If you take vitamins, minerals and supplements, the chances are that you are trying to be healthier and to improve your wellness and wellbeing. There are so many dietary supplements on the market, however, that it can be tough to work out which ones actually have the health benefits that they claim, and which are just pointless additions to your diet.
Dietary supplements often contain a variety of ingredients, including vitamins amino acids, herbs, minerals and other botanicals. Some of the health benefits of these ingredients have been confirmed by research but others have not. It’s always worth reading up a bit before you choose to take any kind of ingredient.
When taking a dietary supplement, you should always read the label and follow the instructions. Be very cautious of the word ‘natural’ as this does not automatically mean that a product is safe. A herbal supplement, for example, may contain many different compounds and all the ingredients of what you are taking may not be known.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that some dietary supplements can interact with other medications or pose risk to you if you have specific health conditions or if you are undergoing surgery. It’s also the case that most dietary supplements have not been tested on children, pregnant women or nursing mothers, so their safety cannot be verified.
In America, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the dietary supplement market, but the regulations are far less strict than those that are imposed on over-the-counter medications.
It is important, therefore, that you tell your healthcare provider about any complementary health care that you are undergoing and any supplements that you take, to ensure a coordinated approach to your wellbeing.
Dietary supplements are intended to do just that – to supplement the diet – and should never be seen as an alternative to a healthy and varied diet.