Assembling your supplement needs can be daunting when exploring the aisle at your grocery store. Customers have their pick from powders, gummies and capsules – and even protein drinks!
Even though these products can be convenient, it’s important to keep in mind that supplements should never replace eating healthily as the foundation of nutrition.
Vitamins
One can supplement with various vitamins to lower their risk of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. A-K vitamins such as A, B, C, D, E and K all can help to lower this risk, though it’s best to first speak to an internal medicine physician in Cary to make sure they’re right for you and won’t interfere with any prescription medications you are currently taking. Since supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA it is wise to look for brands verified by third-party organizations such as Consumer Lab, United States Pharmacopeia (USP), or NSF International to ensure that products contain what is says on their labels – just remember most products will only last short-term after opening!
Minerals
Minerals are solid inorganic substances found naturally throughout Earth. Each mineral has its own distinct chemical composition (which can be expressed as an equation) and characteristic crystalline structure, created through geological processes rather than living organisms.
Mineral properties encompass color, luster and crystal structure. Lustre refers to the shimmer that appears when looking at minerals under natural lighting conditions while crystal structure refers to their regular and ordered arrangement of atoms within them. There are seven natural crystal systems found within minerals; orthorhombic elongated and hexagonal are two popular choices.
Minerals can be distinguished from each other by their ability to bend light, which is known as refraction. Other properties include specific gravity compared to an equal volume of water; and tenacity which measures resistance against mechanical force being exerted upon them. Minerals play a vital role in our diets and maintaining overall body health; they’re also widely used in product production that we encounter every day.
Herbal Extracts
Herbal extracts offer an efficient way to reap the many advantages offered by herbs. Furthermore, they can help those with food sensitivities. Herbal supplements like this one combine traditional use with contemporary scientific knowledge.
Herbal infusions are prepared by submerging portions of an herb in liquid to extract its active components, and then diluting and using as dietary supplements or medicinal products. Tinctures, another popular dietary supplement made up of one or more herbs mixed with alcohol, may also be created through this process – these concoctions are commonly known as “tinctures.” Herbalists and alternative medicine practitioners frequently refer to them as such.
Solvent type, concentration and quantity all have an effect on what components can be extracted from a particular amount of starting material. Therefore, Health Canada mandates an extract ratio be listed along with plant raw material equivalent (PRE). This allows consumers to quickly compare strength between herbal extracts.
Nutraceuticals
Nutraceuticals are substances with both nutritional and medicinal uses when taken as supplements, including vitamins, minerals, botanicals (like Ginseng or St John’s Wort) herbal products and processed food items with added medicine such as cereals soups or beverages containing medicine.
These products are generally considered safe when taken as directed, though they do not receive the same level of scrutiny that pharmaceutical drugs receive from FDA regulation. Therefore, before beginning any new supplements it’s wise to consult your internal medicine physician in Cary to ensure it won’t interact negatively with any prescription medications you are currently taking.
Dietitians provide an effective and efficient means of determining your nutritional requirements through professional consultation. They will evaluate any research or evidence behind supplements you’re considering before helping to identify which is most suitable for your unique health situation.
