from FDA. But a firm is | | | | professional before starting any diet, exercise or |
| responsible for ensuring that its product is safe | | | | supplementation program, before taking any |
| and that any claims about it are substantiated by | | | | medication, or if you have or suspect you might |
| adequate evidence to show that they are not | | | | have a health problem. Please view our full Terms |
| false or misleading. Marketers of | | | | Of Use and Privacy Agreement for more |
| dietarysupplements may make certain claims | | | | information and the terms and conditions |
| about the health benefits of their products, | | | | governing your use of this site." |
| including descriptions of the supplement'seffects | | | | There are important points in this statement to |
| on the structure or a function of the body (e.g., | | | | note. They are:a. The product is "not intended to |
| "helps support cartilage and joint function"). In | | | | diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease."b. The |
| addition, dietary supplements may be marketed | | | | information is for information purposes only not a |
| with qualified health claims. Neither DSHEA nor | | | | substitute for advice from a physician or other |
| litigation has changed the well-established principle | | | | Healthcareprofessional.c. You should not use this |
| that a dietary supplement is subject to regulation | | | | information "for diagnosis or treatment of any |
| by FDA as a drug if it is promoted to treat, | | | | health problem."d. You should consult a healthcare |
| prevent, or cure a disease or condition." The last | | | | professional before starting "any diet, exercise or |
| sentence is most important because it would | | | | supplementation program." |
| change your view as to the treatment of the | | | | Lastly, I would read the Terms of use and |
| dietary supplement by the FDA. | | | | Privacy Policy so you know for your own |
| 2. Natural Dietary supplements might look like | | | | information and protection. |
| medicines when you see the packaging and | | | | So if you find this information is not on the |
| marketing but the only way to besure is to look | | | | website or there are claims that appear to good |
| for the Supplement Facts Label. So a website | | | | to be true - be wary. Check the website out |
| needs to give you information (just as if you | | | | before you buy. |
| were looking at the product in the shop) on the | | | | All the dietary supplement websites I refer to in |
| following:a. Calories.b. Total fat with a breakdown | | | | my website do to my knowledge comply with |
| of saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and | | | | the information in this article. |