Five Misconceptions About Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements are being used now more than ever, despite numerous misconceptions surrounding them. This article takes five misconceptions about dietary supplements and tries to set the record straight. First it says that even if you eat well, you still need a multivitamin. It claims that while it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet, the soil our food is grown in does not contain adequate nutrient content. Eating food grown in unfertile soil does not provide adequate nutrients. Second, it states that dietary supplements help alleviate stress. Today’s fast paced lifestyle and technology obsessed society is extremely susceptible to stress. Even if you do not realize it, stress takes a huge toll on your mental and physical health,

Fourth, it warns that not all the information consumers need is listed on the package. The only way to ensure a supplement is completely safe is to directly call the manufacturer of the product. Finally, Fox refutes the idea that there is a magical pill that can fix everything. Supplements are meant to “supplement” diet and health, but should not be the main factor in living a healthy lifestyle (Smith).
The first idea in the Fox News article is that eating a nutritious diet is not enough to be able to get all the vitamins and minerals needed; instead, people need to take a multivitamin because the soil our food is grown in does not contain adequate nutrients. This statement is not backed up by the scientific research. In fact, it is actually contradicted by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which makes it clear that supplements are not necessary, and it is definitely possible to get all the nutrients your body needs from a balanced diet. Food should be the main fuel and source of nutrients for the body, not a pill or a powder (Should You Take Dietary Supplements?). The second myth discussed was that dietary supplements do not lower

When a group of people was given a multivitamin with vitamins B, E, C, and A and another group was given a placebo, the group taking the multivitamin was able to deal with a stressful setting better (Stress). The third point discussed by Fox News is that it is very important to take the amount prescribed on the dietary supplement label or package. The scientific evidence does confirm this statement. It is imperative that consumers follow the labels or a doctor’s guidance when figuring out the proper amount of a supplement to take. These supplements have been tested and recommend the most efficient amount that will provide the most benefits to the body with the least risk. Not consuming enough of a supplement will not provide the body with the intended results. However, over-consuming a supplement can have harmful consequences and lead to toxicity (Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know). Fourth, the news article from Fox talks about how many people believe all the information they need should be printed right on the label for them. The article explains, however, that this is simply is not the case. The scholarly readings