Supplements
20.01.2024
Dietary supplements vitamins, fibre, minerals, fatty acids, herbs and amino acids that supply nutrients to the body. They are manufactured and extracted from food and may come in form of tablets, capsules, gummies, powders and liquids. They nourish the body and help in boosting overall health and well-being. Medical professionals prescribe dietary supplements in cases of certain health problems or in situations where the body lacks vital nutrients in sufficient amounts. Common nutrients found in supplements are folic acid, calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin B, iron, fiber, vitamin C, potassium.
Supplements do not replace the variety of foods and their nutritional values, instead they complement and enhance nutrition. They reinforce nutrition from foods by giving the body essential nutrients that are either deficient or not available from foods.
Supplements are not drugs and as such do not serve medicinal purposes like treatment of diseases. The United States Food and Drug Administration opines that a dietary supplement designed to treat or prevent the symptoms of an illness is a drug and is subject to the rules that apply to drugs. Supplements are different from foods and drugs and should never take the place of either.
There are benefits of taking supplements. According to American physician, Steven Gundry: “getting all the nutrients you need simply cannot be done without supplements”.
One of the many benefits of taking supplements is that they supply the body with adequate nutrients that it may not have gotten from food thereby ensuring a healthy nutrient filled eating routine. Another benefit of supplements is that it boosts overall health and wellness. Some dietary supplements can help regulate some health conditions or reduce the risk of certain diseases. Supplements may be used to treat vitamin or nutrient deficiency in circumstances where the body cannot get adequate vitamins from food. For example vitamin D supplements can be used to correct vitamin D deficiency, iron supplements for Iron deficiency and supplements high in calcium for strengthening the bones. Supplements may help enhance immunity and guard the body against certain illnesses. Supplements are also very beneficial to people who exempt certain food groups from their diets like vegans and vegetarians. These people are at risk of certain deficiencies because some nutrients can only be gotten from livestock products. They can however fill such gaps by taking supplements.
It is important to consult a healthcare professional before purchasing and taking supplements because of the disadvantages and health risks involved. Firstly, supplements may have side effects if taken alongside some medications and may cause serious health issues as a result. Intake of supplements may cause some allergic reactions or in some cases, complicate surgeries. Another disadvantage of taking supplements is overdosing. One may begin to overdose because a supplement is slow to show results or because a little goes a long way so more should do wonders. It is important to consult a medical professional on the right amount of dosage to be taken. A third disadvantage is that some dietary supplements may not indicate some active ingredients in the label or may not specify the exact quantity of ingredients contained in the supplement thereby misleading its consumers.
Despite these potential shortcomings, supplements remain important nutritional sources that can complement food nutrient to provide the body with its robust and complete nutrient needs.