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A dietary supplement is a product intended for ingestion that contains a dietary ingredient intended to add further nutritional value to the diet (1). Dietary supplements are vitamins, minerals, herbs and many other products (1). The supplements may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, soft gels, gel caps, liquids, or powders (1). Dietary supplements can be beneficial to your health — but taking supplements can also involve health risks (2). More than half of all Americans take one or more dietary supplements daily or on occasion (3). Dietary supplements are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as foods, not as drugs (3). According to research on dietary supplements, there are several pros, as well as cons …show more content…
Almost all calcium is stored in bones and teeth, where it supports their structure and hardness (6). The body also needs calcium for muscles to move and for nerves to carry messages between the brain and every body part (6). In addition, calcium is used to help blood vessels move blood throughout the body and to help release hormones and enzymes that affect almost every function in the human body (6). Milk, yogurt, and cheese are the main food sources of calcium for the majority of people in the United States (6). For people like me, who don’t consume enough milk, yogurt, or cheese there are supplements available. The two main forms of calcium dietary supplements are carbonate and citrate (6).
Vitamin B12 serves important roles throughout the body. It’s required for proper red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis (7). Vitamin b12 is recommended for vegans. Very low B12 intakes can cause anemia and nervous system damage (7). The only reliable vegan sources of B12 are foods fortified with B12 (including some plant milks, some soy products and some breakfast cereals) and B12 …show more content…
Some are simply looking for nutritional insurance, a feeling of security that lapses in the everyday diet will not lead to inadequate amounts of this or that nutrient, such as inadequate B-12 as we get older, inadequate lutein to protect the eyes from sun damage, and so forth and so on (11). Others have more specific concerns, such as protecting against cardiovascular damage or speeding exercise benefits and recovery in the case of athletes (11). Whatever the reason for taking nutritional supplements, research normally is considered to be on the plus side of the equation both to confirm likely benefits and to show that there should be no harm (11). Both of these goals, unfortunately, can prove to be problematic in unexpected ways
A dietary supplement is a product intended for ingestion that contains a dietary ingredient intended to add further nutritional value to the diet (1). Dietary supplements are vitamins, minerals, herbs and many other products (1). The supplements may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, soft gels, gel caps, liquids, or powders (1). Dietary supplements can be beneficial to your health — but taking supplements can also involve health risks (2). More than half of all Americans take one or more dietary supplements daily or on occasion (3). Dietary supplements are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as foods, not as drugs (3). According to research on dietary supplements, there are several pros, as well as cons …show more content…
Almost all calcium is stored in bones and teeth, where it supports their structure and hardness (6). The body also needs calcium for muscles to move and for nerves to carry messages between the brain and every body part (6). In addition, calcium is used to help blood vessels move blood throughout the body and to help release hormones and enzymes that affect almost every function in the human body (6). Milk, yogurt, and cheese are the main food sources of calcium for the majority of people in the United States (6). For people like me, who don’t consume enough milk, yogurt, or cheese there are supplements available. The two main forms of calcium dietary supplements are carbonate and citrate (6).
Vitamin B12 serves important roles throughout the body. It’s required for proper red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis (7). Vitamin b12 is recommended for vegans. Very low B12 intakes can cause anemia and nervous system damage (7). The only reliable vegan sources of B12 are foods fortified with B12 (including some plant milks, some soy products and some breakfast cereals) and B12 …show more content…
Some are simply looking for nutritional insurance, a feeling of security that lapses in the everyday diet will not lead to inadequate amounts of this or that nutrient, such as inadequate B-12 as we get older, inadequate lutein to protect the eyes from sun damage, and so forth and so on (11). Others have more specific concerns, such as protecting against cardiovascular damage or speeding exercise benefits and recovery in the case of athletes (11). Whatever the reason for taking nutritional supplements, research normally is considered to be on the plus side of the equation both to confirm likely benefits and to show that there should be no harm (11). Both of these goals, unfortunately, can prove to be problematic in unexpected ways