Supplements may be useful, but they shouldn’t replace a nutritious and well-rounded diet. Registered dietitians are available to help sort through all the hype and find what works for your individual body.
Vitamins, minerals and herbs are among the many nutritional supplements commonly sold as pills, capsules or powders. Their safety does not undergo the same extensive scrutiny as drugs do.
Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements are products containing vitamins, minerals, herbs or amino acids for nutritional or health use. These may be sold under their own brand as nutritional or health supplements or in association with complementary and alternative medicine practices such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, homeopathy or herbal remedies.
Dietary supplement manufacturers must include a Supplement Facts panel on their labels, providing information about how much of each nutrient’s daily value exists in one serving. Furthermore, labels should list any other ingredients.
Most people receive all the nutrients they require from a healthy diet; however, taking vitamins and minerals supplements may provide additional vitamins to make up for deficiencies or meet special health needs.
Before taking dietary supplements, consult your healthcare provider first. They can advise on which ones are safe for pregnant or nursing mothers or children as well as which ones might interact negatively with existing medications you take. They may even check if there are any interactions between supplements and prescription medicines that you are currently taking.
Sports Supplements
Many dietary supplements are marketed for people engaging in physical activities or athletic endeavors, including those who exercise. Unfortunately, evidence regarding some ingredients to enhance exercise and athletic performance is limited, primarily because most studies on them involve only elite athletes.
Dietitians can help you create a nutritious diet plan to enhance workout performance and enhance endurance, rather than using sports supplements as the only means of enhancement.
Dietary supplements may help elite athletes improve performance. Examples include creatine supplementation to provide your muscles with additional energy; and caffeine, which increases alertness while diminishing feelings of fatigue.
However, further research into dietary supplements designed to enhance exercise and athletic performance is still necessary before any recommendations can be issued. Because many supplements contain multiple ingredients, it’s essential to read labels closely and abide by any current good manufacturing practices (GMP) in place at their manufacturer to ensure quality and safety.
Weight Loss Supplements
Weight loss supplements may assist you in losing weight by increasing metabolism, suppressing appetite or blocking fat absorption; however, they don’t provide an answer for long-term weight loss alone; rather they should be combined with lifestyle approaches like eating healthier and regular physical activity to maximize success. Furthermore, as with all dietary supplements promoted for weight loss specifically — like any dietary supplements — weight loss-specific ones are not subject to FDA premarket review or approval processes like drugs do – thus it is vitally important that any plans to take weight loss pills with either your doctor or registered dietitian before proceeding further – particularly if you suffer from any medical conditions or take prescription drugs prescribed from their providers.
Scientific knowledge regarding many ingredients used in these products is limited, and some could cause harm. For instance, research on Chitosan (derived from lobster shells, crab and shrimp shells) does not help in weight loss but has shown to lower cholesterol levels for certain people.
Other Supplements
Supplements are products intended for ingestion by mouth that contain one or more nutritional components, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and other substances. Supplements do not fall under FDA regulation in the same way as drugs; in fact they’re often marketed to consumers as food additives to add flavor, color or longevity.
While most can meet their nutritional requirements by following a healthy diet, some supplements may also prove helpful. Speak to your physician to discuss if supplements would be right for you.
As it’s essential to choose high-quality supplements, it’s essential that they be independently tested for purity and strength by organizations like U.S. Pharmacopeia, NSF International, Underwriters Laboratory or Consumer Lab. Avoid products made outside the US which may not be subject to regulation and contain potentially harmful ingredients; additionally be mindful that some supplements can interfere with prescription and over-the-counter medication use.
