Dietary supplements are pills, liquids, powders or bars containing vitamins and minerals. They may also include herbs or botanical extracts, amino acids, enzymes, probiotics or antioxidants.
Avoid products that make unsubstantiated health claims or promise miracle cures; look instead for supplements which have undergone third-party testing to ensure they are safe and do not contain harmful substances or drug contaminants.
Vitamins
Vitamins (and their close relatives, known as vitamers) are organic molecules ingested through our diet that our bodies require in small amounts for various metabolic processes. As essential nutrients that cannot be synthesized by ourselves, vitamins are an integral part of good health.
Supplements may help bridge any gaps between diet and nutrient needs and consumption, especially in cases such as pregnancy or malabsorption issues that increase nutrient demands. Vitamin supplements may also serve to fill any potential deficiencies from missing essential dietary components during these times.
Vitamins should ideally come from whole, unprocessed foods. Excessive consumption can lead to vitamin toxicity and result in adverse health consequences; fat-soluble vitamins in particular should only be taken at recommended dosage levels; multivitamin supplements are safe when taken as directed, yet extra caution must be exercised if taking too many.
Minerals
Minerals are inorganic substances found deep within the earth. At room temperature, they have solid structures with regular crystal structures and possess unique properties such as light transmission. Scientists use these features to identify minerals and assign names.
Your body benefits from various minerals, from keeping bones strong to sending nerve signals. Some of the most essential are iron, potassium and sodium.
Food provides most of the minerals we require; however, supplements may also be useful. Food contains vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (plant chemicals) which work together to support your health – studies show that taking single vitamins or minerals alone does not have the same benefits.
Herbs
Herbs make food taste good, but they also boast health-promoting properties that can keep you feeling great – boost energy levels, prevent headaches, fight cancer, promote weight loss and balance hormones!
Botanically speaking, herbs (pronounced without an “h”) refers to any seed-bearing plant that lacks woody stems and dies back annually – including trees, shrubs, ferns and mosses – but culinary use often differentiates herbs from spices which contain other parts of plants such as seeds, berries, bark roots and fruits.
Dietary supplements or herbal medicines are plant parts used to maintain health or treat illness, such as herbs and their extracts. Herbs may help boost immunity, combat insomnia, fight fungal infections, ease stomach aches, menstrual cramps or even act as an aphrodisiac.
Nutraceuticals
Stephen DeFelice first coined the term nutraceuticals in 1989 to refer to foods which offer additional health benefits beyond their basic nutritional value, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids (protein) and bioactive substances such as polyphenols in green tea, resveratrol in red wine or curcumin in turmeric.
Nutraceuticals provide your body with essential vitamins and nutrients for fighting off stress, illness and injury as well as helping prevent chronic diseases and improving overall wellness.
Many people use the terms ‘nutraceutical’ and ‘dietary supplement’ interchangeably, however they differ significantly. While dietary supplements may be prescribed to treat certain medical conditions, nutraceuticals are used primarily for disease prevention and overall wellness enhancement. Dr. B will assess your unique health goals and medications when creating an individualized nutraceutical plan tailored specifically for you.
Food supplements
Food supplements are concentrated sources of nutrients (or other substances) intended to have nutritional or physiological benefits. They are generally sold in dose form such as pills, pastilles, tablets, sachets of powder or ampoules of liquid for easy consumption in small increments.
Food business operatorss market food supplements as aids for reaching optimal nutrition by supplementing diet. Presentation and advertising must not attribute them with curative or preventive properties as this would make them medicinal products subject to regulatory oversight.
Dietary supplements are a personal decision, but before starting any new supplement regimen it’s wise to consult a health care professional, particularly if taking other medicines, pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking other dietary supplements themselves. Also important: read carefully through and adhere to manufacturer instructions regarding usage.
