How many of you ever bought a miracle pill or magic tea on a whim from a late-night infomercial or surfing the internet? How many of you experienced something just short of a horror story before you could even finish your 5 easy payment installments of $9.99? Maybe some explosive diarrhea or unbearable stomach cramping from that "super duper slimdown cleanse" or something just short of a heart attack from that "energy booster". How many of you felt nothing at all and most of the impact was felt from the wasted money you would never get back or failed attempt to find a product that would work the way you wanted it to? If you can identify with all or part of the scenarios described above, you are not alone.

The dietary supplement industry is loosley monitored and regulated by the FDA although there are many new regulations in place as well as various actions and initiatives being planned to further increase standardization of these products in the future.  There are many things to be aware of when choosing a dietary supplement outside of the over-inflated claims and testimonials strategically created to prompt an impulse buy. It is best to talk to a Naturopathic Physician or other doctor with a background in pharmacology, nutrition, and botanical medicine to stay informed about new health care products.

Here are some key points about your dietary supplement that your doctor should be looking for:  

1. Is this product safe? Are there clinical studies that have demonstrated the safety of the ingredient or combination of ingredients? Are there any adverse events associated with the use of the ingredient or combination of ingredients?

2. Could this product interact with any products or medicaitions that I am taking?

3. Is this product appropriate for me individually? Will this product be beneficial in addition to my healthy lifestyle?

4. Does the dose in this product support the health claims?

Dr. Kristy Appelhans