Between constant television commercials, targeted social media ads, and of course, tons of celebrity endorsements, you might be feeling like dietary supplements are something you should absolutely be incorporating into your health regimen. But while half of all American adults take a multivitamin or another vitamin or mineral supplement regularly, not all supplements are created equal, and not all research supports the effectiveness and legitimacy of vitamin-infused pills, powders, potions, and more.

First and foremost, it's important to understand that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't regulate dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, and enzymes. Unlike medications, supplements are not allowed to be marketed for the purpose of treating, diagnosing, preventing, or curing diseases, and if any supplement claims to do anything along those lines, there's no way of knowing whether those claims are legit.

It may not be possible to know whether the supplements you're buying actually contain the ingredients they claim to have, and often, experts aren't always convinced those ingredients are necessary to consume outside of food. However, what is known is that supplements can carry risks similar to medications. Combining certain supplements with specific medications, mixing supplements, substituting supplements for prescription drugs, and/or taking too much of certain supplements can be seriously unsafe.

All that said, supplements aren't inherently bad - in fact, in some cases, your primary care provider might recommend you take one or more for any number of reasons. But in the absence of a provider recommendation, understanding which supplements are worth your time and money can be tricky. Remember, every person is different when it comes to their dietary needs, but when it comes to general recommendations, One Medical's Lenard Lesser, MD, MSHS, has some overarching thoughts on five of the most popular supplements out there.

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1Life Healthcare Inc. published this content on 21 September 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 24 September 2021 07:31:08 UTC.