Is This Supplement Right For Me? How to tell with 5 easy steps!
You’re sitting on your couch after a tough grind at the gym and suddenly a fit chick pops up on your TV and lets you know that “X Brand” supplement has completely changed her body and can change yours too for a low low price of $29.99. The add shows testimonial after testimonial from buff dudes who swear by the product and claim that it’s a complete game changer.
Do you buy it? Why? Why not?
As a Nutrition Coach, it hurts my heart to know that hundreds of dollars are wasted on products that DON’T work and leave clients not only frustrated, but with less money in their pocket. While not all supplements are a waste of money, (I’ll share which ones I personally choose to take) it’s SO important to know that you’re taking the RIGHT one for the RIGHT reason.
Here’s my 5 point LITMUS TEST to consider before buying a supplement:
1. Is there scientific research to support the products claims?
The supplement market is wild. Claims to cure, treat, and prevent are thrown around loosely, and because the FDA regulates supplements as a food (instead of a drug), hundreds of items are put on the shelf with minimal testing. Before purchasing a supplement, I HIGHLY recommend doing some research through Examine.com .
2. Is the supplement safe?
Research and testing can help determine the safety and efficacy of a product before it reaches the consumer. As a result, products not only pose less risk, but they also provide better results to the public. To determine if a product has gone through the proper channels of testing, look for the U.S Pharmacopeia verification mark <- click this link to watch a short video!
3. How much does the supplement cost?
Before purchasing a supplement, always consider the cost versus the proposed benefit. If the benefit appears to be proven and affordable, then the purchase may be worthwhile. However, many proposed benefits of supplements can be obtained through changes to nutrition and lifestyle. So, I’d HIGHLY recommend trying those first!
4. Is this too good to be true?
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Bulked up athletes and models should not take the place of sound research and testing. Just because it worked for a genetically blessed highly trained athlete, doesn’t mean that it will work for you. Nutrition is NOT a one size fits all solution! Ephedra hit the shelves promising miraculous fat loss and endless energy. Instead, it affected millions of people with cardiac arrest like symptoms and high blood pressure. It was too good to be true!
5. Does the product contain a banned substance?
Although the chances of you being a WADA (World Anti-Doping Drug Agency) tested athlete are pretty slim, the drugs that are banned for athletes often pose a potential harm to all athletes. For a complete list of drugs that are currently banned from the WADA, click this link: 2020 WADA Banned Substances
I'm a firm believer that God gave us BOTH intelligent minds and a resourceful earth. Which means that we have almost everything we could ever need supplied by the earth. However, God gave man intelligence to adapt to the demands of the time. I get that it’s hard to get ALL of the nutrients that our body needs in perfect amounts from food, and because of this, I choose to personally take the following supplements daily:
These include:
- Pre-Natal Multi Vitamin
- Fish Oil
- Vitamin D
If you found this blog post helpful, please share it with a friend and let me know what you learned by sending an email to laura.lindahl@truestrengthcollective.com
*I am an Nutrition Coach, not an RD and as such do not prescribe or advise my clients to take any specific supplements without first asking their Dr.
