Buying Supplements in India

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Most fitness enthusiasts consider supplementing their diet with certain nutrients in the quest for their fitness goal. Weather these supplements are actually needed by them is a completely different question altogether. This blog post is however focused on buying supplements in India. 

Most supplements available in India are of foreign origin, while there are certainly some that are fully manufactured in India. Some people prefer to buy supplements from trainers, while others prefer their local shops as an ideal place to make the purchase. There are even some who buy supplements from unknown sources being lured away with either heavy discounts or false promises or both. While all of the above mentioned sources can be some of the easiest means of buying your favorite supplement, they may not be the best.



For supplements manufactured in countries other than India, checking the official website of the brand you want to purchase is a good place to start. Most companies display the product information like nutritional label, ingredients, official dealers/retailers to buy from on their official websites. If this information is not displayed for some reason, you can try to contact them directly through email/phone to know about their product and the best place to buy it. A similar approach can be adopted for Indian companies as well.

In addition some points to consider before buying supplements are:

1. The product should be in the original packing only, as displayed in its official company website.

2. Imported supplements should have the official sticker/hologram of the official importer in India.

3. The buyer should always get the bill of the product/s purchased. The bill must contain the TIN number of the selling shop/organisation/seller. 

4. Check the internet for reviews about the product you want to buy.

5. If buying for the first time, check the reviews about the taste, mixability, color, smell, etc. of the product.

6. If the offer/discount and/or the profile of the product is too good, do your research again.

7. If in doubt, scan the barcode of the product on a smart phone app and get in touch with the manufacturer to know about the product.  

8. The product must be completely sealed and there should not be any leaking, tampering or contamination of the container/box in which it is bought.

9. Prefer products that have been in the market for a minimum of five years.

10. There should not be any spelling mistake on the packaging and label of the product.

To share a personal experience here, I once purchased a Whey Protein of a reputed brand and ended up having severe GI discomfort, headache and abdominal pain/cramping upon consuming it the first time. Just to be sure I consumed it once more the next day and ended up facing the same issues. This was enough to convince me that I had been duped and was consuming a fake product (would have been a smart decision on my part to have not tried it again which would have potentially saved me from all the discomfort the second time, but I was a typical bro back then). If you've ever faced a similar issue, chalk it down in the comments section below.


Note: Before starting/changing an exercise and/or dietary/supplement program consult a qualified doctor/health care professional.

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