Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know

We all know that we eat food to keep ourselves alive. Foods provide us with extensive nutrients, ranging from vitamins, minerals, water, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, and protein. These nutrients are used as building blocks for the tissues and organs that make up our bodies and as parts of the molecular system that keeps our cells functioning normally.

For most people, eating different food can provide all the nutrients they need. But some may require more than they get from their meals. What this means is that their needs can vary depending on their age, health, and what they eat.

For this reason, the elderly, vegans, pregnant women, and those with ongoing medical conditions turn to dietary supplements for them to get all the necessary nutrients that their body needs to stay on top of their health. These supplements contain vitamins and minerals that support and maintain their health in a wide variety of ways.

What are dietary supplements?

They are products manufactured to enhance one’s diet by consuming pills, capsules, tablets, powder, or liquid. A supplement can offer either synthetic or nutrients extracted from food sources to increase the number of nutrients consumed.

According to the FDA, a dietary supplement is a product intended for ingestion with a “dietary ingredient” created to supplement the diet. This “dietary ingredient” has vitamins and minerals that are part of the food supply.

Supplements are available in a variety of doses and combinations, including tablets, capsules, powders, and liquids. However, our bodies require only a certain amount of each nutrient to function, and higher amounts can lead to detrimental effects. Supplements can only be sold legally with the proper dose recommendation to protect consumers’ health.

Dietary supplements are not medicines and can’t be used to cure any diseases, though they are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Why would one need food supplements?

As we have identified, while most people can get the vitamins and nutrients needed, some can’t. Here are some common reasons or situations why a person may need a food supplement:

  • Supplements fill the nutritional gap; they serve as a bridge to the nutritional gap needed to maintain a healthy body.
  • Consuming supplements address poor eating habits. Along with stress, eating processed and junk food contribute to poor digestion.
  • Nutrient absorption diminishes as we age, and supplements can address this issue. Malabsorption, or the faulty absorption of nutrient materials from the digestive tract, happens as we age. That is because our bodies can’t extract nutrients from the food we eat.
  • Taking supplements may help avoid harmful chemicals. The food we consume usually contains harmful chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides.

What are the benefits and risks of dietary supplements?

There are many reasons why a person needs food supplements. While there are proven benefits of these products, there are also risks involved. Let’s identify the benefits and risks of taking food supplements.

A person can benefit from consuming supplements by providing nutrients their diet lacks and boosting nutrient intake if they have deficiencies.

Supplements also help with general and specific wellness objectives, supplement established medical protocols, and present substitute therapeutic options.

Along with the benefits come the risks. Everyone must know that taking dietary supplements may usher harmful aftereffects, such as:

  • interacting with medications or other supplements
  • deteriorating existing medical conditions
  • causing adverse reactions or allergies
  • complicating surgery
  • leading to more health problems (potentially)

Who uses dietary supplements?

Specific individuals, such as pregnant women, older adults, and people with food allergies or restricted diets, take dietary supplements to maintain their overall health, provide immune system support for their bodies, and many other underlying reasons.

Should you ask your healthcare provider before taking any dietary supplements?

Yes. Before buying or using a dietary supplement, the FDA advises patients to consult a physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare providers. Inform your healthcare provider of any supplements you intend to take, including any medications you are currently taking, including prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, traditional, and homeopathic drugs.

For the utmost safety and quality, choose supplements from our retail pharmacy. Our high-quality products, such as dietary supplements, will help you achieve your health goals and improve your quality of life in no time.

Cavalier Pharmacare has been servicing Martinsville, Virginia, and its surrounding cities and counties since 2004. We are a local family business focusing on retail services and prescription processing.

Our dedication to providing amiable treatment and client satisfaction consistently sets us apart from the typical drugstore.

Please contact us right away if you need prescription delivery or have any additional questions about our products and services.

We ensure that when you visit us, our friendly pharmacists will be happy to accommodate you and assist you with any of your prescription or medical supplies needs.

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