Should I Take a Health Supplement?
You can get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs through the food you eat.
Often, though, people don’t eat enough fruits wsil.marketminute, veggies, whole grains, and other
foods to meet their daily dietary recommendations.
Supplements can help make up for these gaps in your diet by giving you a
concentrated dose of vitamins, minerals, herbs and other micronutrients. These
supplements can help to boost your immunity, strengthen your heart and improve
your overall health.
If you are considering a supplement, talk to your doctor first. They can recommend a
good one and help you find the right balance between nutrients from food and
supplements.
Not all vitamins and minerals are safe to take in high doses. Large amounts of
vitamin A, for example, can cause birth defects and damage the nervous system.
Dosages should be adjusted for pregnant women, people with kidney disease, or
people taking certain medicines.
There are also risks when a person takes too many different types of supplements at
once, says Guallar. This can interfere with your ability to absorb other medicines you
may be taking or cause skin sensitivity and other problems when you are
undergoing radiation treatment.
Avoid products that claim to cure, diagnose or prevent diseases based on a single
study. “These are usually not backed by scientific evidence,” says Dr. David Millstein,
director of the Center for Research and Evaluation in Dietary Supplements at the
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
Look for supplements that have been standardized and regulated by the FDA and
are labeled to provide accurate information about their ingredients, amount, and
other characteristics. Some supplements may contain less or more of the essential
nutrient than is listed on the label, so it’s important to read labels carefully before
purchasing.
Aside from the label, check to see if there are any warnings about taking the product
for an extended period of time, or if it is a drug-free option. Some medications can
interact with certain vitamins or minerals, so it’s best to consult your doctor before
taking any supplements.
Getting vitamins and minerals through the food you eat is the best way to ensure
your body has what it needs to function properly. But, if you have a busy lifestyle or
don’t eat a balanced diet, a multivitamin supplement can help.
You can also use a supplement to address specific deficiencies, such as zinc or
calcium. These are essential for proper bone health, muscle strength, eye health and
more. But, keep in mind that a nutrient-dense diet is the key to good health, so be
sure you’re eating plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
While some vitamins are essential for a healthy life, others have no role in
preventing or curing disease. The FDA aims to protect consumers from unsafe
supplements, and they encourage people to report side effects or reactions with
these products.
The FDA also watches for harmful effects or reactions with supplements that haven’t
been reported to the agency, and it can act against companies that make false
claims about their products or those that are found to be unsafe.
