It's essential to have a healthy intake of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients for our bodies to function properly. However, getting all the nutrients, we need from food alone can be tough. This is where dietary supplements come in.
Dietary supplements are designed to help us fill in the nutrient gaps in our diets. They come in many forms, including capsules, tablets, powders, and liquids. You can even find some supplements in foods and beverages.
There are many different types of dietary supplements on the market. Some contain vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients you might need to get more of in your diet. Others contain herbs or other plant-based ingredients.
Before taking any dietary supplement and vitamins, it's important to know a few things about them. Here we'll review some things you should remember before taking dietary supplements.
What are Dietary Supplements?
Dietary supplements can provide vitamins, minerals, herbal ingredients, amino acids, and enzymes. They are sold in different forms, including tablets, capsules, powders, and liquids.
Dietary supplements are not planned to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Rather, they are meant to supplement the diet. That means they can help you if you need more specific nutrients from food.
For example, suppose you need to eat more fruits and vegetables. In that case, you might take a supplement that contains vitamins A, C, and E. Or, if you are not getting enough calcium from your diet, you might take a calcium supplement.
Do Dietary Supplements cause any side effects?
Dietary supplement manufacturers are liable for ensuring the safety of their products and must follow several standards meant to ensure quality in the manufacturing and labeling of their products. This gives consumers peace of mind that they are taking a safe and effective product.
If a supplement has any serious problems, such as side effects, manufacturers must report it to FDA as a negative event. In addition, FDA can remove dietary supplements from demand if they are unsafe or if the product's claims are false and misleading.
However, it would be best to do extensive research about a dietary supplement before consuming it, as different people can react differently to supplements. So it's best to speak with your doctor before taking any dietary supplement, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking other medications.
Who Can Benefit From Taking Dietary Supplements?
People take dietary supplements for many reasons, including:
Keep them healthy overall
Improve mental and sports-related performance
Improve your immune system
Reduce the chance of developing certain chronic diseases
Manage symptoms of a disease or condition
Some people may need them more than others, including:
Women Who Are Pregnant or Might Become Pregnant
It is recommended that women who are planning to become pregnant consume 400 micrograms of folate daily to reduce the risk of birth defects. This can be done through diet or supplements. Folate is a B vitamin that the body needs to create new cells, including red blood cells. Also, prenatal vitamins often contain optimal levels of iron, calcium, and folic acid.
Adults aged 60+
Vitamins and minerals become increasingly important as we age. These could include vitamins B6, B12, D, calcium, and magnesium. That helps maintain nerves and muscle function, a strong immune system, and healthy bones.
People With Special Diets or Food Allergies
Dietary supplements may provide important benefits if you are vegan, have food allergies or lactose intolerance, or have difficulty digesting or absorbing nutrients from food. For example, celiac disease patients may need a supplement containing vitamins B6, B12, and D, calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc since they can't absorb these nutrients from food.
Athletes
Athletes may benefit from taking supplements that contain vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, and vitamin D. Supplements can also help with energy production and recovery from exercise.
Is It Good To Speak With My Healthcare Provider About Dietary Supplements?
Absolutely! Even though you don't need a prescription from your healthcare provider to get dietary supplements, it's still important to include them in the conversation.
It's important to check with an expert about potential interactions between dietary supplements and other medications before taking them. Healthcare providers can help you identify the right supplement and guide you on what dose to take.
For example, if you're an older adult, your healthcare provider may recommend a different dose of a supplement than what is typically recommended on the supplement label.
Your dietary supplements should be reported to your healthcare provider, especially if you're being treated for a health condition like heart problems or high blood pressure. This is also important to remember if you are pregnant or could become pregnant.
Dietary supplements can be a great addition to your overall health and wellness plan, but it's always best to speak with your healthcare provider first.
Related Reads: Complete guide best time to take vitamins.
In Conclusion
Dietary supplements from UK pharmacies can benefit many people, but speaking with a healthcare provider before taking them is important. This is especially true for people with chronic health conditions or other medications.
Supplements can be a great addition to an overall healthy diet and lifestyle, but they are not a replacement for healthy eating and regular exercise.
Consult your healthcare provider about including dietary supplements in your wellness plan.
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