Friday, January 25, 2013

Augmenting Your Nutritional Intake Using Dietary Supplements

By Frank Hayes


A balanced diet should provide the body with all the nutrients it needs. Dietary supplements are designed for individuals whose daily food intake cannot supply everything needed for optimum health. Some of these products are also formulated to help deal with deficiencies. There are also those meant to be used therapeutically by people with certain conditions.

Most of them contain vitamins and minerals, often combined in small quantities such as in the case of multi-vitamins. However, you may also come across products that contain select nutrients only. They are usually made for those with nutritional deficiencies or other health problems. For example, ascorbic acid is ideal for individuals with scurvy.

Supplements may rely on many other ingredients. The ones used depend on what a product is specifically designed for. Some may contain amino acids, essential fatty acids, enzymes and probiotics. There are items that are made for use exclusively by men, while others are for women. It's due to the fact that they require different nutritional needs.

Some of the most sought after products are those which contain herbs or potent substances derived from plants. Many are known in the world of traditional medicine in various cultures. It's not surprising why a lot of people like to get their hands on herbal products as lots of them are known to provide therapeutic as well as health-boosting results.

Because these items are usually not categorized as drugs, many people immediately think that they are 100% safe. It's true that many of those you can find at local pharmacies and on the internet use all-natural ingredients. But despite of this, side effects may still be encountered. This is especially true if taken in doses beyond what the manufacturers recommend.

Manufacturers have to abide by certain rules when it comes to the contents of the label. For example, the ingredients should be listed as well as the amounts found in each tablet or capsule. The dosage also has to be indicated. In terms of claims that may be stated on the packaging, all of them should be backed up by conclusive evidence from scientific studies.

Dietary supplements can produce positive results when used correctly. They're suitable for people who wish to stay in the pink of health as well as those who need relief from certain conditions. See to it that you go for a product that comes from a well-respected manufacturer. Avoid getting counterfeit ones by purchasing from reliable sellers only. Tell your primary health care provider about your plan on using them so that you may be advised on which ones are suited for you.




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