Most individuals can meet their nutritional requirements through diet alone; however, supplements – such as pills, powder and liquid forms – may also be useful in certain instances; pregnant women should take folic acid to prevent birth defects.
Remember, supplements do not go through the same rigorous testing process as prescription medicines do. Always speak to your healthcare provider prior to beginning any new supplement regimens.
Vitamins
Dietary supplements are used to supplement your diet if there are specific nutrients that you don’t receive enough of, such as multivitamins, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, probiotics and melatonin.
Vitamins are one of the most frequently taken dietary supplements and are often available over-the-counter at pharmacies and supermarkets.
Many vitamins can play an integral part in keeping our bodies healthy, such as decreasing risk for cancer and strengthening immunity. But too much vitamin intake may be harmful – to minimize risks, take only what is recommended by your healthcare providers and keep a record of all dietary supplements and medicines you are taking. By doing this, your providers will have access to all relevant information when discussing treatment with you.
Minerals
Minerals are inorganic substances with a fixed chemical composition that are crystal clear in appearance and have their own distinct structures. Minerals may form solid materials like gold, diamonds and rock salt or may exist as solutions such as halite (table salt) and graphite (the lead found in pencils).
Minerals can be identified through various physical characteristics, including their crystalline structure, hardness and streaking patterns. Additional methods of identification may include their ability to break along flat surfaces or geometric forms and even its cleavage or breakage patterns.
Many people can obtain all of their vitamins and minerals through eating healthily; however, dietary supplements can sometimes provide extra support. Consuming too many minerals may be harmful; excessive iron can cause digestive discomfort as well as liver damage while too much sodium increases blood pressure.
Herbs
Herbs are soft-growing plants with aromatic or flavorful qualities that can be used both gastronomically and medicinally. Herbs may be taken in teas, syrups, essential oils, capsules or any other format; typically sweet herbs (basil, cilantro, parsley and thyme) or savory ones (oregano, sage and rosemary) tend to have sweet or savory characteristics depending on how the grower prepares them.
Many herbs are believed to promote healthy metabolism, lower cholesterol, reduce high blood pressure, combat extreme fatigue and enhance stress resistance. Furthermore, they may boost immunity while providing relief for depression or anxiety.
Herbs typically present minimal chances of drug interactions when taken alongside most medications, making them safe to be taken at once. Clinicians should consult reliable dietary supplement resources (e.g. Countway’s classes Natural Medicines or the Natural Medicines eAnswers database) before considering taking them themselves and may wish to consult a clinical pharmacist or pharmacologist if necessary.
Botanicals
Botanicals, which include parts of plants such as berries, seeds, roots, fruits, bark, stems, leaves and spices that provide medicinal benefits, may include berries, seeds, roots, fruits bark stems leaves flowers spices. Botanicals can be consumed either whole or extracted to contain their constituent chemical constituents such as essential oils oleoresins or other chemical constituents.
Botanically derived products have become incredibly popular in the U.S. as more consumers opt for natural approaches to health. You can find such items at grocery stores, health food shops and pharmacies alike.
Dietary supplements containing botanical ingredients are subject to FDA regulation just like any other supplement, requiring manufacturers using botanical ingredients to adhere to current good manufacturing practices (GMP) to ensure quality, strength, identity, packaging and labeling specifications that reduce contamination risk and ensure proper labeling practices are being applied.
Nutraceuticals
Nutraceuticals are dietary supplements with therapeutic value in addition to providing essential nutrition. They often feature compounds derived from foods that have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (e.g. anthocyanins in berries, polyphenols like resveratrol in red wine, catechins in green tea) or are proven to inhibit cancer or chronic diseases (such as n-3 fatty acids, probiotics and zinc).
Though dietary supplements can help to prevent some medical conditions, they should never replace a balanced diet. If you experience an adverse reaction while taking any supplement, please report it immediately to the FDA as your information could help them identify an unsafe product and remove it from the market.
