Dietary supplements are an attractive option for meeting nutritional needs. But it’s important to read product labels closely and evaluate ingredients if you have food allergies or follow a specific diet.
Vitamins and minerals work best when consumed as part of whole food products that combine numerous other nutrients and phytochemicals – thus making third-party certification such as USP or NSF essential to their proper function.
They’re wildly popular
Over half of adults take at least one dietary supplement every day, such as vitamins, minerals, herbs or botanicals, amino acids or live microbials. Multivitamins may include them or stand-alone products. Their popularity stems from belief that “more is better” as well as an intention to enhance health.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, does not govern most supplements sold in the US; thus requiring proof of safety and efficacy before being made available for sale in this country. Furthermore, FDA has no power to recall supplements found contaminated with illegal pharmaceutical ingredients.
As a result, many people overuse these products. When people don’t fully understand their nutritional requirements or have financial or time constraints that make acquiring proper diet challenging, supplements like vitamins and minerals may become attractive options as a healthy diet solution.
They’re not regulated by the FDA
The FDA regulates dietary supplements as food rather than drugs, so they don’t go through the same stringent testing and approval processes as pharmaceutical drugs. That doesn’t mean supplements are completely unregulated; manufacturers must adhere to stringent labeling regulations; any product found containing foreign objects (like sand or gravel) must also be reported immediately to FDA.
The FDA allows certain “structure/function” claims, such as calcium building strong bones or fiber maintaining regularity. These statements indicate that food can support healthy body functions rather than treating or curing diseases; foods making such claims must include a disclaimer stating they have not been evaluated by the FDA before making them.
The FDA does advise anyone experiencing health issues which they suspect to be linked to supplements to report it via their website, so potential issues can be identified quickly and resolved as quickly as possible.
They’re not a substitute for a healthy diet
While supplements can enhance health, they should never replace a healthy diet. They can add flavor to your meal when added alongside fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat protein sources and dairy. Furthermore, supplements can assist with any deficiencies due to vitamin and mineral deficiency.
Dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs and other substances that supplement nutrition. You can take them in pill form, powder form or liquid. They do not meet the same stringent quality requirements as pharmaceutical drugs and do not undergo clinical testing for safety and efficacy.
Supplements may provide vital nutrients, like calcium and vitamin D for healthy bones or folic acid for preventing certain birth defects in babies, but should never replace a nutritious diet. Instead, food-rich in fiber and phytochemicals is the optimal way to get essential vitamins and minerals; avoid products which claim they will cure diseases or burn fat instead – instead search out something which provides these vital vitamins in their most bioavailable forms.
They’re not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle
When it comes to health, eating a well-balanced diet and getting enough rest are of utmost importance. Unfortunately, however, leading a healthy lifestyle isn’t always simple. Preparing nutritious meals, exercising regularly and getting adequate rest requires time – which is why many Americans rely on supplements.
Dietary supplements are products containing vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, fatty acids or other substances in pill, capsule, powder bar or tablet form that claim to provide nutrition gaps or treat or prevent diseases. They’re typically advertised with claims about filling them as part of a balanced diet or treating diseases.
As it’s against the law for supplement makers to claim they prevent or cure disease, they can legally make claims related to nutrients such as “boosting immune system” or “maintaining healthy bones”. Therefore, it’s essential that consumers carefully read labels in order to avoid products with unsubstantiated health claims.
