photo credit: A. Belani

If you are wise, you do your best to eat a healthy-well balanced diet. But some people are more prone to food allergies than others (maybe lactose intolerant or allergic to wheat), and other choose a eating style that might be devoid of certain foods (vegetarians or vegans). You have no doubt heard of various types of dietary supplements, but how do you know what is safe and appropriate for you and your diet?

What is a Dietary Supplement?

According to the National center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, a dietary supplement has to meet the following criteria:

• It is a product (other than tobacco) that is intended to supplement the diet and that contains one or more of the following: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, or any combination of the above ingredients.
• It is intended to be taken in tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid form.
• It is not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet.
• It is labeled as being a dietary supplement.

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