Have you ever taken a multivitamin, folic acid supplement, fish oil capsule or melatonin supplement? These are considered dietary supplements and should never replace eating healthy and maintaining an appropriate weight.
Vitamins, minerals and nutrients can contribute to leading a healthier lifestyle while attenuating menopausal symptoms by decreasing hot flash frequency and severity.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic substances that perform various vital functions in the body. While small quantities are present naturally in food sources, deficiencies can cause health issues. Vitamin supplements are usually considered safe at recommended dosage levels but may interact with certain medications; for optimal health outcomes it’s recommended that pregnant women consume a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables; however, doctors or nutritionists may advise taking additional vitamins if there are health concerns or restricted diets present.
Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water and travel through the bloodstream to be utilized by cells. Unfortunately, they cannot be stored by our bodies and must be replenished daily to meet our bodies’ daily requirements. Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins (B6, riboflavin, niacin and folate). They are found in foods like citrus fruits, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and leafy vegetables – as well as fortified cereals dairy products and multivitamin supplements which also contain these essential nutrients. Fat-soluble vitamins A D E K are stored by our livers or fatty tissue in their entirety for long-term storage indefinitely.
Minerals
Minerals are natural substances with distinct chemical composition and structures. You’ll find them both in rocks and as dietary supplements in certain food products.
There are certain minerals essential for human health, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. Additional essential minerals include iron, copper, iodine zinc selenium.
Essential minerals, which our bodies require in small amounts for proper functioning, can be found in food. A healthy diet should provide all of their needs; unlike vitamins which are water-soluble, most minerals don’t overdose easily and thus cannot lead to harmful consequences.
The body relies on potassium, chlorine, sodium and calcium minerals to build and repair bones while keeping blood pressure at normal levels and sending nerve impulses. Calcium also plays a vital role in making cells, controlling muscle movement and managing energy and blood sugar levels as well as energy regulation. Iron also provides oxygen that keeps tissues healthy while strengthening immunity systems; and Phosphorus works alongside calcium to build and repair bones as well as help absorb proteins and glucose more easily into our systems.
Nutraceuticals
Nutraceuticals are foods or components of foods which provide additional health benefits from plants or animals, including dietary supplements, functional foods, medicinal foods and farmaceuticals derived from genetically modified agricultural crops or animals. These may be classified as functional food supplements, functional food medicines or farmaceuticals (also derived from plants or animals).
These hybrid products combine nutrition and pharmaceuticals, offering numerous health advantages. Some may help ease migraines, aid weight loss, promote healthy cholesterol levels and decrease blood pressure while others can enhance sleep, decrease oxidative stress and support cognitive functioning.
Supplements come in various forms, from tablets and capsules to liquids. Many people include them in their daily health routine to maintain optimal wellness; other therapies may use nutraceuticals alongside them for specific conditions. As Hippocrates said: “Let food be your medicine, and medicines be food”. Nutraceuticals offer an ideal way to enhance both diet and overall wellbeing.
Herbs
The herbal supplement market is vast and expanding quickly. Consumers report using herbals on an ongoing basis (NMI, 2007).
Herbal medicines come in many forms, from tablets and capsules to powders, powder teas and extracts as well as fresh or dried herbs. While some herbs have been scientifically tested and have shown promise, others do not need to go through clinical testing like drugs do, which could potentially cause serious harm or even cause death if taken at higher doses for extended periods. They may also interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications in unpredictable ways.
Consumers should consult with their healthcare provider when taking dietary supplements, particularly cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, in order to avoid potential herb-drug interactions and maximize the benefits from their herbals. USP’s Supplementary and Herbal Medicine Quality Standards (Monographs and General Chapters) were designed specifically to meet this need, giving manufacturers all of the tools needed for producing safe and effective supplements.
