In
most cases where supplements are involved it is "let the buyer beware."
Most are supplements are bought in a store without any consultation with a physician.
Supplements can improve
energy, improve mental awareness, clean out parasites and the digestive system.
There is a vast amount of evidence that shows the digestive system can perform
better with supplements. In the JAMA, it was shown that a higher intake
of vitamin E helps lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Taking
supplements is usually safe, but whether or not they will work is generally unknown.
Studies have been done that both prove and disprove their effectiveness.
Prescription drugs must have studies and clinical trials to prove their effectiveness
and safety. But, in the United States, supplements are not required to prove
either their effectiveness in doing what they claim or that they are safe to take.
They also do not have to list any side-effects or conflicts with prescription
drugs. In Europe, you are normally given a prescription for a supplement
by your doctor and it is fill at the drugstore just like any other prescription
drug.
You should speak with your doctor. It also depends on how you feel
about your doctor and their advice. Many doctors receive free trips and
other perks from pharmaceutical companies and see happy to dole out prescriptions
for those products. Others know that there all-natural alternatives to taking
prescriptions. And, it is always best if you are an educated consumer and
read about the products yourself. You can look at the medical literature
and research the supplements online. Always be careful of pages that speak
negatively about one product while selling something that competes with that product.
You can find reviews from newspapers, medical journals and TV programs.
They will test the supplements and give an honest assessment of the tests they
have conducted.
