What Do Supplements Do?
It doesn’t matter if they’re spilling from your medicine cabinet or spilling onto the countertops of your bathroom It’s not a problem if you’re one of many millions of Americans who take daily supplements or vitamins day.
You might be trying to combat a vitamin deficiency or lower the risk of getting certain diseases– or you may simply be more proactive about your health after popping an ingredient that claims to improve your health.
From vitamin A to zinc, Americans take nutritional supplements for a long time. When supplements first became accessible in the 1940s, folks flocked to local drug stores to purchase these seemingly magical pills to boost their overall health and well-being — and they never stopped.
5 Things You Need to Know About Dietary Supplements
- Supplements come in many types.
“Whether in pill, powder or liquid form, the goal of dietary supplements is often the same: to supplement your diet to get enough nutrients and enhance health,” Explains Jeffrey Millstein, MD, a doctor at Penn Internal Medicine Woodbury Heights. They are made up of at least one ingredient from the diet, which includes minerals, vitamins such as botanicals, herbs, amino acids, or other enzymes.
Some of the most popular supplements are multivitamins (which will help you avoid taking more than a dozen pills per day) They can also be purchased in a separate supplement. The most basic common denominator? They’re classified as supplementation for the diet. The most popular dietary supplements are Calcium Fish oil Echinacea Ginseng Garlic Vitamin D St. John’s wort Green tea. - Are supplements worth the effort?
There is a reason supplements are so popular: sometimes, they do work. “In fact, it’s illegal for companies to make claims that supplements will treat, diagnose, prevent or cure diseases,” says Dr. Millstein. Furthermore, the products you buy in stores or on the internet may differ from the products used in studies could also be incorrect. - Supplements aren’t always secure.
In the majority of instances, multivitamins bought at vitamin store aren’t likely to cause health risks. It’s still important to be careful when you’re putting any product into your body. Furthermore, federal regulations for the use of dietary supplements are less stringent than prescription drugs. Certain supplements may contain ingredients that aren’t listed on the labels, and these substances could be harmful. Certain products are marketed as dietary supplements but contain prescription drugs and are not allowed in dietary supplements. - Speak with your healthcare provider before you take any supplements.
The first step is talking about your options with your health provider since a supplement’s safety and effectiveness could be contingent on your personal situation and health. Additionally, Keep these easy tips in mind as you choose the right supplement for you: Follow the directions for taking supplements in accordance with the label and your physician’s recommendations.
Check the label for the ingredient list, drug interactions, and the daily value in percent (% the DV). Be wary of statements that make claims of extreme veracity, such as “completely safe” or “works better than (insert prescription drug).” Remember that “natural” doesn’t necessarily equal “safe.” Store supplements properly and away from children. - There is nothing that can match the nutritional power of a healthy diet.
Whatever your purpose is in taking supplements, one thing is for sure: they’re not an alternative to a nutritious well-balanced diet. “Supplements are meant to be supplementary — meaning they enhance benefits already provided by eating a well-rounded diet,” explains Dr. Millstein. Supplements should never serve as an alternative to real food. Don’t undervalue the value of a nutritious salad can provide compared to a pill made in an industrial facility.