Every other day we get to hear how a certain herbal or vitamin supplement will help treat a chronic disease or improve the quality of our lives drastically. However, information about such supplements is either vague or is often confusing. This makes it hard to know which dietary supplement is offering genuine health benefits and which amongst them is giving false promises, or worse still, running the risk of actually damaging your health. So, how can you be smart with the use of vitamins and supplements?
By learning all that you can about vitamins and supplements, you can actually make better choices of what’s best for you!
Do you know what dietary supplements actually are?
Dietary supplements can be defined as the products which:
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Supplement the food you eat
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Has one or more dietary ingredients as its key constituents
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Is available in the form of a soft-gel, tablet, capsule or liquid form
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Has a label stating that it’s a dietary supplement
The market today offers various kinds of nutritional synthetic or natural vitamins and supplements. But, you need to remember that the best vitamins and supplements are the ones that offer micro-nutrients that help your body function smoothly and effectively.
Mineral and Vitamin Supplements: Do They Work?
Minerals and vitamins are the micro-nutrients which benefit the body in a unique way. Vitamin A, for instance, helps support normal vision along with stronger bone growth and Vitamin E, on the other hand, helps repair DNA and also maintains immune strength. Deficiency of vitamins and minerals can impair a body’s ability to heal and to protect itself naturally.
It should also be noted that taking vitamin and mineral supplements cannot make up for an unhealthy diet, as these are insufficient substitutes for fresh fruits, whole grains and vegetables. But, a general multivitamin or mineral supplement can function as an efficient protective shield against periodic nutritional shortfalls from our diet. Every other day we get to hear how a certain herbal or vitamin supplement will help treat a chronic disease or improve the quality of our lives drastically. However, information about such supplements is either vague or is often confusing. This makes it hard to know which dietary supplement is offering genuine health benefits and which amongst them is giving false promises, or worse still, running the risk of actually damaging your health. So, how can you be smart with the use of vitamins and supplements?
By learning all that you can about vitamins and supplements, you can actually make better choices of what’s best for you!
Do you know what dietary supplements actually are?
Dietary supplements can be defined as the products which:
-
Supplement the food you eat
-
Has one or more dietary ingredients as its key constituents
-
Is available in the form of a soft-gel, tablet, capsule or liquid form
-
Has a label stating that it’s a dietary supplement
The market today offers various kinds of nutritional synthetic or natural vitamins and supplements. But, you need to remember that the best vitamins and supplements are the ones that offer micro-nutrients that help your body function smoothly and effectively.
Mineral and Vitamin Supplements: Do They Work?
Minerals and vitamins are the micro-nutrients which benefit the body in a unique way. Vitamin A, for instance, helps support normal vision along with stronger bone growth and Vitamin E, on the other hand, helps repair DNA and also maintains immune strength. Deficiency of vitamins and minerals can impair a body’s ability to heal and to protect itself naturally.
It should also be noted that taking vitamin and mineral supplements cannot make up for an unhealthy diet, as these are insufficient substitutes for fresh fruits, whole grains and vegetables. But, a general multivitamin or mineral supplement can function as an efficient protective shield against periodic nutritional shortfalls from our diet. Every other day we get to hear how a certain herbal or vitamin supplement will help treat a chronic disease or improve the quality of our lives drastically. However, information about such supplements is either vague or is often confusing. This makes it hard to know which dietary supplement is offering genuine health benefits and which amongst them is giving false promises, or worse still, running the risk of actually damaging your health. So, how can you be smart with the use of vitamins and supplements?
Who All Can Benefit From Vitamins and Supplements?
Everyone, ranging from children to adults to elders – can benefit from taking one multivitamin each day. This helps provide a consistent source of essential vitamins and micro-nutrients the body needs to be healthy. However, your first consideration should be to eat a well-balanced and healthy diet, as even the best supplement is no substitute for a good nutrition.
Mentioned below are the specific groups of people, based on distinct nutritional needs, who can benefit most from taking vitamins and supplements:
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Pregnant or lactating women
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Children with irregular eating habits
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Aging adults
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Vegans as they may easily fall short of certain essential nutrients
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People with certain medical conditions or the ones with eating disorders
Tips To Ensure Smart Supplementation
The actual meaning of ‘supplement’ is adding something extra. This means, by taking any supplement you’re adding nutrients to your basic healthy diet. Following a regular supplement or vitamin regimen will not necessarily help cure your prevailing ailment. Also, it is important to remember that not all supplements are going to be beneficial, especially when consumed in toxic doses or when combined with other medications.
So, before you start supplementation, make sure you ask yourself the following questions:
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Why do I need this supplement?
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Is this specific supplement safe?
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Does this supplement interact with other medications?
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Do I have enough information about this supplement?
Top Safety Concerns You Should Consider While Taking Health Vitamins and Supplements
Certain dietary supplements have the tendency to interact with other medications, such as prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines. This is one main reason why you should consult your health care provider before taking any supplement. Other safety concerns with supplementation include:
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Certain dietary supplements can cause undesirable effects during surgery
Most supplement brands would advise you to discontinue the use of the supplements at least two weeks before or after the surgery. This is done to avoid the potentially dangerous drug/supplement interactions, which may otherwise result into changes in blood pressure, heart rate and may also cause excessive bleeding. So, consult your doctor about every vitamin and herbal supplement and also any other medication you are taking well in advance before surgery.
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The more the better – Not always true
Even if a particular supplement is providing extreme benefits to your body, excessive doses of the same may still result into undesirable health problems. Having green tea, for instance, may deliver powerful anti-oxidant and fat-burning benefits, but higher doses of green tea supplements may cause toxic effects on the liver.
How to Buy Vitamins, Minerals and Herbal Supplements
One of the safest ways to buy quality and reliable vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements is to carry thorough research at your end and to purchase supplements only from a reputable vitamin store or from a health practitioner. Mentioned below are the tips on how you can research for quality nutritional supplements:
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Safety and efficacy: Before you begin supplementation, make sure the product you choose is safe and effective. Go through the internet and look for the fact sheets on dietary supplements along with their safety aspects.
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Dosage: Learn about the efficacy of the supplement you intend to take. Learn about the efficiency of the respective supplement on various health conditions, along with its safety concerns and recommended dosages for children and adults.
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Quality: Always prefer taking standardized products and remember not all discount vitamins and supplements come with proper standardization.