Dietary supplements are products designed to add essential vitamins and minerals to the body. The nutrients can be consumed via pills, capsules, powders, bars or liquids.
Supplements should never be used as a replacement for eating healthily; to meet your nutrient requirements effectively, try eating a varied diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.
Dietary supplements
If you take daily vitamins, herbal remedies, or mineral supplements such as calcium or folic acid then you have used dietary supplements. These substances, unlike food products regulated by the FDA, do not need to undergo safety testing as closely.
Dietary supplements offer many health advantages, from strengthening bones to maintaining regularity in bowel function. Supplements come in the form of pills, powders, liquids and energy bars; however registered dietitians suggest meeting nutritional needs through an optimally balanced diet that includes nutritious food along with supplements as needed.
While most supplements are safe, there may be the occasional risk of overdosing on certain vitamins and minerals if taken without food.
Herbs
An herb is any plant used for culinary, medicinal or aromatic use. The term can also refer to certain flowers like Chamomile as well as plants with astringent properties like Columbine (Aquilegia reptans).
Herbs can be easily grown in any garden and from seed. Not only are herbs delicious additions to meals without needing fats or salts for flavoring purposes; they’re also an integral component of a healthy diet!
Medicinal herbs have long been utilized as part of medicine. One notable use in history was in ancient Greece’s Hippocratic medical system based around four elements, known for Avicenna, Galen and Paracelsus’ herbalistry practices; modern day natural medicines also often utilize these remedies.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic substances found in small amounts in natural foods, and some types – like folic acid for pregnant women and iron supplements for the elderly – are essential in helping to prevent certain diseases.
Most people can get all of their essential vitamins by following a balanced diet; supplements may only be required in exceptional circumstances, such as severe deficiency.
B-group vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, biotin and niacin help your body produce energy, while Vitamin C aids immunity to fight infections while Vitamin A ensures your skin and eyes function properly as well as keeping bones strong.
Vitamin supplements may cause adverse side effects when taken at high doses or with medications or other dietary supplements, so always consult a medical professional prior to taking vitamin supplements.
Minerals
Minerals are inorganic substances found naturally occurring within rocks that possess specific chemical composition and an ordered atomic arrangement, making up part of their constituent composition and often having their own crystal structure. Minerals are easily identifiable through physical characteristics like their cleavage, hardness and colour (though each element’s contribution to colour contribution cannot be used as an accurate indicator).
At least 100 milligrams of major minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, potassium and sodium must be consumed each day to be essential nutrients in our bodies; similarly for trace minerals like iron, iodine, zinc, fluoride copper chromium selenium are vital dietary needs that promote bone and tissue health as well as supporting other body processes like the use of glucose as energy production.
Vitamins and minerals should be consumed through a healthy, varied diet with fresh, whole foods. When purchasing mineral supplements, ensure they have been USP verified – this ensures they meet strength, purity and quality standards set forth by an independent testing organization like U.S. Pharmacopeia.
Homeopathic supplements
Homeopathy employs small doses of highly dilute substances (such as sugar pellets, water or milk) in highly diluted form to treat any health condition. Homeopaths believe that the more dilute the solution is, the stronger its healing power will be.
Homeopathy lacks scientific proof to back it up as an effective form of healthcare, potentially placing your health at risk by delaying treatments that have been demonstrated safe and effective through well-designed studies.
Liquid homeopathic medicines may contain heavy metals like mercury or iron that haven’t been thoroughly diluted, while homeopathic supplements could contain high concentrations of alcohol that isn’t beneficial to health. Before beginning any complementary health practices such as taking homeopathic supplements, consult with your healthcare provider about them first – they can assist in making decisions that best benefit your wellbeing.
