The US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control reports that there has been an increasing number of Americans who are taking dietary supplements in the last decade compared to those in the 90s. Researchers estimate that more than half of the population is taking at least one health supplement daily, the most common of which are multivitamins. More women who are older than 60 have also been taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. Other common types of dietary supplements include herbal products and other compounds taken to induce weight loss, improve sexual function and enhance body building. Consumers spend about $30 billion on health supplements every year but the latest studies show that they are no better than placebo in preventing disease. Aside from this, many side effects have been reported after chronic or inappropriate use of some supplements.
Current Studies on Dietary Supplements
In spite of some negative reports about the lack of benefit or possible dangers from dietary supplements, some studies have shown that a few of these do provide some health benefits when taken properly. Doctors often prescribe supplements such as calcium, vitamin D, folic acid, fish oil and probiotics to improve health and prevent disease. An independent research oragnization, Consumer Reports studied over 1,000 ingredients used in health supplements and identified 12 substances that may be hazardous to health and 11 other substances that may actually help improve or maintain health.
The 12 ingredients which are most likely to be associated with serious side effects and little health benefits are aconite, chaparral, bitter orange, colloidal silver, comfrey, coltsfoot, country mallow, greater celandine, germanium, lobelia, kava, and yohimb...
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The more the merrier right? Overtime people have continuously believed that vitamin supplements help the human body sustain a healthier body and well-being, however, have failed to realize the harm that vitamin supplements can do to the body; this is indicated by Paul Offit, the author of “The Vitamin Myth.” He states that over time researches and various studies have proved that Linus Pauling, the soul of the vitamin myth, statements of what vitamin supplements could do for the human body and or life. For example, the National Cancer Institute in 1994, researched smokers who were given various supplements over a period of time however those who were given supplements eventually showed signs of a more dangerous health state than those who did
According to the 2002 Harris poll, seven out of ten adults in the United States take vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other supplements (Schardt 2). Due to media advertising, dietary supplements are becoming more popular. Companies compete to have the best supplements. It is said that forty percent of American adults take vitamin supplements and over the counter products, which total in several billion dollars (Farley 2). Although many of the supplements claim to be healthy and help lose weight, the dangers are endless. Dietary supplements can be illegally spiked and are not safe. Therefore, putting regulations on dietary supplements and their safety hazards is necessary.
Some people think that the only reason that vitamins exist are to help those people who have diseases and deficiency. Vitamins are especially helpful for these types of people, but this is not the only reason people should take them. Nobody is perfect, and gaps are apparent in everyday diets which makes a vitamin seem like the perfect fix. Vitamins are not prescribed for the most part, although in some cases they are. If someone is pregnant or nursing, suffering from a lack of a certain nutrient dramatically, or if they are a vegetarian, a doctor may recommend taking a supplement to ensure safety. Although these are prescribed, they are not a medicine that will fix something. "Unlike medicines, supplements cannot claim to cure, treat or prevent
Dietary supplements are very beneficial to one’s body if they are taken correctly. There are many pros and cons to taking dietary supplements. In this paper I will discuss the pros and cons and how supplements affect the human body. We will also consider the government’s guidelines regarding dietary supplements.
According to Advances in Nutrition (Vitamin/Trace mineral supplements), “The fraction of population that is elderly has been increasing, as has the consumption of vitamin/trace mineral supplements, which is now a Multibillion dollar industry. Yet the rationale for such supplement intake by the majority may be questioned.” () Questions like, are vitamin and mineral supplements necessary for life, or is our body capable of generating enough micro-nutrients from everyday nutrition and the environment?; and are vitamin supplements supposed to be used as substitutes for the natural intake of vitamins from whole foods, for people who do not have deficiencies? These are the questions most people need to ask themselves every day. Vitamin supplements are used widely throughout the world. Vitamin supplements were never supposed to be used as a substitute for a healthy whole foods diet, yet advertisements and social media have portrayed supplements to be the norm for Americans today. Most people buy into the whole vitamin supplement craze. Today, vitamin supplements are found in many forms like pills, liquid, chews, and even powdered formats. Instead of maintaining a balanced diet, most Americans would rather ingest a few pills. The prices, however, can range from affordable to thousands of dollars. Overall, Americans spend more than 10 billion dollars each year on vitamin supplements that they don’t even need, hoping that it would act like a barrier against some of the major chronic diseases.
A well-balanced diet contains all the necessary vitamins, and most individuals who follow such a diet can correct any previous vitamin deficiencies. However, persons who are on special diets, who are suffering from intestinal disorders that prevent normal absorption of nutrients, or who are pregnant or lactating may need particular vitamin supplements to bolster their metabolism. Beyond such real needs, vitamin supplements are also often popularly believed to offer "cures" for many diseases, from colds to cancer; but in fact the body quickly eliminates most of these preparations without absorbing them. In addition, the fat-soluble vitamins can block the effect of other vitamins and even cause severe poisoning when taken in excess.
“About 150 million people in the US use dietary supplements; about 79% use it on a daily bases, and 10% taking 5 or more per day” (Ranjani 478). Dietary supplements range from sports performance products, weight loss products, to a variety of herbal remedies. These supplements are used widely to help maintain or improve the health of the human body. While buying these products many assume that they are regulated and are safe for human consumption, however it may not be the case. “Supplements face no FDA requirements for premarket testing. Supplements can be placed on the market at the will of the makers and then remain legal for sale” (Quinones 32). Dietary supplements should be regulated like prescription drugs because it’s a safety hazard, can become addictive, and may lead to dangerous health problems.
...is still research to be done, but for now it is up to the individual to decide if he or she is healthy enough to take these products safely or if it is even worth taking,given the long-term effects.
Same may believe that all the supplements are effective however not all of them are ineffective Taking too much supplements can possibly cause side effects. It is true that Supplements that have more than one herbal ingredient which can be dangerous, Supplements that sold to treat illness and Avoid supplements that claim to improve sexual ability .It is not a must to take these supplements, people who take these supplements save time and instantly they damage their health It is said by Pieter Cohen, Cambridge health alliance gave some steps to use safe supplements .The perfect way to use supplements safely is to be aware of supplements you don't need. Use supplements only if you have trusted information that the ingredient(s) will useful to you. Accurate information can be found at the National Institute of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Select supplements with onl...
In conclusion, the potential implications of the proposed research for practice is that if supplements are being used as a substitute for a healthy diet in today’s society due to a lack of understanding food labels. Investigate what the impacts of this are on health, if any and further education about food labelling may be necessary. The benefit of this understanding to the NHS is the possible reduction in chronic conditions related to nutrition. However the theory practice gap can only be eliminated by the implementation of evidence such as this study into practice. To implement this study to practice the researcher will need to understand, identify and overcome barriers to change (NICE, 2007).
Vitamins, a group of organic substances required in our diets in small amounts for growth and nutrition, are usually found in foodstuffs or taken as supplements. Yet vitamins probably present a wider gap between myth and reality in the layman's understanding than almost any other area of our diet. Surveys have found that while a majority of Americans do take vitamin supplements on a regular or occasional basis for reason of health concerns, there exists enormous confusion about the actual purpose and benefits of this practice ("Use of Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in the United States," 1990:161). Most people have a recognition that Vitamin C prevents scurvy, that Vitamin A is found in fish-liver oils, or that Vitamin D is found in dairy products; many people believe that Vitamin E preserves youth and prevents sterility, or that Vitamin C can present colds and cancer. Beyond this, however, there is still considerable ignorance and widespread myth.
A supplement that is progressively becoming more popular in the United States are diet Pills. The purpose of consuming these pills is to help individuals lose weight in a easy manner. Diet pills come in many different variations that contributes to certain tasks in the body. Diet pills alone can have a dangerous effect on the body let alone being knowledgeable in knowing what diet pills are best for your body is very important. People who are consuming or looking into consuming diet pills often forget to look further into the product due to desperation. Everyone already knows that the best way to lose weight is by exercising and eating healthy; but since people are not taking that into consideration, it’s best to believe they are to the point
They often promise to make a person more muscular, super energized, smarter, and/or thinner. Just because they are natural or herbal doesn't mean they are safe or even that they live up to their claims. People always want to ask their doctor before taking any dietary supplement and can choose wisely. Some supplements can interact with other medications and/or have other side effects. They can range from a variety of products. These products include, but are not limited to: multivitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs. Others come from natural sources, like plants, then there are others that are man-made. They come in a variety of forms like capsules, pills, gel tabs, liquid, tinctures, extracts, and powder. However, supplements are not tested by their sellers for product safety and their purity standard before putting them onto the
Herbal medicines are sold in different ways from tablets, teas, extracts, capsules, powders, and fresh or dried plants. Many consumers believe that these products are safe and free of harm due to the labeling of the product with words such as “all natural.” The downside of taking these “natural” medicines are some ingredients can cause harm to a consumer’s health. According to the U.S .National Library of Medicine, some herbs, such as comfrey and ephedra, can cause serious harm. It is also reported that herbal
Today people are becoming more aware of the advantages of using natural health products. Apart from it being a cost-efficient solution to maintain and attain healthier body, the products made from herbal and natural ingredients offer a myriad of benefits compared to those made from chemical and artificial ingredients. The followi...