Your Ideal Supplement Plan in 3 Easy Steps: The Essential Guide to Choosing the Herbs, Vitamins and Minerals That Are Right for You

SUPPLEMENTS: NATURE'S INSURANCE POLICIES Supplements can be the best insurance policy you ever buy. They give you the power to attain and maintain the most precious thing you can ever possess--your health. Just as important as having the physical supplements in your possession and taking them are the emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits you experience from knowing you are taking an active part in creating balance and health for yourself. In the Introduction you learned some basic things about supplements and why you need them. In this section you can learn about the most commonly used supplements and how they are helpful, what forms to buy, how to use them, what side effects and interactions to look for, foods that contain the nutrient (if applicable), signs of deficiency (if applicable), and precautions. A Note about "What to Buy": The majority of supplements are available in more than one form; some in as many as eight or ten. Not all forms are equally effective, which is why "What to Buy" lets you know which ones are more beneficial. In addition, where applicable it lists "Other Helpful Supplements" forms for those who cannot obtain readily the recommended forms in their area or who prefer to take the alternative forms. When purchasing supplements sight unseen via mail order or the Internet, get as much information about the products as you can by calling the company's customer service department. Comparison-shop: check out several suppliers; look for advertisements in health and nutrition publications; ask your physician, pharmacist, and knowledgeable staff in health food stores. Read labels carefully and research the options. Sometimes a store brand may serve your needs just as well as a higher-priced national label. An explanation of several terms you will see often in this section will be helpful. Standardized and standardized extract are used to describe many herbal supplements. Standardized means that the herb form is guaranteed to contain a predetermined, or standardized, level of active ingredients. A standardized extract can be a solid, liquid, or powder. Any form of an herb can be standardized; however, not all manufacturers have adopted this practice. Whenever possible, buy the standardized form of the herb(s) you have chosen to take, as it is the preferred and more effective form of an herb. Some herbs can be taken as an "infusion" or a "decoction." Both forms are prepared similarly to teas, with two important differences: in both cases more herb is used than in ordinary tea; and the herb is allowed to steep longer. These differences make infusions and decoctions much more potent than average tea. Infusions are prepared from the soft parts of the herb--leaves, flowers, and berries. Decoctions are made from the hard parts--bark, roots, and stems. A Note about "How to Use": The doses provided in the "How to Use" section are a general guide. Because there are many different manufacturers of supplement products and various potencies, it is necessary to read the dosing directions on each product before you use it. For more detailed dosing information, refer to the specific condition (in bold type) you are treating. Check the package instructions and consult with your health-care provider before taking any supplement. The dosage instructions have been drawn from a wide variety of authoritative sources, including highly regarded medical practitioners and institutions. For a complete list of sources, see page 228. Doses are given in milligrams (mg, or thousandths of a gram); micrograms (mcg, or millionths of a gram); and milliliters (mL, or thousandths of a liter). See Appendix C for measurement conversions. *************************** AcidophilusAcidophilus (Lactobacillus acidophilus) is a type of beneficial bacteria that resides in the colon and vagina. AcidophiMitchell, Deborah is the author of 'Your Ideal Supplement Plan in 3 Easy Steps: The Essential Guide to Choosing the Herbs, Vitamins and Minerals That Are Right for You' with ISBN 9780440235545 and ISBN 0440235545.