People consume various health supplements, from multivitamins and melatonin to glucosamine for joint pain relief and herbal remedies like echinacea. Unfortunately, most supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration; instead they focus their limited resources on emergency situations as well as products which have potentially caused harm.
When selecting supplements, read their labels thoroughly to identify those containing multiple ingredients and consult your internal medicine provider in Cary to make sure that any may interfere with any medications you currently take.
Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are vitally important to our bodies’ metabolism. Our bodies produce some vitamins and minerals naturally while others should come from eating unprocessed food sources. Vitamin and mineral consumption plays an integral part in health promotion as well as protecting us against diseases.
Although our bodies need 13 essential vitamins (A, C, E and K) and numerous minerals for optimal functioning, a well-balanced diet should provide all the nutrition required. In certain instances however, taking multivitamin supplements may prove helpful; high doses should only ever be taken upon medical advice. Vitamins and minerals can be divided into two categories: water-soluble which the body quickly expels out or absorbs into blood circulation, and fat soluble which are stored in liver fat tissues.
Menopause Symptoms
Menopause is an inevitable part of life, yet its symptoms can be uncomfortable and distressing. These issues arise due to reduced estrogen and progesterone hormones regulating menstruation cycles and supporting pregnancies, respectively.
Hot flashes are one of the primary symptoms of menopause and may be quite uncomfortable or even painful, with intense heat inducing sweating and flushing in some women. Episodes typically start appearing prior to one’s last period and may last for months afterward.
Many women experience increased irritability during the perimenopausal stage, often reacting quickly to small triggers such as small talk. This may be related to fluctuating estrogen levels; therefore, its source must be addressed through eating healthily or engaging in regular physical activity; there are also herbal supplements like black cohosh and red clover that may provide temporary relief of menopausal symptoms.
Immune System
The immune system (pronounced IH-MYOON) is an interlocking network of organs, cells and proteins designed to fight infection (germs). It keeps records of any microbe it has defeated so it can recognize and neutralise similar threats quickly if they resurface invading again.
Physical defenses such as skin and mucous membranes provide the first line of defence, followed by immune cells known as phagocytes (fah-guh-sites) which surround and digest invading pathogens, then antibodies (which bind and kill germs or heal damage), natural killer cells which target virus-infected or cancerous cells, T helper T cells that limit duration and regulatory T cells which limit overreactions such as autoimmune diseases.
Diets that include ample vitamin C, E and A provide essential nutrition to support immunity. Exercise also can improve various aspects of immune function while potentially delaying age-related changes in immune cells. Unfortunately, no dietary supplements or herbal preparations claiming to enhance immunity have yet been shown to do so in humans.
Weight Loss
People spend $60 billion annually on nutritional supplements, yet evidence reveals that many are useless or even harmful. Before purchasing one, check with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website for information about its manufacturer; these companies must follow good manufacturing practices without making claims that could render them drugs such as treating diseases directly.
Before taking dietary supplements, always consult a health care professional first, especially if you are on medications or have preexisting conditions. Your healthcare provider can assist with selecting which ones may be useful and adding them to your health record.
Our registered dietitians work together with individuals to meet their specific dietary needs. We want to help you eat healthily, reach your ideal body weight and feel great – plus find one if necessary via our online directory!
