Dietary Supplements - What You Need to Know

Dietary supplements are products meant to enhance your nutrition. They can be found in pill, capsule, tablet, powder, bar or gummy form and provide nutrients like vitamins, minerals and herbs. The FDA does not regulate dietary supplements the same way they do prescription drugs, but they must comply with good manufacturing practices. Vitamins In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which established a framework for testing and regulation of nutritional supplements. These products can provide nutrients extracted from food or made synthetically. Navigate to this website to get a knockout post on nooLVL. Vitamins are found in fruits, vegetables, and meats. Most vitamins dissolve in water and can be absorbed by the body through the intestinal tract. Examples of water-soluble vitamins include thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. Your body doesn't store these nutrients, so you must ingest them daily to keep up your levels. Remember, though, that no supplement can replace a nutrient-rich diet. Talk with your health care provider about whether supplements are right for you. Look for the Supplement Facts label on a product and choose brands with seals from NSF International, US Pharmacopeia, or Underwriters Laboratory to ensure they are properly manufactured and contain what they claim to contain. Minerals Many people take minerals in addition to vitamins. Minerals are solid substances that are not alive and can be made of any element or a combination of elements. Gold, diamonds, rock salt and the graphite used to make pencils are examples of minerals. A mineral’s crystalline structure (the way atoms fit together) gives it its specific properties, such as cleavage and symmetry. Minerals are essential nutrients that are required by our bodies to grow and function properly. They include potassium, chlorine, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, iodine, chromium and selenium. You are most likely to get the necessary minerals in your diet by eating vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, lean proteins and nuts and seeds. Vitamins, minerals, herbs and other nutritional supplements are available in a variety of forms such as tablets, gel caps, powders and gummies. Herbs Many people in the United States take herbs or other nutritional supplements, such as minerals, amino acids, or dietary fiber. These supplements can be found in tablets, capsules, gelcaps, powders and drinks. They may be extracted from plants or made synthetically. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates dietary supplement products, including labeling and marketing. The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) monitor product advertising to make sure that companies are not making false or misleading claims. Some dietary supplements can cause serious side effects. You should always consult your health care professional before taking any new supplements. It is also a good idea to keep a record of the supplements you are taking. This can help you and your health care professional spot any potential problems. Amino Acids Whether you take multivitamins, vitamin D, fish oil or echinacea, it's wise to let your health care providers know what supplements you use. That way, they can make sure your diet meets any specific needs and avoid any potential interactions with medications you might be taking. Dietary supplements come in pill, capsule, gelcap or powder form and offer nutrients like vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and enzymes. Some are part of a multivitamin, while others are standalone products. Folic acid is essential for pregnant women, and iron, vitamin D and calcium are needed to maintain bone health. The FDA regulates dietary supplements, but many private and third-party organizations also offer certification. These include Project Non-GMO, ConsumerLab and Quality Assurance International, which offers organic certification. Other Ingredients Dietary supplements are a broad category of nutrition-rich products that may be sold as tablets, capsules, softgels, gel caps, powders and liquids. They can contain ingredients like vitamins, minerals, herbs and amino acids. Physicians need to consider a patient’s supplement intake along with their diet and other over-the-counter medications and prescriptions. In addition, physicians should counsel patients on whether a particular supplement can interact with their underlying health conditions or prescription medications. All dietary supplements must include a Supplement Facts panel with the name of the product, its recommended daily serving size and its nutrient content (including percent Daily Values). Supplements can also list other ingredients on the label if they are added for purposes other than enhancing the appearance or flavor of the finished supplement.