Unfortunate consequences can result from mixing supplements and medications.Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.Your doctor can determine if you should take a supplement based on your health and medical history.Ask your doctor if you can trust the brands they recommend.Always use your supplements as directed, and learn all you can about supplement side effects and interactions.
Step 1: Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.
It is possible for you and your doctor to discuss how a specific supplement or supplement mix may affect your health.If your doctor approves your supplement use, be sure to find out the name, brand, and concentration of the supplement you can take.Let your doctor know if you're considering changing your supplement mix to include more fish oil.Your doctor is the only one who can help you find a supplement mix that works for you.
Step 2: Do your schoolwork.
There are a lot of supplements that don't contain what they say they do.There are supplements that contain harmful ingredients.Discuss with your doctor which supplement brands can be trusted.The best by date is always checked before buying.The FDA does not review herbal supplements.Don't believe the hype.Lots of supplements have very little effect on the condition or symptom they are meant to cure.If your doctor approves the use of a supplement, don't expect it to be a silver bullet.
Step 3: Don't use supplements.
Taking supplements at all is not the best way to avoid risky mixes.You can adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating right and getting regular exercise instead of taking supplements.Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are the best way to eat.About 20% of calories should come from lean sources like soy, poultry, nuts, and seeds.High in sugar, salt, and fat are processed foods.Limit the amount of alcohol and red meat you consume.Don't stay inactive.Moderate exercise is 2.5 hours per week for adults.You can improve your health by walking, biking, or jogging at least ten minutes a day.You should spend more time exercising as your endurance improves.A friend is invited to double the fun.If you're overweight, it's a good idea to identify the weight you should be at and reduce your calories in order to increase your physical activity levels.Talk to your doctor about your ideal weight.
Step 4: Look for products that are certified.
The FDA doesn't regulate supplements, but there are organizations that do third party certifications of the ingredients.It is possible to ensure that the ingredients in the supplements are safe.Don't confuse vague certifications with legitimate certification processes.Some supplement mixes have phrases such as physician approved or physician tested.
Step 5: Don't take powdered drink supplements.
Young people who ingest powdered drink mixes may experience damage to their livers.Hydroxycut can cause your metabolism to go into overdrive.The powdered drink mixes may be advertised as supplements.They may be advertised as metabolism-controlling supplements.
Step 6: It's a good idea to be careful with fish oil.
One of the most widely-used supplements, fish oil, is used to keep the heart healthy, but it can lead to excessive bleeding if combined with heart medications.Coumadin or Jantoven is a type of anticoagulant that can make fish oil supplements risky.
Step 7: Caution is used with black cohosh.
Black cohosh is derived from the North American plant.It can be used to deal with menopausal disorders, vaginitis, uterine spasms, and painful menstruation.Black cohosh might lead to liver toxicity if it is combined with Lipitor.Even if black cohosh isn't mixed with another supplement or medication, there is concern that it could be harmful to the body.
Step 8: Caution is used with Saint John's wort.
Mild depression can be treated with St. John's wort.Serotonin syndrome can be caused if it's mixed with other antidepressants.Serotonin syndrome can cause a lot of symptoms.There are more serious symptoms such as confusion, fever, and even death.
Step 9: Caution is needed with gingko biloba.
Gingko biloba can be used to improve memory and mental function.It is similar to fish oil and can cause internal bleeding.
Step 10: Coenzyme Q10 should be looked out for.
When the heart is damaged by cancer, the naturally occurring CoQ10 can be used to heal it.It decreases the effectiveness of Warfarin and similar blood thinners.Your doctor may be able to adjust your dosage to allow you to take CoQ10Discuss this possibility with them.
Step 11: Garlic supplements should be used with care.
Garlic supplements can make them less effective.The presence of garlic supplements will cause HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis-fighting medications to be less effective.Don't worry about eating garlic.Garlic supplements have higher concentrations of garlic than a slice ofGarlic toast.
Step 12: Caution should be used with ED supplements.
ED is a condition in which aging men are unable to achieve or maintain an erection.There are a number of plant-based supplements that can be used to treat ED.These supplements could cause low blood pressure if they are mixed with nitrates.Many heart disease medications, including isosorbide mononitrate and dinitrate, and multiple drugs whose generic names begin with nitroglycerin, are nitrates.
Step 13: It's a good idea to use caution with vitamin D.
It is possible to strengthen bones and improve cognitive function with the use of vitamins D and D3.It can be harmful in combination with certain other supplements or drugs, which is why it is usually considered one of the most harmless supplements.In combination with water pills used to treat hypertension and edema, vitamins D and calcium can cause health problems.Dilutions include hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, metolazone, and indapamide.
Step 14: It's a good idea to be careful with the potassium supplements.
One class of hypertension medications works by preventing the narrowing of the blood vessels.Your body might end up retaining too much potassium, leading to muscle fatigue, arrhythmia, and paralysis, if you combine your medication with it.Captopril, moexipril and benazepril are some of the common ACE inhibitors.
Step 15: It's a good idea to keep an eye on your supplement intake.
A class of drugs used to regulate cholesterol can affect blood pressure.Cholesterol can lead to fatigue or failure of the kidneys.