Dietary supplements are taken in addition to food to ensure daily vitamin and mineral requirements are met. Multivitamins are the most common supplement, while herbs are a natural alternative. However, excessive consumption can be harmful and medical advice should be sought.
Dietary supplements are any type of compounds that are consumed in addition to food as a means of ensuring that the minimum daily requirements for various vitamins and minerals are ingested each day. In the best of situations, a dietary or nutritional supplement is not considered a substitute for a balanced diet. Rather, the supplement is seen as a means to increase the nutrients consumed during meals, and not a license to load the daily diet with all sorts of empty calories.
There are many different ways to implement a dietary supplement program. The most common strategy adopted by people is to make use of a multivitamin product. In general, multivitamins provide essential nutrients for the entire day, and usually additional amounts of each vitamin included in the formula. Such a dietary supplement can be easily purchased in most supermarkets, as well as in many pharmacies and drugstores.
Other people use a dietary supplement to treat a temporary health problem. For example, doctors advise people dealing with the effects of stress to include large amounts of various vitamins and minerals daily. When stress manifests itself as anxiety, mild depression, or an inability to sleep well, a doctor may recommend a regimen of vitamin C and a full round of B vitamins. To support the vitamins, the doctor may also recommend the inclusion of mineral supplements such as calcium. and magnesium in a balance of two parts calcium to one part magnesium. As the condition subsides, the dosage of the supplements can be reduced to maintenance levels.
Another type of dietary supplement that many people prefer is fresh herbs. This option is particularly appealing to people who want to stay away from vitamin products that may contain artificial binders and other ingredients. Herbs are often a great way to add nutrients to the diet without the presence of additives. Herbs can also sometimes be used to season food and made into healthy teas. Most herbs contain several different types of nutrients in varying amounts, so it is often helpful to consult an herbalist to identify the best herbal options for adding vitamins and minerals to your daily diet.
While most vitamins and minerals contained in a dietary supplement are perfectly safe within a given dosage range, it’s important to note that consuming large amounts can actually be harmful to the body. In some cases, high doses of a vitamin or mineral can interfere with the body’s ability to properly absorb another nutrient. There are also many vitamins and herbs that are beneficial in reasonable doses but can become toxic when consumed in large amounts. For this reason, it’s usually a good idea to consult a medical professional before attempting to use a dietary supplement as a way to treat any health problem.
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