The Pros And Cons Of Dietary Supplements

The exposures to supplements can be both beneficial and detrimental. Some components of supplements include vitamins, minerals, and herbals. Dietary supplements are products which are intended to be an addition to an individual’s diet and contain one or more dietary ingredients (NIH, 2011). These supplements can be found in many forms such as capsules, tablets, liquids, and powders (FDA, 2017). Research has shown that these dietary supplements are beneficial for overall health and for managing some health conditions. On the other hand, supplements have the potential of producing negative side-effects that propose a risk to an individual’s overall well-being. Overall, supplements are highly popularized in today’s society as people are becoming

Many popular vitamins include vitamin D and E, minerals like calcium for strong bones and iron which is an important component of hemoglobin and herbals such as Echinacea, to help fight colds and garlic which is used to prevent cancer and other diseases (National Institutes of Health, 2011). They do provide adequate amounts of essential nutrients if an individual does not eat nutritious variety of foods (2011). Our body can get the vital substances to function throughout the day and our lives as we grow older (Food & Drug Administration, 2017). Different types of supplements taken can prevent certain diseases and other medical conditions as shared by the Health Research Funding. For example, folic acid can be taken during a pregnancy to help reduce the risk of the baby generating any birth defects (Health Research Funding, 2014). Many individuals daily might lack calories or fighting off a cold, that is when a vitamin, mineral or herbal are a benefit because they are helping our bodies stay healthy and protect us from diseases. The best thing for our bodies is to eat a wide variety of healthy foods, backed up by the

For example, people may take the supplements instead of prescribed medications (National Institute of Health, 2011). Furthermore, individuals may combine a supplement and prescribed medication that generate adverse effects. Some supplements can increase bleeding or even a person’s response to anesthesia before surgery (2011). As many nutritionists portray, moderation is key and there should always be a balance. In other words, an overabundance of one thing is disadvantageous. Taking more supplements than needed is expensive and can rapidly raise side-effects (2011). For example, too much consumption of vitamin A can result in liver damage and even birth defects (2011). The way individuals take supplements is a big determining factor of the risks which may be at