Dietary Supplements What Are Dietary Supplements?
A dietary suplement refers to any product(other than tobacco) that contains a vitamin, mineral, herb or other botanical, or amino acid(or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, or a combination thereof) and is intended as a supplement to the diet.Mineral and/or vitamin dietary supplements may be especially important for individuals whose dietary intake is inadequate, women in their childbearing years, young children, adolescents, the elderly, vegetarians, those on a slimming programme and people who smoke or drink excessively.There is also much interest currently in supplements which are based on non-essential bio-active ingredients thought to offer specific health benefits.Dietary supplements come in many forms-including tablets, capsules, powders, soft-gels, gel-caps and liquids.Though commonly associated with health food stores, dietary supplements are also sold in groceries, drug and discount chain stores, as well as through mail-order catalogs, TV programs, the Internet, and direct sales.
 Supplement Trends
Beyond treating deficiencies, evidence is emerging that some dietary supplements may help manage or prevent heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and other chronic diseases;others are used in self-treatment or prevention of various lifestyle and health conditions or to extend the quality of life.Targeting conditions such as joint health, gut remedies, blood fat, skeletal health, body fat, optimal vision, sleep problems, stress, depression, anxiety, breast and prostate health, and hormone imbalances, supplements today may include herbs, botanicals, animal and plant extracts.Chicken essence, garlic, cordyceps, ginseng, tangkwei, linzhi, lycium, gingko boloba, black cohosh, echinacea, omega-3 fatty acids, evening primrose oil, capsaicin, lycopene, green tea extract, grape seed extract etc, are just some of the ingredients that have been used as the basis for supplements. Supplement With A Dose Of Caution:
Evidence is certainly growing that some supplements maybe beneficial, but for maximum efficacy and to prevent adverse reactions or toxicity, caution must be exercised when taking supplements.Firstly, it is important to read product labels, follow recommended dosages, heed all warnings and to consult a doctor or health professional, especially if taking any medications or undergoing treatment for a specific medical condition.Secondly, avoid taking too many supplements at a time, to prevent or reduce the risk of supplements interacting and interfering with one another.Thirdly, it is important to remember supplements should never be used as an alternative to healthy lifestyle and diet, which remain fundamental prerequisites for a healthy life.For example, some nutrients can only be found in foods or may only provide benefits if consumed in food form and cannot be replaced by supplements.Also, neither food nor supplements, can be regarded as substitutes for the benefits of physical activity.It is also important to remember that supplements may be used to protect against illnesses and aid recovery, but cannot cure diseases. ********************************************* |
