How Do You Know Supplements Are Good For You?

You painstakingly grow an organic garden, and eat fresh greens from that garden every single night. You know the greens are good for you, but how can you tell? Perhaps you feel good about yourself after you've eaten your salad -- a job well done, and all that. But how do you know that the garden greens really are good for you? Can you feel your body actually becoming healthier by the minute?

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Probably not.

But over time, you might notice that you feel healthier. Maybe the results of your blood tests from your annual physical exam are better, Maybe you have an easier time ramping up your workouts at the fitness center. The point is that while you may notice the results of a better diet over time, you probably won't notice anything at the moment you are eating the "good for you" food.

"Good for You" Supplements

The same is true of taking supplements. Many people take supplements that are good for them but feel no noticeable difference in the moment. They can take supplements for a day, a week, a month, or even several months before they notice a difference. But that doesn't mean that the supplements are not creating a healthier body in the meantime. It just means that most people don't notice the healthy results for a while. In fact, some people may never actually "feel" healthier, but will only see the results in lab work.

Whenever you change your diet or add supplements to your daily regimen, chances are that you will experience one of three possible outcomes. It's good to know about all three of these outcomes so that you can decide whether the supplements you are taking are really helping you.

Three Possible Outcomes from Taking Supplements

The three results people usually see from taking supplements are:

Nothing is happening. I feel better right away. I feel worse right away.
Nothing is Happening

For a lot of people, this is the common result of taking supplements. They might take supplements--like coenzyme Q10, blue green algae, or even Vitamin C--for months and notice no real changes. To them, that means that "nothing is happening." In actuality, something is probably happening but they can't feel it. Depending on the state of your health, true healing that you can notice may take as long as three, six, or nine months. If you want to know the effects of taking supplements sooner than that, you may need to visit your doctor for some blood work.

I Feel Better Right Away

This response is, of course, highly positive and tells you that you are on the right path. Many people get this response when they add supplements to their diet that fill big nutritional "holes." For instance, if you suffer from indigestion, taking enzymes with each meal will probably result in less indigestion--a pleasant result that you will notice right away.

I Feel Worse Right Away

This response is tricky because it can mean one of two things: either the supplement is truly not good for your body or you are experiencing detoxification. For instance, a person with heart problems might experience a negative reaction from taking high doses of coenzyme Q10, such as heart palpitations or heart pain. On the other hand, another person might experience acne, tiredness, or bad breath as a result of taking acidophilus and blue-green algae. The way to figure out which response you are experiencing is to start the new supplements slowly, and back off if you start to feel worse. Reduce your intake of the new supplement and see if the symptoms improve. After a while, slowly increase the dosage to the recommended amount and see if you feel better rather than worse.

Confused About Supplements?

Are you confused yet? It can take some time to figure what kind of response are getting from adding new supplements to your daily regimen. Being aware of these three possible responses can help you assess your response. As always, consult a professional if you have questions or are unable to figure out your body's reaction on your own.

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