The wellness and supplements business is now a massive industry. People understand better than ever what supplements they want and need, and can buy them so much easier than ever before. Are you considering supplements or buying them online? Read on to find out everything you should think about before doing so.
Know What You Need
Before you start shopping online, you need to know what supplements you actually need and could benefit you in some way. Different supplements are useful for different things. Here are a few of the most common supplements:
- Vitamins are the most commonly sold supplements, taken to help increase depleted levels of vitamin in your system due to various deficiencies or dietary issues.
- Minerals are taken to help with things like your joints, muscles, and skin.
- Protein and other sports supplements such as creatine are used to help the body grow and recover after exercise. The selling of sports drinks and protein-based snacks is one of the biggest industries in the world.
- Omegas and other food supplements are again used to increase levels of certain nutrients in the body.
It is important to research each of these categories and find out what you may need. A simple blood test from your doctor can tell you what you may be deficient in, and your body will tell you if you’re constantly tired or achy! Do your research and find out what is going to be good for you.
Compare Products and Brands
Once you know what you need, it is best to compare products from different brands. There are all sorts of variances between products that appear similar. You can use this site as well as other available resources to check which products out there are the best. You could, for example, find two similar-looking vitamin B12 supplements and think they are both the same.
However, there could be some big differences. One brand may contain less percentage value of the actual vitamin per tablet or require you to take multiple tablets a day. Not only could this adversely affect you, but it could cost you extra money! Make sure you find brands and products that you trust, and that are right for you.
Research The Seller
Buying online has its inherent dangers. You will likely be using your credit or debit card online to make these purchases, so you need to make sure the site is one you can trust. Scammers operate fake web stores to access people’s information. Never give out information unless you have previously looked up the website or seller. Some marketplace sites like Amazon or eBay are prone to fake sellers. Though, with those websites, you are almost always protected against fraud.
Read Reviews
You should also read reviews of both the products you are buying and the website itself. Be smart and check a range of review sites before purchasing anything. There are many sites where only verified consumers can leave a review, thus eliminating the risk of being tricked by a load of fake five-star reviews! Try searching for the seller and the individual brand on multiple trusted review sites, compare reviews across the board, and look out for dodgy sounding fake reviews!
Don’t Be Misled
Lots of websites will be full of false claims aimed at the unsuspecting consumer. Some brands will claim their product to be “proven” as most effective, or the “only” supplement you will ever need. They may also claim health benefits that do not actually exist. Be sure to not take any claims at face value and look for professionally led studies on products that you are considering buying. It would be very easy to be tricked by these sites, so take it slow and research, research, research!
Don’t Expect Sudden Fixes
Although many supplements may be aimed at making you feel better immediately, most won’t. It will take your body a while to adapt to the extra intake of new vitamins or minerals. The changes will be slow and steady, and you may not realize the subtle changes day by day. This is especially common in the sports industry. Many sites will be full of pictures of the fittest and strongest people, leading you to expect these supplements (and not hours of hard work!) will change your body.
So, there is lots to consider about both online safety, and the safety of your products. Remember, you are ingesting these supplements into your body so you really want to be sure that they are safe and suitable. You want to be healthy and not hurt! Good luck on your shopping and supplement journey!