Is a Dietary Supplement Effective?
Dietary supplements are an important part of your daily health regimen, but they
shouldn’t be used as substitutes for a healthy diet rpafarmers. A well-balanced diet includes a
variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources,
and low-fat dairy products.
There are many different kinds of dietary supplements, but most contain vitamins,
minerals, and other nutrients. Some of these nutrients have been shown to have
positive effects on health, while others may be harmful to the body.
Vitamins can be effective for some conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart
disease, and cancer. However, you should consult with your doctor before taking any
dietary supplement, and you should not take more than the recommended dose,
according to the FDA.
Some vitamins and supplements can cause adverse side effects, especially if taken
in large amounts or over long periods of time. This is particularly true of fat-soluble
vitamins, which can have negative impacts on the liver. Similarly, some supplements
can interact with drugs and other medications, which can result in dangerous side
effects or complications.
A dietary supplement should be made from ingredients that are safe for human
consumption. The supplement maker should follow the same rules as any food
manufacturer, such as making sure the ingredients are properly labeled and that the
product contains no contaminants.
The FDA does not evaluate the effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are
marketed, so manufacturers can make claims that may be unsupported by scientific
research. Despite their widespread use, most supplements are not effective for
treating or preventing diseases.
One reason for the lack of effectiveness of supplements is that they aren’t regulated
like drugs, which are tested to ensure safety and effectiveness before being
approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
In a country with nearly 90,000 different supplements on the market, consumers
often aren’t sure where to turn for accurate information about a particular product.
Some private nonprofits have stepped in to partially fill the gap in regulation. These
organizations, such as the United States Pharmacopeial Convention and NSF
International, inspect a supplement’s quality control and report their findings.
Those that pass the test can place the organization’s yellow and black “USP
Verified” seal on their products. The seal is a sign that the supplement has been
produced by a company that adheres to good manufacturing practices, which
involves careful and sanitary procedures during production.
While some health supplements are beneficial, there are many that aren’t and
shouldn’t be used by anyone, says preventive cardiologist Leslie Cho, MD. For
example, antioxidants may protect the heart from damage caused by oxidative
stress, but there is no evidence that they help prevent cardiovascular disease.
For many people, supplements are a cost-effective way to add extra nutrients to
their diets. That’s because the prices of most vitamins and minerals are quite
affordable, especially compared to the costs of prescription drugs.
That’s why many doctors don’t recommend multivitamins to their patients unless
they have a specific need for those nutrients. For example, athletes looking to gain
weight may benefit from a multivitamin or vitamin C, but most people are not in
need of that kind of extra boost to their diets.
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