Glencoe Health

Introduction:
As you learned in this lesson, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests all prescription and over-the-counter medicines in this country to make sure that they are effective and safe to use. Herbal and dietary supplements, by contrast, are regulated as "foods" and do not go through the same testing procedures. Nonetheless, some people prefer to use these "natural" remedies for minor ailments because they assume they are safer and more wholesome than "drugs." This fact sheet from the National Consumers League has more information about dietary supplements, how they are regulated, and how to use them safely.

Links to Explore:
Dietary Supplements
http://www.nclnet.org/publications/dietsupps.pdf

Directions:

• Click on the link and read the fact sheet on dietary supplements.
• Then answer the following questions:

1			Why should you talk to your doctor before taking a dietary supplement if you are also taking a prescription or over-the-counter medicine?
2			What kind of claims cannot legally be printed on the label of a dietary supplement?
3			What information must appear on the label of any dietary supplement?
4			Why should you always read the label before taking a supplement?
5			Are herbal supplements safer to use than synthetic drugs?
6			List four guidelines for the safe use of dietary supplements.