7 Things you Should Know Before You Start Taking Supplements

Supplements can be highly effective in supporting your personal health goals - if they are taken in the right way. 

Find out what you need to know before you start taking vitamins and supplements and how to get the most out of your products. 

1. Supplements cannot replace a healthy lifestyle 

Many people think they can give away the responsibility for their own health just by investing into expensive health services and products. 

Imagine a person that never exercises, follows a poor diet and smokes heavily. Even the best doctor, physiotherapist or healer can't perform miracles and magically make them fit and healthy. 

The same applies to supplements. If you are looking for a quick fix for problems that stem from an unhealthy lifestyle, you´ll probably not get the desired results. 

Supplements can only be effective if you are ready to do the groundwork. 

2. There's not a "one size fits all" approach to supplementing

Every person has different nutritional requirements based on their age, health, geographical location, diet and activity level. 

That's why the supplements of a breastfeeding mother, an aspiring bodybuilder or an elderly person with an illness will probably look very different. 

Before taking supplements you should ask yourself: What do I really need?

Here are some examples: 

• If you are living in a cold country with long dark winters you might want to consider supplementing vitamin D regularly. 

• If you are a strict vegan you might want to monitor your vitamin B12 levels more carefully. 

• If you exercise regularly you might want to optimize your performance by taking magnesium. 

We recommend checking with your doctor or dietician to identify the perfect combination of products that work for YOUR body. 

3. More is not automatically better

Oftentimes people falsely believe that taking more vitamins is automatically better. Unfortunately, that´s not how it works. 

When taken in excess, some water-soluble vitamins can cause adverse effects, some of which can be even dangerous. For example overdosing vitamin B6 can lead to neurological symptoms. 

Our recommendation for being safe: 

• Stick with science and follow the health advice from trusted sources or your doctor. 
• Follow the instructions on the package and don't exceed the daily recommended dose. 
• Don´t double up after missing a dose. Just take it the next scheduled time. 

4. Some vitamins can interfere with medication 

With any type of drug, there’s always a chance that it won’t mix well with a supplement. 

If you have any health conditions that require regular medication, you should always check with your doctor before taking supplements.  

Taking multiple drugs and/or supplements can increase your risk for side effects and adverse interactions, including cognitive impairment. Even herbal supplements from natural sources can have potent active ingredients and dangerous interactions with drugs, other supplements, and certain foods and beverages. 

You should also be extra cautious if you are pregnant. Certain vitamins or supplements should NOT be taken during pregnancy at all. For example studies have shown that large doses of synthetic or preformed vitamin A in supplements can be dangerous and not only cause harm to you, but also your baby.

5. The quality of supplements can vary hugely 

Online vitamin sales are growing at a rapid speed. 

The problem is that not all products are created equal. There are huge differences in the purity and quality of the ingredients, the formulas and even the form in which supplements are sold. Globally there are probably thousands of  powders, capsules and liquids available. 

In order to find safe and efficient products: 

• Choose trusted brands with proper certification, third-party testing  and transparent labels. 
• Do your research before ordering products. Check the track-record of the company and ratings of customers. 
• Speak with your doctor if you are taking medication, pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• Choose natural products without artificial ingredients and additives. 

Be extra cautious if something sounds “too good to be true” and a company claims to offer the magic cure. 

At AAVALABS we take quality and safety very seriously. That means that our products are manufactured to the highest standards in Europe. All products are tested by independent laboratories, NON-GMO and as pure as possible. 

6. Understand the difference between water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.

Water-soluble vitamins are not stored by the body. Since they are eliminated in the urine, we require a continuous daily supply in our diet. 

Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C and theB’s: thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folic acid (B9), and cobalamin (B12).

Fat-soluble vitamins are most abundant in high-fat foods and are much better absorbed into your bloodstream when you eat them with fat. The four fat-soluble vitamins in the human diet are vitamins A, D, E and K. 

Unlike water-soluble vitamins, any excess of fat-soluble vitamins don't immediately leave the body. Instead, they're stored in the liver or fatty tissue for later use. 

7. Understand the language on the label 

When purchasing vitamins you want to ensure that you understand the language used on the labels. For example when comparing different products you will notice differences in the list of ingredients, nutritional values, daily recommended dosage etc. 

The better you learn to read the labels, the easier it will be finding the right product for yourself and making sure you get value for money. 

At AAVALABS transparency is very important to us. If you need any additional information regarding a particular supplement or don´t know how to read a lablel, feel free to contact us any time. We are happy to help you!