QUIZ: Do You Need A Daily Supplement?

It’s ideal to get all the nutrients from food, but your quiz results may surprise you.

Shopping for a supplement: buyer beware!

Supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that the dose, quality, purity, or contamination level cannot be guaranteed in these products. Look for supplements which have been third party tested so you can have the peace of mind that what the label says you’re getting is really what you are getting. The USP (United States Pharmacopeia) verified mark is something you can look for when shopping for a dietary supplement that contains what the label states it contains.

Look out for mega doses.

When it comes to dietary supplements, more is not necessarily better. A supplement containing >100% of the Daily Value (DV) for a nutrient has more than you need of that nutrient and you’ll either pee out the excess or the high dose can decrease the absorption of another nutrient or cause other problems. High doses of Niacin, for example, can result in liver problems.

Play it safe. Before taking anything other than a standard multivitamin supplement of the 100% DV or less, check with your doctor, pharmacist or a registered dietitian. Supplements may interfere with your medication. Vitamins E & K, for example, should be avoided if you are on blood thinning medications (anticoagulants) because they can complicate proper control of blood thinning.