An incorrect supplement could harm you in numerous ways: allergic reactions may cause hives, itching, and swelling; overdosing certain vitamins like vitamin A or iron can have long-term ramifications; while certain products do not interact well with certain medical conditions.
Nutritional supplements may fill gaps in your diet; however, always consult a healthcare professional first before taking them.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds our bodies utilize in small doses for various metabolic processes. Vitamin supplements may also be available, although most people can get all of their necessary vitamins through eating a varied and healthy diet.
Supplements can provide essential nutrition gaps in our diets and support specific health objectives, with BCAA supplements being particularly popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts as muscle support supplements. When purchasing quality supplements it is essential to select an independent third-party organization such as US Pharmacopeia or ConsumerLab that has certified them to ensure they contain quality content and safety for use by consumers. Alternatively, consult a healthcare professional or registered dietitian who will recommend products tailored specifically for your needs as they provide guidance regarding selection as well as potential interactions between medications taken and supplements taken together.
Minerals
Tracking the vitamins and minerals you consume can be challenging. After all, these essential nutrients play many functions within the body from healing wounds to turning food into energy.
Minerals are solid substances with a specific chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, typically inorganic materials that typically lack color. Furthermore, minerals possess various physical characteristics, including their elasticity, conductivity, electrical conduction capabilities and piezoelectricity.
Iron is one of the best-known minerals. It helps make hemoglobin, which delivers oxygen throughout your body cells. Furthermore, it benefits brain function and helps promote normal concentration levels; iron can be found both naturally in food sources as well as available as supplements. A meta-analysis conducted by researchers revealed that men who took multivitamin and mineral (MVM) or multivitamin and vitamin mineral supplement (MVMS) daily had lower mortality rates than those who didn’t.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes, charged minerals that provide essential body functions with their electrical charge, such as muscle contraction regulation and fluid balance regulation, transporting nutrients in and out of cells and transporting waste products out.
As fluids can easily be lost through sweat during exercise or hot environments, drinking plenty of fluids prior to, during, and after your workouts is essential to avoid dehydration and muscle cramps. Drinking them beforehand, during, and post workout may even increase performance by raising energy levels and decreasing fatigue levels.
Most people can satisfy their electrolyte requirements through diet alone; however, some individuals may need additional supplements. It’s wise to speak with your physician prior to taking any kind of supplement, particularly if you suffer from heart disease or high blood pressure (hypertension).
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids provide essential nutrition to all cells in our bodies, particularly those found in the brain and eyes. Two of the best-studied omega-3s include EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), found mainly in fish products.
Fats may provide additional health benefits beyond brain wellness, including protection against cardiovascular disease by lowering triglyceride levels and inflammation levels, as well as improving cognitive functioning in those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Essential fatty acids are vital throughout life and dietary sources of these essential fatty acids can be found primarily in fish and fish-oil supplements. Other plant oils containing them such as chia seeds, flaxseed oil, and walnuts also contain these fatty acids; the body can convert ALA to EPA and DHA conversion rates are limited, therefore supplements with these fatty acids are essential if your diet doesn’t supply enough.
Herbs
Herbs offer many healthful advantages. You can use them to prepare tea, tinctures and capsules; or use them as natural seasoning to add flavor and nutritional value to food products.
Many people utilize herbal medicine to both treat illness and to prevent disease. Chamomile can be used to reduce stress and anxiety; other herbs like Echinacea can shorten colds or other infections more quickly.
Wellness supplements may or may not be beneficial, depending on a number of factors such as type and dosage of supplement, interactions between medications, etc. It is wise to speak to your physician prior to beginning any new dietary supplement regimen, as dietary supplements are not regulated like pharmaceutical drugs and don’t undergo extensive testing prior to being sold on the market.
