Approximately one-third of the population in the United States takes some form of dietary supplement. However, most of those people fail to conduct the proper research, or consult their physician before taking dietary supplements. Doing so may not be inherently harmful, but it is not a good idea either.

Each individual is different and has different nutritional needs. That is why what works for one person might not work for another. Fortunately, you no longer have to worry about spending countless hours conducting research trying to find out which dietary supplement is right for you.

Below is a list of 5 tips to help streamline the process for you.

Get to know your body

The first thing you need to do before taking dietary supplements is getting to know your body–its inner workings, how it metabolizes fats and carbohydrates, and what saps its energy, etc.

This knowledge places you in a better decision-making position when it comes to your diet. A balanced diet is essential to maintaining good health and maintaining the harmonious relationship between mind and body.

Consequently, you will be able to detect whether your daily food intake is sufficient for it to operate properly. If it isn’t, you can start a vitamin supplement regimen.

Monitor your eating habits

Make a record of what you eat every day. For example, if your day begins with a glass of juice and a slice of toast, what other options could I add to make it healthier? How many vitamins and minerals do I take with each meal? Are they sufficient? Is the quantity safe? These are just a few of the questions you should want to answer.

If you don’t have a diet plan, then begin making one immediately. This will help you keep track of what is lacking in your diet.

What are good supplements?

Three supplements are proven to be beneficial to your body’s overall health: Multi-vitamins, Omega-3/6s, and protein supplements. There may, or may not do what they claim to do.

Another category of supplements that are popular with health enthusiasts is fat-loss supplements. But, as with vitamins, not all fat-loss supplements are the same; so you should learn how to choose a fat loss supplement wisely. Most fat-loss supplements on the market today contain stimulants, like caffeine. One dose is equivalent to 2 cups of coffee. Nevertheless, research has shown that caffeine is a thermogenic (an agent that increases your body’s metabolism, causing it to burn more calories) and can be used to promote fat-burning.

Be aware, though, that your body will eventually adapt to the caffeine, making it necessary to drink even more to get the same results. And that may not be good for you.

If your body is lacking something, it will let you know

When you embark upon a rigid dietary regimen, your body takes notice. In about a month, it will let you know how it feels about the whole thing–through how it reacts to the change. So, you will be able to determine what your body is getting too much of, and what it’s not getting enough of.

However, finding out what it is not getting enough of is probably more important, as it allows you to make the proper adjustments to make up the shortfall using supplements.

One more thing, when your body begins to undergo physical changes–like in the case with pregnant women–it will also let you know when your diet is not supplying it with the necessary nutrients. Consequently, an entire line of supplements specifically designed for prenatal and postnatal care has emerged to address the problem.

Choosing the right vitamins for your age group

There are a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and supplements out there for you to choose from. And most of them have a specific purpose. Different age groups require different vitamins and minerals to help the body function properly. Therefore, you must choose the right supplement for your age group to ensure you receive the maximum benefits.

For example, there are vitamins for the elderly that help them maintain their strength as they grow older. There are also other vitamins, like Gummy Bears, that are specifically designed for children. These vitamins help children grow up faster, stronger, and healthier.

So, as you can see, a person’s age is a critical ingredient when choosing the right vitamins.

The 5 suggestions listed above should go a long way in helping you choose the right vitamins and/or supplements. But remember, there are a whole host of candidates to choose from, even among the groups listed above. For example, different brands by different manufacturers could have a bearing on the quality of the product. So be thorough in your approach to buying dietary supplements.