Nutritional supplements exist to fill any nutritional gaps not easily available from food. But they shouldn’t serve as a replacement for eating healthy meals that provide essential nutrition.
Dietary supplements are considered food rather than medications by the Food and Drug Administration, meaning that they cannot claim to treat or prevent disease; however, research has demonstrated that some dietary supplements can enhance health in specific ways.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds required by the body for many metabolic processes and essential for survival. Vitamin A, C and E vitamins (except cobalamin which has its own abbreviated name ) are commonly known as vitamins.
Water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C and the “big eight” B vitamins (B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid) and B12 (cobalamine) can be found in food such as leafy vegetables, whole grains, dairy products and animal proteins; cereals and breads may even be fortified to minimize deficiency risk.
Fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E and K can be stored in our livers and body fat for long periods of time, making supplementation essential in order to prevent deficiency during pregnancy or when dealing with specific medical issues like malabsorption syndromes (such as gluten intolerance or cystic fibrosis). Supplements may also benefit those who do not consume enough fruits and vegetables a day.
Minerals
Minerals, like vitamins, are inorganic substances that provide essential support for human body growth and development. Their essential functions include building strong bones, transmitting nerve impulses and maintaining an uninterrupted heartbeat rhythm.
Minerals can be defined as crystalline solids with highly ordered internal structures, distinguishing them from natural amorphous solids which do not possess such features. Furthermore, minerals display features like cleavage and symmetry which helps define them.
Some minerals can be distinguished from others by their crystal formation, colour, taste and smell. Halite has a salty flavour while sulfur has an unpleasant rotten egg smell; other minerals may fluoresce under ultraviolet light.
Minerals, or trace elements, are necessary in very small amounts for human life and should be included as essential essential vitamins and minerals in our daily diets. Common examples include chromium, copper, iodine and iron; while zinc and magnesium are considered essential nutrients. At higher concentrations they may become toxic.
Herbs
Many herbs offer many beneficial properties that make them useful in cooking, cosmetics and perfume production, natural medicine treatments, as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents to combat diseases like cancers, Alzheimer’s and arthritis-related issues.
Herbs have numerous health benefits that go far beyond relieving anxiety and stress relief, including strengthening immunity. Chamomile, lemon balm and holy basil can provide soothing relaxation; adaptogens like ashwagandha can strengthen resilience against stress; while immuno-enhancing herbs such as Echinacea or medicinal mushrooms can bolster it even further against colds and flu.
Dietary supplements should only be taken under the guidance of a healthcare practitioner, especially for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy due to the increased likelihood of herb-drug interactions. Both the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration regulate herbal and dietary supplement safety. In addition, FDA maintains an online database listing product recalls, warnings and safety alerts.
Supplements
Dietary supplements are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with nutritional or physiological effects that are taken orally as tablets, capsules, bars, powders or liquids and sold as dose form products (tablets, capsules bars or liquids). Examples include vitamins minerals amino acids essential fatty acids various plants and herbs.
Supplements can help address deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, ensure adequate intake of micronutrients through diet, and offer health benefits. They may even assist in the prevention or treatment of various common diseases or conditions.
Before taking supplements, seek advice from a healthcare provider. They will know what’s appropriate for your individual medical profile, how the supplements might interact with any meds you take, and which nutritional supplements would best meet your needs – for instance some forms may be easier for the body to absorb than others.
