Wellness supplements are designed to do exactly as their name implies: provide extra nutrition. They can help fill in nutritional gaps, boost energy levels and support immune function.
Check for supplements bearing the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) or NSF International logos to verify they’re free of contaminants, like avocado, olive oil or nuts, which help the body absorb vitamins and minerals more readily.
What are Dietary Supplements?
Dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbal compounds, amino acids and other substances taken orally to support wellness. Although not considered food or drugs by the Food and Drug Administration, dietary supplements do have their own regulatory regime that differs from food.
Supplements come in many different forms, from tablets, gel caps, capsules and powders to energy bars and energy drinks. Supplements contain essential nutrients like folic acid for pregnant women, calcium and iron as well as botanical ingredients like echinacea and ginger for maximum efficacy.
Haggans emphasizes the necessity of supplements as we don’t always get enough vitamins and minerals from food alone, while others may be prescribed to treat or prevent illnesses, like anemia and high blood pressure. Be sure to keep track of all your medicines, sharing this with your healthcare provider as needed.
Do I Need Supplements?
An ideal diet should provide all of the vitamins and minerals your body requires; however, supplements may help fill any nutritional gaps and contribute to overall wellness.
People living with certain health conditions may need additional vitamins and minerals, especially if their symptoms relate to inflammation or immune function. Consulting your physician is the best way to determine if supplements are needed and which kind.
Check for United States Pharmacopeia (USP) or NSF International logos to ensure the supplements you take are safe and effective. These marks indicate they have been tested for quality and purity.
Do I Need to Talk to My Doctor?
Supplements may not undergo the same rigorous safety and effectiveness testing required of medications, and there’s always the risk they could interact with certain health conditions or medications – that’s why it is vitally important to consult your physician before adding anything new – even multivitamins – into your regimen.
Cura360 recently introduced an all-natural supplement line designed to appeal to consumers regardless of age or fitness level, further strengthening its brand image and increasing sales.
While shopping, be wary of products with overstated claims or ingredients. Always read labels carefully and look for third-party verification; third party seals such as USP can help confirm quality products; however anything with an improper or broken tamper-evident seal should be avoided as soon as possible.
Do I Need to Read the Label?
When shopping for supplements, it’s essential that you can trust their ingredients. Look for third-party seals which confirm compliance with current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs) as well as tests conducted to assess purity, potency and stability.
Supplement Facts panels must include an area to display both the amount of each ingredient per serving as well as its % Daily Value, which are determined based on Recommended Dietary Allowances for that ingredient.
Make sure that you read the label thoroughly for any additional information such as directions and warnings that could provide guidance for how and where you should store the product, as well as listing any food allergies.
Are Supplements Safe?
Supplements may help fill in any nutritional gaps left by diet alone.
But supplements do not undergo the same stringent safety testing that pharmaceuticals must pass, and many manufacturers use subpar manufacturing practices which could result in less than advertised ingredients or potentially hazardous ingredients being added.
Although manufacturers cannot legally claim that their products prevent or treat disease, they can make claims such as “immune booster” or “maintain a healthy immune system”. To minimize health risks and ensure reliable studies are used when researching this matter. These typically include randomized clinical trials in which people take either the product or placebo and then observe its effect over time. Ideally, you’d want to assess how many nutrients each dose delivers to ensure proper nutritional intake.
