Dietary supplements can be beneficial to your health, but they can also pose health hazards. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lacks the authority to review dietary supplement items for safety and efficacy before they are sold.
You've most likely heard of them, used them, and even recommended them to friends and family. While certain dietary supplements are well understood and well-established, others require additional research. Continue reading to learn about important dietary supplements for you and your family.
Consult your healthcare physician before deciding whether to take a supplement. They can assist you in achieving a balance of the foods and nutrients that you require.
WHAT EXACTLY IS A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT?
A dietary supplement is a man-made product that is taken as a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid to enhance one's diet. A supplement can give nutrients that are either taken from food or manufactured in order to boost the amount consumed.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF TAKING DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS?
Some supplements can help ensure that you obtain enough of the critical nutrients your body need to function properly, while others can assist minimize your risk of disease. However, supplements should not be used in place of whole meals, which are required for a healthy diet - so make sure you eat a variety of foods as well.
Supplements, unlike pharmaceuticals, cannot be sold for the aim of treating, diagnosing, preventing, or curing disease. This means that supplements should not make disease-related claims like "lowers high cholesterol" or "treats heart disease." Such claims cannot be made lawfully for dietary supplements.
IS THERE ANY DANGER IN USING SUPPLEMENTS
Yes. Many supplements contain active substances with powerful biological effects in the body. This may make them dangerous in some conditions and may harm or complicate your health. The following activities, for example, could have serious – even life-threatening – repercussions.
1. Taking excessive amounts of some supplements, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, or iron.
Some supplements can also have unfavorable side effects before to, during, and after surgery. As a result, make sure to tell your healthcare professional, including your pharmacist, about any supplements you're taking.
2. Combining supplements.
3. Supplements as a replacement for prescription medications.
4. Using supplements in conjunction with medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter)
SOME TYPICAL DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
1. Green tea
2. Fish oil
3. Ginseng
4. Ginkgo
5. Garlic
6. Vitamin D
7. Calcium
8. Echinacea
9. Saw Palmetto
10. Chondroitin Sulphate
CONSIDERATIONS
If you don't believe you're receiving enough vitamins and minerals in your diet, consult your doctor. He or she can advise you on which micronutrients you require. A dietary supplement might also be recommended by your doctor. This will be determined by your general health and way of living. Supplements can interfere with cancer therapies and surgery. Your doctor will be able to tell you whether they interact with any medical issues you have.
Foods high in vitamin E and beta-carotene, for example, are good for you. However, the U.S. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) both advise against using vitamin E or beta-carotene to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. People who smoke or are at risk of lung cancer should avoid beta-carotene as well. It may enhance their chances of developing lung cancer.
Pharmaceutical firms adhere to FDA restrictions. Some dietary supplement manufacturers adhere to the quality criteria of the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP). This signifies that they are willing to have their items tested. Before they are sold, they will be tested for quality and purity by an outside company. On the labels of some supplements, extra qualifications are displayed. Look for labels that say "USP Verified" or "ConsumerLab.com Approved Quality."
Dietary supplements are generally harmless as long as they are not used in excess. This is particularly true of the fat-soluble vitamins A and E. Check the label for the recommended daily allowance (RDA). Taking too much can result in unwelcome or dangerous side effects.
Some herbal supplements, on the other hand, may be harmful. They may include unlisted substances that cause you to become ill. Steroids and estrogens are examples of drugs that are not included on the label. Toxic or dangerous compounds may even be present in products. Arsenic, mercury, lead, and pesticides are a few examples. If harmful substances are discovered in supplements, they must be recalled.
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