Dietary supplements are added substances containing one or more nutritional ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, herbs or homeopathic products. Overusing some dietary supplements may result in unpleasant side effects like calcium-induced nausea and kidney damage or excessive iron which causes liver issues and fatigue.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic substances found in natural foods in minute amounts that aid the body and help it stay healthy. Most people can get all the essential vitamins they require from eating a balanced diet; however, people with certain medical conditions may require additional dietary supplements like vitamin D for bones and nerves or folic acid during pregnancy. Supplements typically contain higher concentrations than food sources; their forms can include pills, capsules, powders or liquids.
Vitamins can either be fat-soluble (able to dissolve in fats and oils) or water-soluble, with fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K being stored in fatty tissue and liver while excess water-soluble vitamins such as Thiamin riboflavin niacin pantothenic acid biotin folate folate being eliminated through urine output. A and C vitamins are crucial components of immune system functioning while other essential water-soluble vitamins such as Thiamin riboflavin niacin pantothenic acid biotin folate folate folate (folic acid) folate folate folate folate(folic acid). Finally Vitamin D plays an integral role in bone health by absorption of calcium and phosphorus into bone tissue and teeth calcification processes in bones calcifying bone health issues and absorption processes in bones as well as absorption of calcium/phosphate into bones/bone tissue/bone health in general.
Minerals
Minerals are essential nutrients that help the body function correctly, and are found in various food products. Common minerals include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium; potassium, sulfur, sodium; iron zinc selenium as well as selenium. There are two groups of minerals: major minerals such as calcium phosphorus magnesium as well as trace minerals like potassium sulfur sodium chloride iron; however we require these in larger amounts than others like potassium sulfur sodium chloride iron or selenium.
Minerals must possess an orderly internal atomic arrangement; however, many natural solid substances with different crystal structures such as glass and obsidian are considered minerals as well. Any mineraloids which do not exhibit this crystal structure are classified as such.
Supplements that contain minerals may be taken in tablet, capsule or liquid form for easy consumption. They are sometimes known as multivitamins or multiples and typically consist of various vitamins and minerals as well as herbs for extra wellness benefits. They can be purchased from health food stores, drugstores and supermarkets.
Herbs
Herbs are an umbrella term encompassing plants with culinary, medicinal and aromatic properties. Most herbs are leafy green plants used to flavor food or add fragrances. Traditional medicines also utilize these aromatic plants. Herbs are typically cultivated and grown in gardens or pots. In cooking they’re often used as spices like parsley, basil, rosemary or thyme to add flavoring.
Herbal supplements differ from prescription and traditional over-the-counter medicines in that they are not subject to FDA oversight and clinical trials that demonstrate they treat specific health conditions. Some products, however, have been certified by United States Pharmacopeia (USP) as quality controls are in place.
Due to lack of regulatory oversight, herbal and other dietary supplements may not be appropriate for everyone. According to MSKCC guidelines, cancer patients undergoing cancer treatments are advised against the use of any dietary supplements – including herbs – including herbal remedies. It’s advisable to speak to your oncologist prior to beginning use of any herbs as there may be potential herb-medication interactions that must also be considered.
Homeopathics
Homeopathy is founded on the idea that very small doses of natural substances can stimulate our bodies to heal themselves, stimulating their natural processes to do so. A homeopath selects remedies according to symptoms experienced and severity. They are highly diluted; sometimes leaving no trace of original substance behind; commonly administered under-the-tongue pellets may be recommended, although other products such as gels and drops may also be utilized. Homeopathic products have no adverse side effects when taken alongside standard medical therapies and don’t interfere with them either.
Health Canada regulates homeopathic products and requires them to have supporting scientific evidence similar to that provided for other NHPs, however there is no good evidence showing they prevent disease or act as vaccine replacements; The Public Health Agency of Canada suggests vaccination as the only effective solution against serious childhood illnesses like measles, mumps, rubella and whooping cough; nosodes have never been approved by Health Canada as potential vaccine replacements.
