BE SUPPLEMENT SAVVY

There is no need to avoid supplements all together – follow these steps to keep yourself safe.

Be honest!

Tell your GP if you’re taking – or would like to take – a supplement. They’ll be used to patients who are using complementary treatments and will be able to let you know whether it’s safe for you. It’s also important to know that sometimes, supplements can have a positive interaction with conventional treatment, so you may need less of the medicine. “For example, plant sterols can make statins more effective, while glucosamine supplements might help reduce the number of painkillers you need to take,” says holistic GP and medical director of Healthspan, Dr Sarah Brewer.

Talk to your pharmacist

They are specialists in medicines and, even if they don’t know about supplements in detail, they’ll do the research for you.

See a professional

There are advantages to consulting a herbalist or nutritionist concerning supplements. They can tailor a prescription to your needs, taking the guesswork out of it, and will ensure what you’re taking is safe for you.

Read the labels

If you’re taking a herb, make sure it has a THR label, meaning it’s registered as a traditional herbal medicine. This label tells you there’s evidence to show the supplement works and it contains a standardised dose of the active ingredient. All supplements should contain leaflets warning of potential drug interactions.