Health and Wellness
Five Things You Ought to Know About
Supplements
What Are the Functions of Supplements?
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who pop vitamins and supplements every day, you’re not alone if they’re spilling out of your medicine cabinet or cluttering your bathroom counter.
Following a supplement that promises to enhance your health, you may be trying to cure a vitamin deficiency, prevent the onset of certain diseases, or just feel more in control of your health.
Supplement that
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Americans have been consuming dietary supplements for decades, from zinc to vitamin A. Individuals visited local pharmacies to purchase supplements when they first came on the market in the 1940s, thinking that these seemingly miraculous drugs would enhance their overall health and well-being. They never did.
An Analysis of Data on Use of Dietary Supplements
- More than one-third of Americans use supplements.
- Forty percent of all vitamins sold are multivitamins or mineral supplements.
- Fish oil, omega 3, DHA, or EPA fatty acids are components of the most widely used supplement.
- Thirty percent of the elderly aged 65 and above use four or more supplements.
There are dietary supplement suggestions all around: in commercials, from social media personalities, and from family and friends and neighbors. It could be difficult to know which one, if any, is best for you in the midst of all the confusion.
Even if there is limited doubt that several supplements are beneficial to your well-being, evidence varies extensively, and it’s therefore important to know which might be dangerous and which might be beneficial.
Five Key Facts About Dietary Supplements
1. There are different kinds of supplements.
“The purpose of dietary supplements, whether in pill, powder, or liquid form, is often the same: to add to your diet to obtain sufficient nutrients and promote health,” explains Jeffrey Millstein, MD, a physician at Penn Internal Medicine Woodbury Heights.
At least one of the nutritional constituents, e.g., vitamins, minerals, botanicals, herbs, amino acids, or enzymes, is contained in them. Even though they can be purchased individually, many of the most popular supplements exist as multivitamin varieties, helping you to save taking a dozen pills daily.
What is the simplest common denominator? They carry the designation “dietary supplements.” The following are typical dietary supplements:
- Calcium
- Fish oil
- Echinacea
- Ginseng
- Garlic
- Vitamin D
- St. John’s wort
- Green tea
2. Is it worthwhile to take supplements?
Supplements are so well-liked because, occasionally, they do work.
According to Dr. Millstein, “there is evidence that certain supplements can improve your overall well-being with little to no risk in addition to a healthy diet.”
The following are typical vitamins that could improve your health:
- Vitamin B12 may be used to synthesize DNA, keep blood and nerve cells healthy, and prevent anemia.
- Folic acid taken during pregnancy may prevent birth defects.
- Bones may be fortified by vitamin D.
- Calcium may preserve healthy bones.
- Vitamins C and E may protect cells from damage.
- Fish oil possesses heart-healthy benefits.
- Vitamin A may slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration to loss of vision.
- Zinc can retard age-related macular degeneration-caused visual impairment and enhance skin well-being.
- Jet lag can be prevented with melatonin.
But scientific proof isn’t quite evident even though so much research has been conducted on supplements (the National Institutes of Health has spent more than $2.4 billion on vitamins and minerals since 1999). Keep in mind: Based on most studies, taking multivitamins won’t add years to your life, decelerate mental aging, or lower your risk of getting diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease.
As Dr. Millstein says, “it is actually illegal for companies to state that supplements will cure, treat, diagnose, or prevent illness.”
Also, research can be misleading since what you buy from a store or on the web may not be the same products used in them.
3. It is not always safe to take supplements.
Multivitamins are not usually considered to be injurious to health. However, you need to be careful while introducing anything into your system.
In accordance with Dr. Millstein, “Supplements can be problematic if you have certain medical conditions, such as liver disease, or are having surgery. They can also interact with other drugs you are taking.” Some supplements have also not been tested on children, nursing mothers, and pregnant women, so you should take special care.
Also, dietary supplements are regulated less by the government compared to prescription drugs. Some supplements may contain potentially toxic substances that are not listed on the label. Prescription drugs, which are banned in dietary supplements, are found in some products that are labeled as supplements.
Amongst the drugs that might be harmful are:
- Vitamin K can reduce the effectiveness of blood thinners.
- The herb ginkgo has a blood-thinning effect.
- St. John’s wort diminishes the effect of many medications, such as antidepressants and birth control.
- Herbal supplements such as kava and comfrey could damage your liver, and vitamin A and beta-carotene increase smokers’ risk of lung cancer.
4. Talk to your doctor before using any supplements.
“The most important thing to remember is to select a supplement carefully,” says Dr. Millstein.
As the effectiveness and safety of a supplement can depend on your individual situation and health, your first step should be to discuss your options with your healthcare provider.
Also, keep the following simple tips in mind when choosing a supplement:
- As directed on the package and by your doctor, take supplements as directed.
- Check the ingredients, drug interactions, and percentage daily value (% DV) on the label.
- Extreme claims such as “totally safe” or “performs better than (fill in the name of prescription medication)” should be shunned.
- Remember that “natural” is not necessarily “safe.”
- Supplements must be placed beyond the reach of children and stored safely.
5. Nutrition is obtained best from a healthy diet.
Regardless of your supplementation goals, one thing is certain: a healthful, nutrient-dense diet cannot be replicated by pills.
True food should never be replaced with supplements. Don’t devalue the advantage of a nutrient-dense salad over a processed medication.
Vitamins and minerals are essential to your body’s proper growth and functioning. Though a healthy diet supplies most of the nutrients to most people, others need a little assistance. Supplements can aid you in sustaining your health by providing your body with the care it requires.
