Dietary Supplements

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If you’re not consuming a sufficient amount of healthy food, then that also means that your body isn’t getting adequate essential nutrients. In order to maintain optimal health, some of the most important nutrients our bodies need include the following:

VITAMINS (to help boost the immune system, strengthen our teeth and bones, aid in the absorption of calcium, help our bodies metabolize proteins and carbohydrates), aid in healthy brain and nervous system functioning, maintain healthy skin, and even prevent certain cancers), MINERALS (to help carry oxygen, maintain healthy skin, hair and nails, improve bone health, balance water levels, prevent tooth decay, aid in blood clotting, support healthy blood pressure, as well as support the immune system), PROTEINS (to help form antibodies, hormones and other essential substances, act as a source of fuel for cells and tissues, and ensure the growth and development of skin, hair, bones and muscles), FATS (to provide the body with energy, and help with functions such as cell growth, blood clotting, muscle movement, blood sugar balance, brain activity, hormone production, and immune function), CARBOHYDRATES (to support the immune system and nervous system, brain function, digestive function, as well as provide us energy so that we can perform daily tasks), and last but not least, WATER (to flush out toxins, keep the body hydrated and lubricated, as well as transport nutrients.)

As mentioned, one of the common reasons why someone may not be getting enough nutrients is often due to having a poor diet. However, nutritional deficiencies can also be caused by certain diseases and even medications (which can sometimes impair the absorption of nutrients.) While it can be a good idea to improve your diet so that you allow your body to get the nutrients it needs, this may not always be enough for some. When this is the case, you may need to take a dietary or nutritional supplement. There has been a lot of scientific evidence to show that certain dietary supplements are not only beneficial for your overall health but can even assist in the management of certain medical conditions.

As for choosing which supplement is best for you, they come in a wide range of doses as well as different formats (such as pill-form and even in beverage form.) It’s also important that you are aware of some of the risks associated with them. For example, some supplements may increase the risk of bleeding. If you take a supplement before or after surgery, they can also affect the response your body has to anesthesia, and they can even interact with medication you’ve been prescribed. One example of an interaction between a supplement and medication is vitamin K, which can prevent the blood from clotting, while some antioxidant supplements like vitamin C and vitamin E may reduce the effectiveness of certain types of chemotherapy drugs. You also need to be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you happen to be pregnant or nursing, as many of them have not been tested for safety in these individuals.

It’s also possible to get too much of a dietary supplement. For example, many of the ingredients that are found in dietary supplements are now being added to different foods, such as breakfast cereals and beverages – and when you get too much of something, that can cause you to develop side effects. These side effects can range from mild to severe, and may include things like nausea and vomiting, headaches, reduced bone strength, liver damage, and can also potentially cause birth defects.