Nutritional Supplements: An Overview
Nutritional Supplements (also called dietary supplements) are pills, tablets, or capsules that contain a “dietary ingredient” taken to supplement an individual’s diet. It is a broad term for a range of products that include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, and metabolites. Nutritional supplements can also be found in liquid or bar form, but strict laws require that manufacturers must not represent the product as a conventional food or a sole item of a meal or diet.
Nutritional supplements are increasingly popular for maintaining good health. Many people take supplements for a specific cause. There are nutritional supplements for just about any health concern you may have. A certain supplement, for example, may help lower blood pressure or relieve arthritis pain. However, it is important to note that no supplement is ever meant as a treatment, prevention or cure for a specific disease or condition, and the packaging and/or labeling must clearly state this. With so many different nutritional supplements on the market, choosing a supplement requires careful consideration, especially as no two individuals have the same health issues or dietary needs.
A number of factors account for the popularity of nutritional supplements. The population in most industrialized countries is aging: With age, people focus more on healthy nutrition, diet, and disease prevention. These people see nutritional supplements as a convenient and effective way to maintain their health and keep medical costs low.
Other people use nutritional supplements because they are aware their diet lacks adequate nutrition. In today's fast paced culture, prepackaged food and fast food often dominate diets and don't provide sufficient nutrition. Nutritional supplements help fill nutritional "gaps" in diets. There are also medical reasons for using nutritional supplements. For pregnant women, additional iron and folic acid is needed even when following a healthy diet.
