Supplements are a very hot topic right now (and have been for a while) so I’m sure at some time in your life you have taken at least one. Due to their extreme popularity, I wanted to provide a few tips to make sure you are investing in a high-quality supplement, if you choose to use one. To start, let’s identify what a supplement is.
What exactly counts as a supplement?
Dietary supplements come in a variety of forms, including tablets, capsules, gummies, powders, as well as drinks, and energy bars. Products sold as dietary supplements come with a Supplement Facts label (Instead of a Nutrient Facts label) and list the active ingredients, the amount per serving (aka dose), and other additives/binders.
What is a supplement used for?
Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicine and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. This is important because all medicine must be approved by the FDA before it can be sold or marketed and because a supplement is not medicine it does not require this approval.
But how do I know which supplement to pick?
There are a few different markings you can look for on the supplement bottle to ensure it has been third-party verified (aka someone other than the production company has double-checked that what is on the Supplement Facts label is actually in the product). Below are a few of the markings I look for when choosing supplements.
Choosing the best supplement for your lifestyle can be tricky and I always recommend looking at your diet first (think about what you can add/change food-wise). After you identify the area of your diet that needs some extra support, chose a product with one of the markings listed above. If you have more questions about supplements, let’s chat! This is where nutrition gets very individualized so remember, what worked for your neighbor or the girl on Instagram, might not work for you.
Looking for more ways to balance your active lifestyle with the intuitive eating framework? Get your free Guide To Intuitive Fueling HERE.
