Truth About Dietary Supplements? Dietary supplements have been around for a while now, with many people becoming interested in adding more health benefits to their lives. But just because something is age-old doesn’t mean that it’s been thoroughly researched and explained. A lot of the information out there about dietary supplements is still very new and hasn’t been thoroughly vetted.
However, this article is not intended to scare you. In fact, the vast majority of dietary supplements don’t have the potential to cause side effects or harm you in any way. But, as the saying goes, you can’t buy sick. So, to help you understand what you’re getting into, here’s what you need to know about dietary supplements.
What Are Dietary Supplements?
Dietary supplements are any product that is not a part of your regular diet or workout routine. Some examples include vitamins and minerals, herbal extracts, and antioxidants. A dietary supplement is not consumed by everyone, and it can cause side effects depending on your individual needs. A good way to determine if a dietary supplement is right for you is to talk to your doctor about it. Your doctor can recommend a specific formula, or you can choose from a variety of pre-packaged options.
Ultimate list of supplements:
There are many different types of dietary supplements, including fat burners, muscle gainers, and more.
Here are some of the most common types of dietary supplements:
- Fat Burners: These are often pre-packaged supplement stacks that contain ingredients that have been proven to increase your body’s ability to absorb and use certain fats.
- Iron: An important mineral that your body needs but isn’t made properly.
- Zinc: A mineral that is essential for a healthy nervous system and helps with muscle and brain function.
- Nootropics: Improving your brain function through neurological means.
- Herbal Extracts: Plant extracts with added benefits, often with a track record of studies showing positive results.
- Proteins: Proteins are essential for health, but certain types are more effective than others.
- B vitamins: B vitamins help with energy and mood, as well as help with certain hormonal conditions.
- Creatine: A popular protein supplement that helps with muscle growth and helps with muscle breakdown.
- Vitamin D: Essential for ensuring proper calcium absorption, vitamin D also helps with mood, bone health, and muscle function.
- Choline: A natural source of vitamin B, choline is essential for the health of your brain and nervous system.
- Selenium: A mineral that helps with mood and brain health, as well as helps with immune function.
- Vitamin K2: A compound found in limited amounts in many animal and plant foods, but is necessary for the proper development of fetus and newborn babies.
- Zinc-Tetra Pack: A popular dietary supplement that contains a combination of zinc, selenium, vitamin B, omega-3 fatty acid, vitamin E, and vitamin C.
- Maca Root: A traditional Peruvian herb that has been used for centuries to assist with sleep and mood regulation, maca root is popular in both traditional and dietary supplements.
- St. John’s Wort: A commonly prescribed herbal supplement that is associated with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mood-elevating properties.
- Vitamin B-12: An essential vitamin that is found in animal and plant foods but is crucial for the proper development of babies and children.
- D-Bigel: A herbal collective that includes pepper and turmeric, di-beta-betal is popular for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Echinacea: A common herbal remedy for various disorders, echinacea is also known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Green Tea Extract: A popular herbal supplement that has been used for centuries to treat various health conditions.
- Mango: A natural source of vitamin A and C, mango is also rich in dietary fiber and water-soluble vitamins.
- Bitter Aloe: A traditional herbal remedy for various disorders, bitter aloe is rich in natural ingredients.
- Vitamin B-complex: These are a group of vitamins and minerals that are important for a healthy body and brain.
- Vitamin-5: A newer type of dietary supplement that is becoming more popular; vitamin-5 is a combination of vitamin B and C.
- Vitamin-6: A newer type of dietary supplement that is becoming more popular; vitamin-6 is a combination of vitamin B and E.
- Vitamin-9: A newer type of dietary supplement that is becoming more popular; vitamin-9 is a combination of vitamin A, C, and E.
- Vitamin-H: A newer type of dietary supplement that is becoming more popular, vitamin-H is a combination of vitamin K and elements.
- Vitamin-P: A new type of dietary supplement that is becoming more popular, vitamin-P is a combination of vitamin B and minerals.
- Vitamin-E: A new type of dietary supplement that is becoming more popular, vitamin-E is a combination of vitamin A, D, and E.
- Zinc-Tetra Pack: A popular dietary supplement that contains a combination of zinc, selenium, vitamin B, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
- Vitamin-P-Manganese: A new type of dietary supplement that is becoming more popular, vitamin-P-Manganese is a combination of vitamin P and zinc.
- Vitamin-E-Manganese: A new type of dietary supplement that is becoming more popular, vitamin-E-Manganese is a combination of vitamin E and manganese.
- Vitamin-H-Coenzyme Q10: A newer type of dietary supplement that is becoming more popular, vitamin-H-Coenzyme Q10 is a combination of vitamin H and minerals.
- Vitamin-P-Zinc: A new type of dietary supplement that is becoming more popular, vitamin-P-Zinc is a combination of vitamin P and zinc.
How to Find the Right Supplement for You
You’ll need to consider your health goals and the available products before you purchase a dietary supplement.
Here are some things to keep in mind: –
- Are you trying to boost muscle or lose weight?
- In this case, a joint-boosting protein supplement would be better than a food-based source.
- Are you trying to increase energy levels or improve your mood?
- Green tea and black tea can help with this, as well as with improving your health.
- Are you trying to increase mental clarity or boost productivity?
- Herbal extracts can help with this, as well as with lowering blood pressure and improving your mood.
- Are you looking for a more targeted supplement that can improve a single aspect of health?
- Certain vitamins and minerals are only found in specific foods and can be helpful for a single health condition.
- Are you looking for a more general dietary supplement that can help with a number of issues?
- Many vitamins and minerals are important for overall health but are also helpful for stress management.
- Do you want to avoid having to take a general supplement that has unknown side effects?
- Vitamins and minerals are helpful without having to take an entire pill every day.
- Do you want a specific number of servings?
- This will allow you to buy the most amount of product possible but is probably not necessary.
The Risks of Taking Dietary Supplements
Like anything else, dietary supplementation can come with side effects. Some of the most common are listed below.
- Pregnancy & Stillbirth: Many of the ingredients in dietary supplements have been associated with fetal harm or even harm to the fetus. These include magnesium, folic acid, iron, and zinc.
- Nursing Mothers: Many of the ingredients in dietary supplements have been shown to be harmful to the infant’s liver and kidneys. This includes boric acid, as well as methylmercury, lead, and zinc.
- Children: There’s a chance that certain dietary supplement ingredients could be harmful to children. These include lead, mercury, and silicone.
- Alzheimer’s Disease: There’s a chance that dietary supplement ingredients could interact with other medications that are used to treat this disease, like apomorphine and phenothiazine.
Conclusion of The Truth About Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements have been around for a while now, with many people becoming interested in adding more health benefits to their lives. But just because something is age-old doesn’t mean that it’s been thoroughly researched and explained. A lot of the information out there about dietary supplements is still very new and hasn’t been thoroughly vetted.
You may have heard about the potential downsides of taking dietary supplements. Many of these claims are overblown or are based on little or no research. But before you add a new supplement to your list of wellness tools, you need to understand the potential benefits and risks.