Health is wealth is an adage that is perhaps considered cliche but nonetheless close to reality as you can get. Especially in today's high cost of living, keeping oneself healthy is the best thing you can do to avoid running a high expense tab. There are basic guidelines to staying healthy.

Eat a balanced diet, stay away from vices, exercise regularly, and supplement with natural vitamins and minerals. In the unavoidable instance of illness, make sure that you get the care that you need right away. Self-medicating is always a no-no as doing so can complicate matters rather than make them better.

Ensuring that the food we eat and the medicines we take are a function of the US Food and Drug Administration or the FDA. The FDA is one of the agencies under the US Department of Health and Human Services. It is basically responsible for the regulation of food, dietary supplements, drugs, cosmetics, and other medical products. The agency tests each product based on its usage and possible risks to consumers. FDA approved medicines, food products, and dietary supplements are supposedly safe and effective for human consumption.

FDA approved medicines and other products go through a stringent testing procedures set by the FDA. Everything from the ingredients to the label details and packaging are carefully considered by the FDA before allowing FDA approved medicines, food products, cosmetics, and medical implements to be sold in the market. For manufacturers, having FDA's stamp of approval serve to attest to the quality of their products.

FDA approved medicines and other products enjoy wider patronage than those that do not carry an FDA approval. This approval, however, does not guarantee that the product will result in cures. It only attests to the safety of the product and the accuracy of information written on the products labels. According to the Food and Drug Modernization Act, the FDA's role is to promote health by reviewing research on and approving new products as well as ensuring that food and medicines are safe to use and are properly labeled.

Using only FDA approved medicines shields you from misinformation and false claims. It is highly unlikely anyway for your physician to prescribe a medicine for you that is not FDA approved. You can actually check if certain products are FDA approved or not. Aside from the prominent seal given by the FDA, you can visit official FDA sites that lists products that the FDA has reviewed and approved.

Making sure that you only use FDA approved products is a safe way to stay healthy. Even nutritional supplements that are FDA approved are less likely to result in unexpected adverse side effects than their unapproved counterparts. Details such as potentially risky drug interactions, contraindications and possible side effects are required to be disclosed in the products literature or packaging before FDA can issue an approval. So you are forewarned before purchasing and using these products.

An FDA approval is a good indication to look for when looking for food and drugs that could be helpful in maintaining a healthy body. It is always good to check that the products you are purchasing are FDA approved to make sure that the products are safe.