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What is Dietary Supplements ?
Sometimes, it’s hard to get all the nutrients your body needs from the food you eat.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is usually the best way to get these nutrients. It’s not only more effective, but it can also be cheaper and tastier!
But for some people, like those with certain dietary restrictions (like vegans) or older folks who might have trouble absorbing certain nutrients, getting everything they need from food alone can be tough. Also, people with conditions like cancer might need more nutrients than usual.
That’s where supplements come in handy. They can fill in the gaps in your nutrition. For example, lots of people don’t get enough vitamin D, especially if they don’t spend much time in the sun or have certain health issues like obesity. Vitamin D isn’t found in many foods, so it’s easy to become deficient.
Also, some medications, like certain birth control pills or statins, can mess with your nutrient levels. This means you might need extra help from supplements to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.
Benefits of Dietary Supplements:
Supplements can give you extra nutrients when your diet doesn’t provide enough or if you have certain health issues like cancer, diabetes, or chronic diarrhea that make it hard to get all the nutrients you need. For example, if you’re a runner and mostly eat plant-based foods, supplements can help you get enough of certain nutrients that are harder to find in plants.
Most of the time, a multivitamin or mineral supplement can give you all the small nutrients your body needs. They’re usually safe because they only have small amounts of each nutrient.
You can also get individual nutrients as supplements, usually in higher doses than what you’d find in a multivitamin. These can help treat deficiencies, like not having enough iron, or lower the risk of health problems, like high blood pressure.
For instance, taking a lot of vitamin B3 might raise your “good” cholesterol levels. Folic acid is often used to lower the risk of a birth defect called spina bifida. Antioxidants, like vitamins C and E, might lessen the harmful effects of chemotherapy drugs.
Supplements might not be needed if you eat well and exercise. But sometimes, specific supplements, like ones made for women at different stages of life, can be helpful. Using supplements the right way can help you avoid side effects and problems caused by taking too much.
What Are the reasons for taking dietary supplements?
Here are several reasons why you might need dietary supplements:
- Nutrient Gaps: Sometimes, our diets don’t provide all the essential nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy. Dietary supplements can help fill these gaps by providing vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that may be lacking in our food.
- Specific Health Needs: Certain individuals may have increased nutritional requirements due to factors such as age, pregnancy, lactation, illness, or chronic health conditions. Dietary supplements can help meet these specific health needs and support overall well-being.
- Poor Eating Habits: People with poor eating habits, such as those who consume a lot of processed foods or have restrictive diets, may not get enough essential nutrients from food alone. Supplements can provide an additional source of nutrients to help support their health.
- Enhancing Performance: Athletes and individuals with active lifestyles may require higher levels of certain nutrients to support energy production, muscle recovery, and overall performance. Dietary supplements, such as protein powders or sports drinks, can help meet these increased nutritional needs.
- Compensating for Absorption Issues: Some individuals may have difficulty absorbing nutrients from food due to digestive disorders, surgery, or certain medications. Dietary supplements in easily absorbable forms can help compensate for these absorption issues and ensure adequate nutrient intake.
- Preventing Deficiency-related Health Issues: Nutrient deficiencies can lead to a range of health problems, including weakened immune function, low energy levels, poor growth and development, and increased risk of chronic diseases. Taking dietary supplements can help prevent these deficiency-related health issues and promote optimal health outcomes.
- Supporting Specific Health Goals: Dietary supplements can be used to support specific health goals, such as promoting heart health, boosting immune function, improving cognitive function, or supporting joint health. Certain supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, or antioxidants, have been linked to various health benefits when consumed as part of a balanced diet.
- Convenience and Accessibility: Dietary supplements offer a convenient and accessible way to obtain essential nutrients, especially for individuals with busy lifestyles or dietary restrictions. They can be easily incorporated into daily routines and provide a convenient alternative to sourcing nutrients solely from food.
It’s important to remember that while dietary supplements can be beneficial in certain situations, they are not meant to replace a balanced diet or serve as a substitute for healthy eating habits. A well-rounded diet that includes a variety of nutrient-rich foods is still the foundation of good health. Additionally, it’s essential to choose high-quality supplements from reputable brands and follow recommended dosage guidelines for optimal results.
What are the risks of taking Dietary Supplement?
Using supplements can sometimes be risky. While your body needs certain nutrients, too much of them can be harmful.
For instance, taking too much vitamin B6 can hurt your nervous system. If you’re pregnant and take too much vitamin A, C, or E, it could seriously hurt your baby. Also, some supplements might not mix well with other medicines you’re taking, which can make them dangerous or less effective.It’s important to tell your doctor or nurse about any dietary supplements you’re taking, especially if you’re in the hospital or having surgery.
Supplements can have side effects or cause problems if you take too much. In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) makes sure vitamins are safe and good quality. Be careful when buying supplements from other countries. The safest way to know if a supplement is okay for you is to ask your pharmacist or doctor.