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The 7 best supplements, according to Consumer Reports

Supplements can fill a nutrition gap that widens as you get older. Consumer Reports reviewed the evidence to find seven worth trying

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Supplements promise everything from stronger bones to better sleep, but most claims outpace the actual science behind them. Taking the wrong supplement, or too much of the right one, can waste money or even cause harm.

Consumer Reports consulted doctors and reviewed the research behind popular supplements to find which ones are actually backed by evidence.

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Calcium is stored primarily in the bones, and a shortfall forces the body to pull it from bone tissue, raising the risk of osteoporosis over time, Consumer Reports reports. Most women and men who regularly eat dairy have no real need for a calcium pill, according to CR, but postmenopausal women who skip dairy and anyone with early signs of osteoporosis should talk to a doctor about one. Adults 19 to 50 and men up to 70 need 1,000 milligrams a day, while women 51 to 70 and everyone older need 1,200 milligrams, an amount CR notes is easy to approach through food, since a cup of skim milk provides roughly a third of that. CR advises choosing calcium citrate over the cheaper calcium carbonate if you take heartburn medication, since it's easier for the body to absorb without much stomach acid.

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Consumer Reports........

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