Guidelines for choosing safe dietary supplement products:

• Speak with your doctor or dietitian about any supplement that you are consider ing taking.
• Find information on the product that is written by recognized experts.
• When you shop for herbal supplements, make sure to find a product that uses only the effective part of the plant. Avoid botanicals that have been made using the entire plant, unless the entire plant is recommended.
• Remember that a product described as “natural” is not necessarily safer or more effective.
• Consider the name and reputation of the manufacturer or distributor. Large companies with a reputation to uphold are more likely to manufacture their products under strict, quality controlled conditions
• Does the label provide an address to contact the company?
• Try to avoid mixtures of many different supplements. The more the ingredients , the greater the chance of harmful effects.
• Avoid supplements that are priced cheaply. They are probably of an inferior quality.
• Avoid products that claim to be “miracle cures,” “breakthroughs” or “new discoveries.” These claims are almost always completely untrue.
• Avoid products that claim to be effective treatment for a wide variety of unrelated illnesses.