Why You Need To Rethink Taking Supplements

Taking supplements is growing more popular by the day, as is evidenced by the growing number of suppliers who are hawking their wares to the hungry masses desperate for an artificial boost. While many people believe that taking supplements is an unaccompanied good that can bring with it few negative consequences, however, the truth of the matter is that many supplements are highly suspect. You should always seek out the approval of a medical professional before taking supplements, as self-diagnosing and prescribing can have disastrous results, even for healthy adults.

Here's why you need to rethink taking supplements unless you have the approval of a qualified medical professional.

Fraud is everywhere

By far the most obvious and compelling reason to rethink taking supplements is that fraud is running rampant in the industry right now. Many everyday people place far too much trust in the food, beverages, drugs, and supplements they purchase at the store. This stuff is sold by Kroger/Walmart/CVS or any other popular brand, they argue, so how could it be dangerous? The truth of the matter is that many products which can have harmful side effects go unnoticed by the FDA and other official watchdogs for years, and even robust checks and balances still fail to filter out every illegitimate supplement that makes its way onto the marketplace.

You can cut down on the possibility of taking a bogus supplement by exclusively consuming those which are recommended by a competent, highly trusted source, such as Alpha Wolf Nutrition. Senior citizens in particular should take note of this advice, as many supplement scams are specifically targeted at older citizens who may not be familiar with recent developments in the consumer marketplace. Luckily, the AARP has put together an immensely useful page that helps you spot a fake supplement, which you should review if you're having second thoughts about the pills you purchased last week. 

Always exercise particular caution when it comes to certain areas; pills, powders, and other supplements which promise to help you lose weight, bolster sexual vitality, or combat depressive episodes are particularly suspect. Remember that if a promise seems too good to be true, it probably is, so a supplement likely won't help you "melt fat fast!" or "regain your lost love life!" When it comes to something that can have a drastic impact on the overall health of your body or the state of your mind, you need to solicit a doctor's approval before consuming it. Otherwise, the disastrous consequences of your rushed action could haunt you for the remainder of your life. 

Billion dollar industries attract nasty behavior

It's only natural that the supplement industry is rife with nasty and deplorable behavior - after all, it's worth about $37 billion a year, according to the National Institute of Health. This figure is important to remember because it effectively guarantees that nefarious actors are out there trying to make a buck off your ignorance; understanding that many legitimate products exist, they flood the market with the realistic expectation that at least some customers looking for actual results will inadvertently buy their fraudulent products. Federal oversight for this area can be so timid that there are many reasons to believe that a $37 billion industry is effectively built on scams. 

So, should you avoid all supplements forever? There are obviously some useful instances where they can come in handy. What's important to remember is that you should always solicit the approval of a qualified professional before incorporating supplements into your diet. Consult the FDA's page about dietary supplements frequently, and never be afraid to ask your doctor about his or her recommendations. With medical experts backing your decision, you can rest easy, assured that the supplements you're taking are producing good results without providing unintended consequences.