Dietary Supplements: Pros and Cons Article
Over half of the adults in the U.S. use at least one type of dietary supplement, the most common being multivitamins, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The term “supplements” encompasses a variety of products such as vitamins and minerals, herbs and enzymes. Taking the right supplements can be beneficial to your health, but they are not without risk. Never take any type of supplement without first talking to your doctor (1). According to the 2010 Supplement Business Report published by the Nutrition Business Journal, dietary supplements are a 27 billion dollar industry. That is in the United States alone, a pretty impressive number. Botanicals, herbs, meal replacements, vitamins, and minerals fill the shelves of stores from local supermarkets to high-end nutrition shops. Like many other health products, dietary supplements have benefits and drawbacks. Knowing the pros and cons of dietary supplements is highly important so that you make an educated decision when it comes to buying or using them (2).
The problem is that not all of the supplements are not regulated by the FDA which means there are often problems with the purity, quality, and the strength of the supplements. Dietary supplements are not food replacements. They do not contain the complex constellation of vitamins and nutrients that foods contain, including phytochemicals. These are substances that can be acquired from food, and provide health
These advertisements about weight loss supplements are not the solution to healthily losing weight. The advertising industry tricks us into buying these supplements, but they do not reveal all the side effects they bring along. An article written by Triplett shows how much money is spent annually in the weight loss supplements’ business in the United States. Triplett states, “Americans spend at least $16 billion a year on nearly 30,000 kinds of dietary supplements, most of which seem safe” (Triplett). But, not all of dietary supplements are as safe as advertisements claim them to be. Unlike over-the counter
Throughout the years we have been prescribed with regular medications for whatever illness we have and also in using supplements for our weight loss program. We at times neglect or willfully forget the side effects and risks we are faced off with regular medications. This is the reason why a lot of herbal supplement companies are increasing in popularity because of the supplements they are recommending in exchange of the regular medications. There are more and more people being aware of these supplements performance. They prevent the onset of a possible health problem and also increase performance with considering very little complications or side effects.
Dietary supplements are becoming more and more widely used. Whether it be for sport performance, herbal, or just a vitamin, many are being used and misused. People do not understand how dietary supplements are regulated and what the pros and cons are.
Due to there being countless supplements to choose from, sundries of individuals trust health professionals for primary nutritional advice. Furthermore, there are many who are in quest of improved holistic health alternatives to remain renewed, and uphold their health.
Advice to a patient about dietary supplements, generally speaking, would be try and get the nutrients you need by a healthy and balanced diet. An example would be, instead of taking a magnesium supplement one could include or increase the amount of dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and beans as these foods are high in magnesium. The best source of a vitamin or mineral is ingesting it in its most natural, most raw form and letting our bodies break it down and use it as it was meant by nature.
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.
As your nourishment is processed, it gets separated and the body removes what it needs. Each of the supplements i specified above have an alternate use. Carbs give the body vitality (it is the essential fuel source), each of the diverse minerals and vitamins help the body in distinctive ways-eg calcium assists with bone reinforcing. Fats are another fuel source and unsaturated fats lower cholesterol. Protein helps in the development and generation of muscles.
Diabetes is a common health condition among many Americans today. As of 2014, 29.1 million people or 9.3 percent of the American population have diabetes and 86 million, or one out of three, Americans have pre-diabetes which increases one's risk for developing diabetes1. Since diabetes is a top health concern for a great number of Americans, many are open to integrative practices including dietary supplementation. With half of the American population using at least one dietary supplement and as an increasing number of Americans look to integrative medicine2, it is no surprise many opt for dietary supplements to aid in diabetes management. Cinnamon is a common household spice used in many culinary preparations and can be found as a dietary
Supplements are intended to help out an athlete in areas where there may exist a deficiency. This could be a lack of protein, creatine or even testosterone. And because of this any substance taken to correct a deficiency could be considered a ‘supplement’ to the athlete’s diet – even the multi-vitamin he takes with breakfast.
Many in the nutritional and sports world, however, are concerned about Creatine Supplements and other nutrional supplements that are widely available online and at local health food stores. They feel a lack of accurate information about creatine exists for the non-scientist.
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 is an act put into place by the federal legislation to make sure that dietary supplements are regulated effectively to create optimal health for the United States population. The FDA is responsible for the safety of herbal products. The FDA is also responsible for taking action against any altered or misbranded dietary supplement product after it reaches the market. The FDA encourages consumers and members of dietary industries to report any adverse reactions or side effects. The FDA has a Safety Reporting Portal which is a safe way online to report when a consumer, health professionals or industry member find a problem or any adverse reactions from the dietary supplement. The FDA’s role in herbal product regulation is to make sure dietary supplements are manufactured safely and labeled correctly, if a problem is to occur the FDA is responsible for taking action against the
Dietary supplements, including herbs, vitamins, minerals and other such substances are not governed by the FDA. This is both good and bad. The good part is that we are free to choose them if we wish. The bad part is that many people don't make these choices properly. Here are some facts and tips on how you can make an informed choice in the supplement aisle. Undeclared Ingredients: One of the reasons I prefer to mix my own herbs is that I will know what's in them. As a master herbalist, I have years of training to rely on. If you've kept up with the news, you may know that some popular supplements have chemicals similar to prescription drugs. Others may actually contain the drugs without declaring them. All Natural does not Translate to
As prescription drug is becoming more and more common and widespread among the American society, it is obvious that drugs should have high quality in order to protect the consumers from any substantial danger that the drug could pose. Not just prescription drugs but dietary supplements as well. There has been an 80 percent increase in dietary supplement consumptions. But sadly the The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (1994) has helped manufacturers from facing FDA regulations. Furthermore, dietary supplements are being labeled as food and I don’t believe that they should be because people are less educated when it comes to medication and drugs, so if they happen to take in contaminated drugs, they would not know how to deal with
The pursuit of great health and well-being takes us through different paths, which may include supplements, exercises and good diet. In the humdrum of our daily lives, finding time for our health leads us on the quest of supplements.
While health foods stores attract consumers to purchase health supplements, many manufacturers use health food stores to promote their bogus products. In March 1999, the FTC filed a complaint in federal court against the makers of Vitamin O. The company ran false ads claiming the Vitamin O supplement prevents cancer, heart, and lung disease by adding an extra oxygen supplement to the bloodstream. With no scientific evidence to prove the benefits of Vitamin O, the two companies from Washington agreed to a settlement of $375,000 for consumer compensation. The settlement prohibited the Vitamin O manufacturers from making claims that were unsupported about the Vitamin O health benefits. Testimonials and endorsements of product represented through previous experience from members of the public who used the product were also prohibited in the settlement. In conclusion, marketing agents with false science beliefs have one common goal: To sell! We as consumers must be aware and informed of unknown supplements that claims to have a great deal of impact to your life. These products are known for its testimonials by doctors and actors that make claims of using the product. Pseudoscience supplements have caused serious illnesses and even death due to consumers lack of knowledge when purchasing these products. It is strongly recommended that consumers research the companies and the product that advertise false products very carefully before purchasing a supplement that claims to