29 Mar 2024

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What to Ask Your Doctor Before Taking Supplements
Supplements

What to Ask Your Doctor Before Taking Supplements 

Millions of Americans would purchase and take supplements daily from many brands like Vital Nutrients in Supplement First. But how many of them actually speak with their doctors before doing so?

While supplements are not a prescription medication, there is still a vital need to speak with your healthcare provider about what supplements you’re taking. This is because the doctor will determine if you actually need the supplement or if you have a condition or medication that may be negatively affected by the supplements you take.

That said, what are the things you should ask your doctor in the first place? Here are the following questions to ask before buying supplements from supplementfirst.com.

  1. Do I need the supplements?

Some people take supplements if their diet does not contain vitamin-rich food. If that’s the case, your doctor may first suggest changing your diet altogether. Supplements aren’t the complete substitute for your diet, so a healthy diet and necessary supplements are needed to help maintain optimum health. Your doctor will be able to build an appropriate meal plan for that.

  1. Is the particular supplement I’m getting flagged by the FDA?

While the FDA regulates some supplements on the market, they do not oversee everything. The FDA does record complaints and sanctions against companies for using dangerous or hazardous ingredients in their products.

Your doctor would be aware of this, and you can even do a quick search on the FDA’s website. They feature a list of supplement companies and ingredients, along with product recalls and withdrawals.

  1. How much of the supplement must I take?

Your healthcare provider will be able to recommend a specific dose of the supplement you need based on your blood test results and current condition.

Note that during your doctor’s appointment, your doctor might recommend a blood test. Self-diagnosing isn’t recommended at all and you might be shocked to know that you might not even need the supplement in the first place.

This is why a doctor would recommend a blood test to determine if there are any vitamins or minerals you are deficient in. That way, you know what changes you can make to your diet and if there is still a need for supplementation. If you take too much of certain vitamins, it may cause very nasty side effects.

Moreover, your doctor will ask about your family history, as any healthcare provider would. For instance, if you feel tired and decide to take an iron supplement to help, you might actually have an unknown hereditary condition causing you to absorb more iron and accumulate it, thus causing organ damage.

Also, if you are scheduled for surgery, you must disclose your supplement regimen to your doctor and surgical team. They may advise you to stop taking supplements before surgery since certain products might increase the risk of bleeding.

Wrapping It Up

Before a new diet or taking new supplements, speak with your doctor to ensure that this will truly help with your health. Always opt for organic, high quality health supplements as they are usually don’t contain chemical compounds that may be harmful for your body and may even cause serious problems.

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