Assess your Health Alternative Supplements

The high prices of medicine and costly hospital bills have caused consumers to take health alternative supplements in order to enhance their well-being and strengthen their bodies against sickness. However, the alternative supplement market is now saturated with products that do not live up to their claims, or worse, may contain impurities that may aggravate your condition.

Horror stories

Accounts of frightening encounters with dubious and possibly toxic health alternative supplements are numerous. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cited examples of dietary supplements recalled from the market because of the dangers they posed. In one instance, a manufacturer of a certain supplement had to pull out their product because it was found to have excessive amounts of lead.

Choosing the right supplement

To be safe, buy only from manufacturers that are pharmaceutical GMP compliant. Health alternative supplements manufactured by such companies have passed very precise manufacturing standards, so you can be sure that these products do not contain harmful contaminants or additives such as starch, sugar, silica, or gluten, among others.

Protecting yourself from bogus supplements

Now is the time to check your medical cabinet and re-evaluate the different health alternative supplements that you are currently taking. If you have not taken supplements but are thinking of buying some, here are some points to keep in mind:

1. Be wary of outrageous claims.

Approach advertisements of health alternative supplements with healthy skepticism, especially when not directed to a clinical study certified by a respectable body in the medical field. Be especially skeptical of supplements that present themselves as a ‘cure-for-all.’ Keep in mind that health alternative supplements are still supplements – they are meant to provide ‘assistance’ to boost your health, and are not by themselves the cure.

2. Check the ingredients.

Alternative supplements are not covered by the regulations of the U.S. FDA which require manufacturers to disclose the ingredients of their products. Also, dietary supplements do not require safety tests that other drugs have to undergo before they can be put in the market.

Do the work yourself and contact the manufacturer (you will likely find their contact details at the back of the box/bottle). Better yet, ask your physician about whether certain supplements can help you or not.

3. Read consumer reports.

There are a lot of consumer reports available either in print or in the Internet. Some are free while others ask for a certain fee. Regardless, be sure that the report comes from an unbiased and reputable consumer group and not from a ‘shady’ organization (like a consumer group formed by a manufacturer of a certain supplement in order to eliminate competitors).

The FDA website is a great source. It contains articles that inform consumers about health alternative supplements.

Join the lobby for stricter laws and guidelines for the manufacturers

The FDA website carries a list of efforts that were conducted as a response to the growing number of complaints and disturbing findings about certain supplements. Continuous lobbying and support for stricter policing of supplements are keys to a safer and better industry of dietary supplements.

Don't just take our word, even the FDA recognises this industry wide problem.

IMPORTANT: Caution is necessary in choosing supplements. In the U.S., this industry is not regulated so it is best to thoroughly check the background of the company making the supplement. Also, immediately consult a doctor when you experience any illness or abnormality in bodily functions after taking the supplement.