Free printable
The Before-You-Buy Checklist
Eight checks to run before you spend money on any health product: the label, the guarantee, the seller and the reviews. It takes about two minutes, and it fits on one printable page.
Get the printable version
One page, free, no sign-up. Print it or keep it on your phone.
Get the printable checklistWhy a checklist?
Most of us buy health products the way they're sold to us: on the front of the bottle, a headline and a row of stars. The useful information is somewhere else, on the back of the label, in the guarantee and in the seller's details. A short list you run every time turns a hopeful purchase into an informed one.
The eight checks
- Read the Supplement Facts panelServing size, servings per container and the amount of each ingredient. See how to read a supplement label.
- Work out the real daily costPrice divided by servings. It's the only fair way to compare.
- Check the other ingredientsFillers, capsule material and allergens you avoid.
- Find the companyA name, an address and a working way to contact them.
- Read the guaranteeHow long it runs, how to claim and what it covers. See money-back guarantees explained.
- Buy from the official sourceThe maker's site or an authorized seller. See official site vs. marketplace.
- Read the reviews with a critical eyeStart with the three-star ones. See how to spot fake reviews.
- Ask your pharmacistIf you take prescription medication, show them the label before you start anything new.
Make it a habit
Keep the printable next to your computer or as a photo on your phone. The first time takes a few minutes; after that it takes one.