(ThySistas.com) There are many good reasons to use supplements if you are hoping to increase your health and fitness. The simple truth is that the vegetables we eat are no longer as nutritious as they once were, meaning that we have to do all we can to claw back the goodness from whatever source we can. A balanced diet is unable to do everything by itself; sometimes, there needs to be an extra boost.
The problem with supplements is that they are often misunderstood or misused. So before you go opening a bottle, it’s always worth running through your mind the six golden rules of effective, safe, and beneficial supplement usage…
Golden Rule #1: Contact A Doctor Before Taking Anything
Supplements should be used safely, which means that anything you’re considering taking needs to have full medical approval before you even think about taking it. This is especially true if you are on prescribed medications, which may have interactions. Always check over anything you’re considering taking with your general doctor.
Golden Rule #2: Feedback Matters
If you want to know if a supplement is worth your time or just another snake oil, then you need to look beyond the glossy marketing. Take the time to read feedback and experiences from other uses. This could be generalized, such as AlgaeCal reviews on Amazon, or on specific store sites where the reviews are published along with the product details. In the latter case, if there aren’t any reviews available along with the purchase option, then it’s probably worth questioning why that might be the case.
Golden Rule #3: Take With Food
To give your body the best chance of making the most of whatever it is you have chosen to take, it’s best to take it with food. Not only does this help to ensure thorough digestion, but it also protects your stomach. If you take pills on an empty stomach, then there’s a chance they might irritate the stomach lining and make you feel unwell.
Golden Rule #4: Give It Time
If you pop a pill in the morning and expect to feel miraculously healthy and wonderful by the evening, you’re being unrealistic. At the very least, you need to wait at least four weeks of continued, regular use before you will be able to properly evaluate whether a supplement is working for you or not. If you get to the end of the packet and have yet to notice any discernable improvement, then you have reason to be skeptical.
Golden Rule #5: Don’t Share Supplements
If a friend tells you about a supplement they’re taking and loving, they might offer you one – so you think, “what have I got to lose by trying it?”. This isn’t a good way to take supplements. Don’t go off what other people are using; do your research and ensure you’re just taking supplements that are specific to your health needs and your fitness concerns.
Golden Rule #6: Use As Directed
If you want to get the most from your supplements, then you have to use them as the manufacturers tell you to use them. If you are liable to forget to take something every day, then set an alarm on your phone so you remember – don’t go missing doses and then blaming the supplement for the lack of improvement.
The above should give you a good idea on how to get the most out of your supplement usage. Good luck!
Staff Writer; Lisa Jacobs