From drugstores to gas stations, herbal supplements are available everywhere. Use them with care, warns Dr. Oz. In this Health Smarts video, he shares tips to use these dietary supplements safely.
Hi, I'm Dr. Oz. You can find an endless array of herbal supplements at drug stores, supermarkets, even gas station, quick marts. We all want to be healthier. But are these supplements worth the money? Do they work? Check with your doctor before you take any supplement or over the counter drugs for more than three days.
If you self diagnosed a health problem, you should get medical confirmation before you treat it. Another thing to consider, many herbs interact negatively with prescription or over the counter medications you may already be taking. Your doctor can also be able to suggest a more effective, safer, and less expensive way to reach your health goal.
If you get the thumbs up for a certain supplement, be careful of the one you pick. Some imported supplements have received FDA warnings for containing drugs or toxin substances that don't appear in the label. Look for, Made in the USA on the label, and choose products that have an emblem that says, verified dietery supplement USP, that means the manufacturer meets US quality standards. I'm Dr. Oz, for more great ways to stay healthy, watch all of our smart tips, right here.
Our experts agree it’s best to get vitamins and other nutrients from your diet, not dietary supplements. But sometimes it makes sense to take a vitamin, especially if you're deficient in vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids and certain minerals.
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