Roughly half of adult population consume supplements annually, spending $35 billion. Unlike prescription, supplements typically don’t undergo rigorous clinical testing prior to distribution.
Dietary supplements are manufactured products available in pill, powder or liquid forms and typically consist of vitamins, minerals, herbs or amino acids.
Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements come in pill, powder, liquid or bar form and should supplement your daily diet. They may include vitamins, minerals, herbs or botanicals, amino acids, metabolites or extracts or combinations thereof.
Over-the-counter supplements may include multivitamin-mineral formulations, iron supplements for anemia, calcium and vitamin D to treat osteoporosis, or folic acid to decrease birth defect risks. Such products contribute significant quantities of vitamins and minerals to total daily diet intake for certain populations such as postmenopausal women or people undergoing hemodialysis treatments.
Before beginning any new supplement regimen, it’s a wise idea to consult with a healthcare provider first. They understand your medical history better and can assist in avoiding issues like nutritional deficiencies or interactions between medications and supplements.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic substances our bodies need in order to develop and function normally, and are found primarily in food but may also be supplemented. Vitamin A, D, E and K, along with Choline are fat-soluble vitamins while water-soluble ones like Thiamin Riboflavin Niacin Pantothenic Acid Biotin Folate/ Folate Acid can all provide essential nourishment.
Vitamin deficiencies can negatively impact health in various ways. Most individuals don’t need to supplement with vitamins as their daily diet provides ample coverage of essential elements.
There is an array of dietary supplements on the market today, from individual vitamins and minerals to combination nutrients that promise specific health benefits. Due to limited regulatory oversight in this industry, it’s essential that consumers choose products independently verified for safety and efficacy.
Minerals
Minerals are naturally-occurring inorganic solids with a specific chemical composition and crystal structure, and an identifiable form. A mineral cannot be defined as gas, liquid or particle and should appear homogeneous to the naked eye (although some crystalline substances with variable composition still qualify as single mineral species such as Mackinawite).
Mineral identification involves testing their physical properties such as cleavage and symmetry. These properties allow a mineral to be classified using Carl Linnaeus’ 1735 book Systema Naturae as it follows hierarchies such as Phylum, Class, Order, Family Tribe Genus Species.
Minerals play an essential role in many biological functions, from nutrient absorption and bone formation to metabolism and cell signaling. At the Museum we offer several programs focusing on different minerals – their uses and ways they are identified – in person and online.
Herbs
Culinary herbs are non-woody plants used for flavoring food (similar to spices). Culinary herbs come in all sorts of forms – annuals like thyme or parsley, perennials like rosemary or lavender, shrubs like ginseng or fennel are just a few examples.
Herbal and botanical products are dietary supplements sold under different regulations than pharmaceutical drugs, often sold under names like herbals, tinctures, teas and extracts.
Herbs contain phytochemicals which may have numerous health-related benefits. While herbal/botanical products are considered natural and safer than prescription medication, some can still cause adverse side effects in higher doses and can interact with other prescription drugs – so speaking to a knowledgeable healthcare provider about which herb/botanical products may work for you is key in order to identify an ideal product and navigate any potential interactions.
