Two registered dietitians share the top things we should ask a healthcare professional before trying any new supplements.

(Heresliterallylooking at you, endless exciting-but-sus-sounding supplements we scroll by on social media.)

There are herbal supplements, multivitamins, protein powders, minerals, and more.

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You still want to aim to get a variety of nutrient-dense foods as much as possible.

This is because food gives us nutrients that supplements just cant mimic.

The vitamins and minerals in our foods work synergistically, meaning they work together.

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anti-diet registered dietitian atYour Latina Nutritionist

More importantly, food gives us energy.

Most herbal, vitamin, and mineral supplements wont provide the literal life-giving energy that food can.

You still want to aim to get a variety of nutrient-dense foods as much as possible.

close up of person drinking a green smoothie that may cause their poop to be green

like read that twice.

That being said, finding a third-party tested supplement ensures that the supplements label is accurate.

Many supplements are well-studiedand backed by research, particularly most vitamins and minerals.

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However, some supplements may have limited or low-quality research.

This is often the case for herbal supplements.

On the flipside, certain medications can deplete certain nutrient stores and lead to deficiencies.

cup of matcha green tea sitting on a wooden ledge

anti-diet registered dietitian atYour Latina Nutritionist

And vitamin E can interact with blood thinners, increasing the risk of bleeding, says Mesa.

Having one of these conditions may also put you at higher risk of adverse side effects from supplementation.

Always lastly, be sure tocheck with your healthcare teamfor help deciding if a supplement is right for you.

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