A visit to the health food store can be extremely overwhelming for any person. It is incredibly tough to figure out which nutritional and dietary supplements you should choose for yourself. There are thousands of options for you, from minerals, vitamins, and weight loss pills. The question is, do you need any of the dietary supplements? Do these supplements work? If so, which one of the supplements is the best for you? Let's try to find answers to these questions one by one. For example, key bone nutrients for bone health and prevention of osteoporosis can be supplements when dietary intakes do not maintain normal serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. In general, supplement recommendations optimize overall health and prevent illness.
Who Needs to Take Dietary Supplements?
Before you find the answer to this question, you need to remember that dietary supplements are designed to supplement your diet. That means you cannot replace your nutritious foods with nutritional supplements. Three supplements can balance a diet if there are some shortfalls.
However, a couple of pieces of vitamins, minerals, and other supplements can't take the place of a healthy diet.
Natural food is very complex. It is a combination of macronutrients, fiber phytochemicals, and other nutritious substances that we still have not identified properly. All of these work together to offer the best benefits to people with healthy eating patterns. Some people may need dietary supplements as there might be insufficient vitamins and minerals in their diet.
Effectiveness
As we have mentioned earlier, some dietary supplements can help you get enough essential nutrients if you do not eat a variety of nutritious food. Some nutritional supplements that improve a patient's overall health are as follows.
Calcium and Vitamin D: it helps to keep the bones strong and reduce bone density loss
Folic acid: it produces certain types of birth defects
Omega-3-Fatty Acids: it helps people with heart diseases and Arthritis issues.
Combining Vitamin C, E, Zinc, Lutein, copper, and AREDS helps reduce vision loss in people with age-related macular degeneration.
Various other supplements require even further study to identify their value.
Risks and Safety
Even though, in most cases, vitamins and other supplements may not pose a serious health risk, it is still necessary for you to be cautious when consuming anything. You may not know it, but the supplements may interact with your medicines, creating a significant risk for medical conditions.
For example, if you are suffering from liver disease or going to have surgery, you should be very cautious about taking supplements. Some other accessories are better or unsafe for nursing mothers, pregnant women, or children. In these cases, you may need to take extra precautions before taking the supplement.
Also, some supplements may contain some ingredients not listed on the label. These ingredients can harm your health if you suffer from medical issues. Also, certain products in the market are denoted as dietary supplements but contain prescription drugs. If you consume any of these supplements, it can create a health risk for you.
All in all, before consuming any dietary supplements, it is always better to consult your doctor. Your healthcare provider will discuss your options and help you find the right accessories.