Taking the right type of dietary supplements is a smart thing to do for your health. But how do you know which dietary supplements are the right ones? How can you weed out the unsubstantiated claims made by some dietary supplement companies whose one and only interest seems to be product sales?

At the same time, naysayers in the scientific or health care community contend that dietary supplements have no value and are even likely to hurt you. Even worse, they sometimes cite poorly designed research that that inaccurately portrays certain supplements as ineffective, even though the preponderance of research shows otherwise.

As a nutrition and dietary supplement science educator, it has been my ongoing mission to disseminate evidence-based information about dietary supplements. This blog will provide helpful and accurate information so readers can make informed decisions about dietary supplementation. I'll report timely studies and issues in dietary supplement science.  I'll also address some of the less than reputable marketing claims, as well as give my opinion about reports that unfairly portray certain supplements. All in all, I hope to present a fair and balanced view.

Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, is the Dean of Academics for Huntington College of Health Sciences, a nationally accredited distance learning college offering diplomas and degrees in nutrition and other health science related subjects.

For 30 years, Gene has provided professional services to the nutrition/herbal and natural products industries as well as to the public. These services include education and training for retail natural products stores and health care professionals; clinical nutrition/medical herbalism in chiropractic, mental health and corporate facilities; and the research, formulation and development of natural products for more than a dozen dietary supplement companies in the United States and Canada.

His articles on nutrition, herbal medicine, nutraceuticals and integrative health issues have been published in a variety of trade and consumer magazines, as well as peer-reviewed journals and newsletters.