Understanding.
Information about dietary supplements is often confusing or unclear. It’s hard to know which offer genuine health benefits and which are merely giving false promises, or worse, running the risk of actually damaging your health. Learning about vitamins and supplements, will help you make better choices about those that are right for you.
There are different types of dietary, or nutritional, supplements. Vitamin and mineral supplements are types of dietary supplements containing micronutrients meant to help a healthy body function smoothly. Herbal (or botanical) supplements are dietary supplements that have a medicinal purpose. Herbal supplements generally support a specific area of the body’s health, such as the liver, bones or skin.
Health Benefits.
Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients that serve a specific purpose and benefit the body in a unique way. For example, vitamin A supports vision and bone growth, whereas vitamin E strengthens the immune system and helps repair DNA. Vitamin and mineral deficiency can impair the body’s ability to heal and protect itself.
Taking vitamins is not a substitute for an unhealthy diet, and vitamins are an insufficient substitute for nutrients from fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. However, a general multivitamin and mineral supplement can be a good safeguard against periodic vitamin shortfalls in your diet. Also most people can benefit depending on their needs.
Some groups of people, because of distinct nutritional needs, benefit most from taking a vitamin and mineral supplement:
A cautionary moment.
The media loves exciting headlines, so the moment an herb or vitamin is tentatively shown to be beneficial in some way, it is touted as the next miracle cure. Advertising can be misleading as well, promising us “totally safe”, “natural”, and “quick and effective” solutions to many health problems. You can keep yourself from falling prey to false promises by researching any product you are considering taking. Make sure there is good scientific research that supports the claims of the supplement’s marketers.
In our sections "Natural remedies Supplements/Nutrition" you will find researched information available.
Don't substitute dietary supplements for medication. If you’re considering using a dietary supplement in place of drugs, consult your health care provider first. And remember, just because it is “natural” doesn’t mean it’s gentler or more beneficial to your body. Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong biological effects and their safety is not assured.
Caution: Interactions with other medications.
Some dietary supplements may interact with other supplements or prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Taking a combination of supplements or using the products with medications (whether prescription or OTC drugs) can cause dangerous interactions which could be life-threatening.
Some common negative interactions:
Information about dietary supplements is often confusing or unclear. It’s hard to know which offer genuine health benefits and which are merely giving false promises, or worse, running the risk of actually damaging your health. Learning about vitamins and supplements, will help you make better choices about those that are right for you.
There are different types of dietary, or nutritional, supplements. Vitamin and mineral supplements are types of dietary supplements containing micronutrients meant to help a healthy body function smoothly. Herbal (or botanical) supplements are dietary supplements that have a medicinal purpose. Herbal supplements generally support a specific area of the body’s health, such as the liver, bones or skin.
Health Benefits.
Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients that serve a specific purpose and benefit the body in a unique way. For example, vitamin A supports vision and bone growth, whereas vitamin E strengthens the immune system and helps repair DNA. Vitamin and mineral deficiency can impair the body’s ability to heal and protect itself.
Taking vitamins is not a substitute for an unhealthy diet, and vitamins are an insufficient substitute for nutrients from fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. However, a general multivitamin and mineral supplement can be a good safeguard against periodic vitamin shortfalls in your diet. Also most people can benefit depending on their needs.
Some groups of people, because of distinct nutritional needs, benefit most from taking a vitamin and mineral supplement:
- Women of childbearing age (need extra calcium and iron)
- Pregnant or lactating women
- Children and teenagers with irregular eating habits
- Seniors
- Vegetarians or vegans (may be deficient in key nutrients)
- Dieters or people avoiding certain food groups (may be deficient in key nutrients)
- People with eating disorders or medical conditions (deficiency diseases, absorption problems, lactose intolerance, etc.)
- People who often eat processed and fast food.
A cautionary moment.
The media loves exciting headlines, so the moment an herb or vitamin is tentatively shown to be beneficial in some way, it is touted as the next miracle cure. Advertising can be misleading as well, promising us “totally safe”, “natural”, and “quick and effective” solutions to many health problems. You can keep yourself from falling prey to false promises by researching any product you are considering taking. Make sure there is good scientific research that supports the claims of the supplement’s marketers.
In our sections "Natural remedies Supplements/Nutrition" you will find researched information available.
Don't substitute dietary supplements for medication. If you’re considering using a dietary supplement in place of drugs, consult your health care provider first. And remember, just because it is “natural” doesn’t mean it’s gentler or more beneficial to your body. Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong biological effects and their safety is not assured.
Caution: Interactions with other medications.
Some dietary supplements may interact with other supplements or prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Taking a combination of supplements or using the products with medications (whether prescription or OTC drugs) can cause dangerous interactions which could be life-threatening.
Some common negative interactions:
- Calcium can interact with heart medicine, certain diuretics, and aluminum and magnesium-containing antacids.
- Magnesium can interact with certain diuretics, some cancer drugs, and magnesium-containing antacids.
- Vitamin K can interact with blood thinners like Coumadin.
- St. John's Wort is known to adversely affect selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs (i.e., anti-depressant drugs), blood pressure medication, and birth control pills.
- Coenzyme Q-10 can interact with anticoagulants, blood pressure medication, and chemotherapy drugs.
- Ginkgo biloba and vitamin E can increase the risk for internal bleeding when taken with aspirin or anitcoagulants such as warfarin.
- Ginseng can also increase the risk for internal bleeding when taken with anticoagulants or NSAIDs, and may cause side effects when taken with MAOI antidepressants.
- Echinacea can change how the body breaks down certain medications in the liver.
- Saw palmetto can interact with anticoagulants and NSAID pain relievers.
Postscript
At Dancehealthfitness we believe that considered and reasoned supplementing can help you put years on your life and life in your years. Research shows that supplements are less likely to have detrimental effects than many of today's "medicines". Getting the balance between common sense and experience and medical advice is never easy. So, consider both - but just as important consider yourself and what your own body tells you.
...read more Are Supplements Necessary?