How long before the effects kick in? – The speed at which you first notice the effects of your supplements is reliant on a few key factors. Firstly, it depends on the supplements you’re taking, and the deficiency you’re trying to rectify. It also depends on how severe your deficiency is. Generally speaking, the more severely deficient you are in a vitamin or nutrient, the faster you’ll see a difference when taking supplements.

Speaking to Women’s Health, nutritionist Jessica Sepel said: “Many people are so deficient that when they start supplementing it they notice a difference in energy and mental clarity within a few days.” However, in most cases, it takes around three to six weeks to see noticeable changes. You’ll also need to look at the cause of your deficiency, as there can be several factors at play here including diet, digestion, stress, and conditions like IBS.

Addressing these issues head-on will not only benefit your overall health, but support the desired effects of supplementation.

How long does it take for vitamins to start working in your body?

How long do vitamins take to work? – Certain vitamins are more easily absorbed than others, meaning it is difficult to provide an exact timeframe. Generally speaking, water-soluble vitamins work within days, while fat-soluble vitamins can take weeks or months.

Some only need to be taken for a limited time period before feeling the beneficial effects, but the dose and duration will depend on why you’re taking supplements. Key vitamins for particular physical or dietary factors may only need to be taken for a limited time. These include folate, which should ideally be taken for 3 months before conception and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and B12, which may be low in people who don’t consume animal products.

The sun is the best source of vitamin D. For most people in Australia, vitamin D levels are maintained through incidental sun exposure while you’re out and about. In summer, a few minutes outdoors is enough, Vitamin D, which can be absorbed from food as well as sunlight, is harder to come by during the winter months, especially for older people.

How do you know when vitamins are working?

Specific doses and lengths of therapy will be recommended in cases of vitamin deficiency. After supplementation, the best way to know the vitamins are working is through another blood test.

What happens to your body when you start taking vitamins?

Summary – When you start taking vitamins, you should expect to experience the following benefits – your energy levels will increase, more food will be converted into energy, your short-term memory will improve, your immune system will become stronger, your muscles will become stronger, and your skin will look healthier.

Does taking vitamins everyday work?

The Bottom Line – It is important to remember that a multivitamin cannot in any way replace a healthful well-balanced diet, The main purpose of a multivitamin is to fill in nutritional gaps, and provides only a hint of the vast array of healthful nutrients and chemicals naturally found in food.

1. It cannot offer fiber or the flavor and enjoyment of foods so key to an optimal diet.
2. However, multivitamins can play an important role when nutritional requirements are not met through diet alone.
3. When this is the case, an expensive brand name is not necessary, as even standard store brands will deliver results.

Look for one that contains the Recommended Daily Allowance amounts and that bears the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) seal of approval on the label.

Does vitamin D work right away?

How Much Vitamin D Do I Need Per Day? – Besides going outdoors in the sunshine, there are two others ways to improve the amount of vitamin D in your system: eating foods rich in vitamin D and supplements. “Adding an over-the-counter vitamin D supplement can make improvements in just three to four months time.

Vitamin D with a strength of 1000-2000 international units daily is the recommended dose for most adults,” Dr. Ropte says. Most multivitamins contain vitamin D, so extra supplementation isn’t always necessary. There can be consequences to taking too much vitamin D, so high levels of vitamin D supplements aren’t meant for the average person.

However, people with certain medical conditions may need a higher dose vitamin D supplement, which may require a prescription. You’ll want to chat with your doctor to find what’s right for you.

How long after starting vitamin B12 will I feel better?

8. Common questions about cyanocobalamin – How does cyanocobalamin work? Cyanocobalamin is a manufactured version of vitamin B12. It works by increasing levels of vitamin B12 in your blood. You need vitamin B12 to stay healthy. It’s used to make red blood cells and keep your nervous system healthy.

1. Having enough vitamin B12 allows your body to make red blood cells that work properly to carry oxygen around your body.
2. If you have been diagnosed with low vitamin B12 levels, taking cyanocobalamin helps reduce symptoms such as tiredness and lack of energy or being short of breath.
3. Vitamin B12 supplements will only improve symptoms such as tiredness and lack of energy if they are caused by low vitamin B12 levels.

How long does it take to work? It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.

1. How long will I take it for? Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you how long you need to take cyanocobalamin tablets.
2. You may be able to stop taking cyanocobalamin when your vitamin B12 blood levels are back to normal.
3. However, you may need to take it for the rest of your life if your diet does not have enough vitamin B12 or you cannot absorb enough vitamin B12 from your food.

What’s the best vitamin B12 supplement for me? Vitamin B12 supplements containing cyanocobalamin can be bought as tablets (including chewable, slow-release, and tablets that dissolve under your tongue), capsules, mouth sprays, and drops. There is no noticeable difference in the amount of vitamin B12 that your body can absorb or use from the different types, so no supplement is more effective than the others.

• If you have had stomach or bowel problems or surgery you will not absorb enough vitamin B12 from food or low-dose supplements (10 to 100 micrograms).
• You will need hydroxocobalamin injections – or high-dose cyanocobalamin tablets (1,000 micrograms) if you cannot have injections.
• What will happen if I stop taking cyanocobalamin? If you stop taking prescribed cyanocobalamin tablets, your vitamin B12 levels may start to go down.

If your levels get too low you may start to get symptoms such as tiredness again. This may take days, weeks or months to happen because it depends on:

what your vitamin B12 levels arehow long you have been taking cyanocobalaminhow much vitamin B12 you get from your diet

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you want to stop taking cyanocobalamin or are bothered by side effects. Can I drink alcohol with it? Yes, you can drink alcohol with cyanocobalamin. Alcohol does not affect how this medicine works. However, drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis can cause folate deficiency anaemia,

This is a lack of vitamin B9 (folic acid) and will lead to symptoms such as tiredness coming back. Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? You can eat and drink as normal while taking cyanocobalamin. However, it’s best to take cyanocobalamin on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before meals or 2 hours after eating.

Will it affect my contraception? Cyanocobalamin will not stop any contraception working, including the combined pill and emergency contraception, However, oral contraceptives can reduce the amount of vitamin B12 you absorb from your cyanocobalamin tablets.

• Talk to your doctor if you are taking oral contraceptives.
• Will it affect my fertility? There’s no clear evidence to suggest that cyanocobalamin affects fertility in men or women.
• Can I drive or ride a bike? Cyanocobalamin does not usually affect your ability to drive or ride a bike.
• What foods can I eat to increase the amount of vitamin B12 in my diet? You can usually help your vitamin B12 levels by increasing the amount of certain foods you eat.

However, this will not help if you have a stomach (gastro-intestinal) problem that means you cannot absorb vitamin B12 from your gut. If you eat meat, fish, eggs, milk and dairy foods you should get enough vitamin B12 from your diet. Foods that are good sources of vitamin B12 include:

meat (liver, beef)fish (salmon, tuna, haddock)shellfish (muscles, scallops)dairy foods (milk, yoghurt, cheese)eggs

Some foods have vitamin B12 added (look for “fortified” on the label). These include:

breakfast cereals and breadsoya foods, non-dairy milks and spreadsyeast extract or nutritional yeast flakes

If you have a condition that means you cannot absorb enough vitamin B12 from the food you eat, it’s still a good idea to try to eat a healthy, balanced diet with enough vitamins and minerals, including B12.

Can vitamins really make a difference?

2. Are supplements worth taking? – There’s a reason supplements are so popular: sometimes, they work. “In addition to a healthy diet, there is evidence that some supplements can benefit your overall well-being with little to no risk,” says Dr. Millstein. Common supplements that may benefit your health include:

Vitamin B12, which can help keep nerve and blood cells healthy, make DNA and prevent anemia Folic acid, which can reduce birth defects when taken by pregnant women Vitamin D, which can strengthen bones Calcium, which can promote bone health Vitamins C and E, which can prevent cell damage Fish oil, which can support heart health Vitamin A, which can slow down vision loss from age-related macular degeneration Zinc, which can promote skin health and slow down vision loss from age-related macular degeneration Melatonin, which can help counteract jet lag

However, despite the amount of research that’s been done on supplements (since 1999, the National Institutes of Health has spent more than $2.4 billion studying vitamins and minerals ), scientific evidence isn’t completely clear. Keep in mind: Most studies suggest that multivitamins won’t make you live longer, slow cognitive decline or lower your chances of disease, such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes.

How do you feel when you need vitamins?

Symptoms of vitamin deficiency include brittle hair and nails, mouth ulcers, hair loss, scaly skin patches, and more. Recognizing these signs can help you adjust your diet accordingly. A well-balanced and nutritious diet has many benefits. On the other hand, a diet lacking in nutrients may cause various unpleasant symptoms.

Do you feel different after taking vitamins?

Article Content – A lot of our customers ask us whether they’ll be able to “feel” their multivitamin working, and when. Truth be told, the answer is kind of complicated: Some people might notice a difference, while some people don’t notice anything at all.

Because we’re all unique, there’s no universal way to predict how you you’ll feel—but that’s also why this isn’t really an accurate clue that your multivitamin is doing its job. Instead, let’s take a closer look at what’s happening beneath the surface. After all, our multivitamins were formulated with nutrients to help support your body from the inside out, throughout lots of different phases of your life.

And while you might not necessarily “feel” it all going down, you should feel good about the fact that your multivitamin is supporting your health and helping fill nutrient gaps in your diet, If you think about it, it’s kind of like servicing a car: Even if there’s nothing wrong, you still get regular oil changes and brake checks to ensure that it’ll be running as smoothly as possible for years to come.

In the same way, you might look at a quality multivitamin as an investment in your health. Nutrition is key to helping support your body during different life stages, from general adulthood to pregnancy to menopause and beyond, Everything from blood-building and antioxidant support to supporting the way your body functions on a daily basis can be impacted by the nutrients you’re consuming.

So while you may not “feel” all this support happening underneath the hood, the best way to know that your multivitamin is servicing your body as it should is to look for a few key things:

Why do I feel weird after taking vitamins?

You’re consuming the tablets on an empty stomach – If you read the instructions on your supplement pack, you will probably see the advice to take them with food. This is because some vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, folate (B9), vitamin E and iron can increase acid production in the stomach and bring on nausea, so try to take supplements at mealtimes.

Do you feel better when you take vitamins?

Mental Clarity May Improve – Vitamins are just as essential for your brain as they are for the rest of your body. When your body gets an adequate amount of vitamins, you may feel more alert. As a part of the role vitamins play in boosting energy production, they also can help to diminish mental fatigue.

Can I take 5 different vitamins at once?

For decades, we were taught that vitamins and minerals in pill form could help make up for deficiencies in the typical diet or provide health and energy boosts that food alone couldn’t. But some studies show no evidence that many popular supplements have real health benefits, leading many scientists to change some of their recommendations.

• Yet data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES ) indicates that people may be sticking with supplements.
• The survey data from 2017 to 2018 shows that almost 58% of people 20 years and older reported taking a dietary supplement in the last 30 days—an increase from 52% in 2011-2012.

Will all those supplements actually do you any good? And more importantly, is it possible to take too many vitamins? Health posed those questions to health and nutrition experts and dug into the research. Scientists know that people who eat lots of vitamin- and mineral-rich foods tend to live longer and healthier lives.

• But when those nutrients are served up in pill form, it’s still unclear whether they have the same effect.
• For example, a major 2019 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that taking dietary supplements does not appear to reduce the risk of cancer.
• Other research, including a 2018 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that regular supplement use has no net effect on heart health or risk of early death.

“We found a surprising neutrality of effects,” lead author David Jenkins, MD, professor of medicine and nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto, told Health, “In other words, it didn’t seem to do anything.” Their findings were accurate for multivitamins and for vitamin C, vitamin D, and calcium supplements—all nutrients that have been touted for heart health in the past.

In light of these and other studies, most experts say that dietary supplements aren’t all they were once made out to be. “For the average healthy person, you probably don’t need a multivitamin, multimineral supplement,” said Beth Kitchin, PhD, assistant professor of nutrition studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“And you certainly don’t need a lot of additional supplements on top of that.” That being said, Kitchin said that a multivitamin can help make up for some deficiencies in a person’s diet, especially if they avoid certain food groups like meat or dairy.

Kitchin also recommended calcium and vitamin D supplements to some patients who are at risk of osteoporosis, “but I always look at their diet first before prescribing them.” Kitchin personally takes a daily multivitamin but only takes half a dose (one pill rather than a serving size of two): “I like to give myself a little extra insurance without overdoing it.” If people choose to take a multivitamin, it’s best to look for one with no more than 100% of the daily value for any one nutrient—and to avoid spending a lot of money, Kitchin said.

“There’s no strong evidence that it will help you, but as long as you keep the dose reasonable, it’s also not going to hurt you,” she said. Dr. David Jenkins also said that, when taken in moderation, most vitamin and mineral supplements won’t cause harm.

• He also stressed that the 2018 study only looked at cardiovascular problems and early death and that supplements may still have benefits in other areas.
• We didn’t look at overall health; we didn’t look at whether people got beautiful hair or skin, or whether your bones got stronger,” Dr.
• David Jenkins said.

“I’m not going to say that some supplements can’t be good for you in those ways.” Just because supplements are safe in moderation doesn’t mean that more is better. Combining multiple supplements or taking higher-than-recommended doses can increase the risk that they can cause harm, said Kitchin.

• You really can’t get toxic doses of nutrients through food, but you can absolutely get toxic doses through supplements,” Kitchin said.
• According to the National Institutes of Health, taking high doses of vitamin C can lead to stomach cramping and diarrhea.
• High doses of vitamin A, vitamin D, and other nutrients can lead to more serious, long-term complications—like liver and kidney problems or a dangerous hardening of blood vessels.

“We’ve learned a very important lesson, in that when we isolate these nutrients out of food and put them in super-high doses, we may have some unintended consequences,” Kitchin said. Even if none of your supplements individually exceed the upper limit for a given nutrient, combining several pills—like a multivitamin and an additional vitamin D capsule, for example—may add up to higher-than-recommended doses.

• Supplements can also interact with each other, said Kitchin, or with medications you’re already taking.
• It’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider about the supplements you’re taking on a regular basis, said Kitchin, especially if you have a health condition, a dietary restriction, or you’re on any type of medication.

You should also run any new supplements you’re considering by your provider or pharmacist before adding them to your regimen. It’s also important to focus on getting your nutrients from food first, said Dr. David Jenkins, and not from supplements. “Pills are not a substitute for a good diet—plant-based, fruit, veggies, whole grains, nuts, and seeds,” Dr.

David Jenkins said. “They are packed with what you need.” The science shows that taking lots of supplements doesn’t seem to have real health benefits and in some situations could be harmful. However, in moderation, there are some supplements that may be recommended if those vitamins or minerals are missing from your diet.

People who eat lots of nutrient-rich foods live longer, healthier lives, so enjoy plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and talk with a healthcare provider if you’re unsure if you would benefit from taking supplements.

What happens if you skip vitamins for a day?

Taking a Break from Supplements? I don’t recommend taking a break from daily vitamin and mineral supplements. They don’t lose their effectiveness, and the body needs the micronutrients they supply daily. The rationale for taking supplements in the first place is as insurance against nutritional gaps in the diet and as added defense against increasing toxic pressures from the environment.

Ideally, your diet should provide most of your nutritional needs, and it can if it is the right diet for you, richly varied, and abundant in fresh vegetables and fruits. However, that is a big “if.” Many of the crop varieties grown may not be the most nutritious, and growing methods (including soil management and chemicals) used in their production may deplete nutrients.

If you use drugs like alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine, if you are under a great deal of stress, or if you are sick, your need for some micronutrients and protective phytonutrients may be greater than your diet can supply. Because of all these variables, a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement is the best way to ensure that you are getting what you need.

On the flip side, it is also important to remember that vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements won’t make up for an unhealthy, unbalanced diet lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables. If you’re taking herbal supplements on a daily basis, you should be aware that many will lose their effectiveness if you use them all the time or too frequently.

Medicinal plants are best viewed as dilute forms of natural drugs, not as foods or dietary supplements. For that reason, you should not take them casually or for no good reason, any more than you would take a pharmaceutical drug casually or for no good reason.

When using medicinal herbs, bear in mind that individual responses vary, so it is best to let your experience be your guide and use only remedies and brands that give you consistent and positive results. The exceptions to the general rule about using medicinal herbs only when needed for a specific purpose are the tonic herbs, or adaptogens, (traditional examples include ginseng and ashwagandha) that may help maintain a normal healing system, and Asian mushrooms that support immune health.

Be sure to give any tonic a reasonable trial – take it regularly for at least two months. With some, you’ll experience obvious effects – perhaps an increased sense of well-being and more energy. Or you may find that, over time, a tonic improves your response to both physical and emotional stress and decreases your susceptibility to illness.

How long does it take to feel a difference when taking vitamin D?

How Long Does It Take for Vitamin D to Work? – If you have a vitamin D deficiency, you may notice improvements within 4-6 weeks of consistent supplementation. However, that timeframe can vary depending on what your baseline vitamin D levels are. This 2019 study found that people with vitamin D deficiencies and healthy people alike were both able to achieve adequate levels of vitamin D after six weeks of supplementation.

Why does vitamin D make me sleepy?

Vitamin D and sleep: The surprising connection – Does vitamin D help you sleep better? Early research suggests it is inversely related to melatonin, your sleep hormone. Increasing vitamin D levels may suppress melatonin levels. So, it makes sense that taking it at night could disrupt your sleep. That said, you still want to get enough vitamin D because your levels are directly related to the amount and quality of sleep you’re getting.

1. Researchers have found that low levels of vitamin D are linked with poor sleep quality.
2. In one study, participants who increased their vitamin D levels saw significant improvement in sleep and neurologic symptoms.
3. In another study, researchers looked at the vitamin D levels and sleep quality of 3,048 men 68 years and older.

They measured total sleep time, wake times and frequency and “sleep efficiency,” which measures the time spent in bed versus the time spent sleeping. The study found that low levels of vitamin D were linked with poor quality sleep and sleeping less than five hours a night.

1. Low levels of vitamin D were also associated with lower sleep efficiency scores.
2. We know that vitamin D and sleep quality are linked, but we’re only really just beginning to understand how and why that’s the case.
3. Researchers believe that vitamin D may affect our shut-eye by interacting with the areas of the brain that regulate sleep.

We also know that vitamin D plays a key role in supporting the immune system, and managing inflammation may support better sleep quality. So, get enough vitamin D—just take it in the morning or afternoon. At night, take supplements that support sleep quality and muscle relaxation, like magnesium and melatonin (which you’ll find in soothing, sippable Bulletproof Sleep Collagen Protein ).

Why does B12 make me sleepy?

Yes, taking vitamin B12 supplements can make you fall asleep and stay asleep due to the production of melatonin. Melatonin is responsible for inducing sleep as it works on the pineal gland.

Does B12 give you energy right away?

The link between vitamin B12 and energy levels – The answer to whether vitamin B12 gives you energy is a bit more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no.” There are definite links between how the body produces energy and its levels of vitamin B12, as well as other B vitamins.

Starches Grains Fruits Vegetables

These food sources are high in the simple sugar known as glucose, which the cells convert into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), ATP is a molecule that provides cells with the energy they need to power the body, This is where vitamin B12 comes in. Vitamin B12 is instrumental in helping the cells of the body perform the necessary chemical reactions that enable them to metabolize the glucose molecules they need to make ATP energy.

1. So does vitamin B12 give you energy? While B12 doesn’t directly provide energy, it does give the body the tools it needs to convert food molecules into energy.
2. Getting the recommended daily amount of B12 can therefore help ensure that the body is able to make the energy it needs to do everything you need it to do.

Additionally, getting the recommended daily amount can help prevent some of the symptoms associated with a B12 deficiency, like fatigue or insomnia, This means if you aren’t getting enough B12, boosting your levels may help you feel more energized and avoid B12 deficiency signs,

Is it better to take vitamin D every day or once a week?

Vitamin D Supplement Dosage – Once you’ve discovered whether you have a vitamin D deficiency, it’s time to consider your approach to supplements. Some people take a vitamin D supplement every day, either as part of a multivitamin routine or an independent supplement.

Others only want to take it once or twice a week. What matters most is knowing where your body’s baseline levels of vitamin D are (at least, where they should be if you aren’t experiencing a vitamin D deficiency!) and reaching those base levels before increasing your vitamin D levels. The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin D is 600-800 IUs (international units) or 15-20 mcg (micrograms).

Generally, doses of 1,000-2,000 IUs or 25-50 mcg are considered adequate maintenance doses; this will ensure that you’re meeting your base levels, plus a little extra! The upper recommended limit is 4,000 IUs or 100 mcg per day. Any more than this without professional guidance could put you at risk of overdoing it.

How long does it take vitamin C to work?

Recommended amounts – Vitamin C is measured in milligrams (mg). RDA is the Recommended Daily Allowance. ULs is Tolerable Upper Intake Levels. Tablets and chewable tablets are the most common forms. It’s also available in:

Time-release capsules Gummies Powder Lozenges Liquid Injections

People who smoke may need an extra 35 mg of vitamin C per day. Vitamin C taken by mouth or injection is effective for curing scurvy. In adults, the treatment is 300 to 1000 mg daily for one month. Symptoms should start to improve within 24 to 48 hours. You should be fully better within 7 days.

• Lower doses may be enough for vitamin C deficiency with no symptoms.
• Vitamin C is sensitive to light and oxygen.
• Store supplements in light-resistant and air-tight containers.
• Store them at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
• But don’t freeze them.
• Don’t store them in metal containers.
• Many fruits and vegetables supply vitamin C.

The following table shows a sample of sources.

Vitamin C easily changes or breaks down with handling, storing, or cooking. Fresh produce has the highest levels of vitamin C. If vegetables are wilted, the vitamin C levels will be largely reduced. Fresh potatoes have a high vitamin C content. But winter storage reduces the level to only 20% of the original content.

You have a diet low in fresh fruits and vegetables You drink moderate to heavy amounts of alcohol Smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke You use illegal drugs You work outdoors or do exercise outside in very cold weather You have a lot of emotional or physical stress Prolonged illness You had major surgery You have a hyperactive thyroid gland You don’t have enough stomach acid You have had part or all of the stomach removed (gastrectomy)

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may need to take supplements. Talk to your healthcare provider first. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy. Scurvy causes increased bleeding of the gums, skin, muscles, and internal organs. Other symptoms of vitamin C deficiency include:

Slow healing of wounds Rough cracked skin Changes in the bones Joint pain and fluid in the joints Enlargement of the hair follicles, with a build-up of skin at the base of the hair Anemia Fatigue

Do you feel a difference taking multivitamins?

Article Content – A lot of our customers ask us whether they’ll be able to “feel” their multivitamin working, and when. Truth be told, the answer is kind of complicated: Some people might notice a difference, while some people don’t notice anything at all.

• Because we’re all unique, there’s no universal way to predict how you you’ll feel—but that’s also why this isn’t really an accurate clue that your multivitamin is doing its job.
• Instead, let’s take a closer look at what’s happening beneath the surface.
• After all, our multivitamins were formulated with nutrients to help support your body from the inside out, throughout lots of different phases of your life.

And while you might not necessarily “feel” it all going down, you should feel good about the fact that your multivitamin is supporting your health and helping fill nutrient gaps in your diet, If you think about it, it’s kind of like servicing a car: Even if there’s nothing wrong, you still get regular oil changes and brake checks to ensure that it’ll be running as smoothly as possible for years to come.

• In the same way, you might look at a quality multivitamin as an investment in your health.
• Nutrition is key to helping support your body during different life stages, from general adulthood to pregnancy to menopause and beyond,
• Everything from blood-building and antioxidant support to supporting the way your body functions on a daily basis can be impacted by the nutrients you’re consuming.

So while you may not “feel” all this support happening underneath the hood, the best way to know that your multivitamin is servicing your body as it should is to look for a few key things: