Your fast-paced lifestyle might leave little room for home-cooked meals. As a result, many of your meals might come from a drive-through menu rather than from your own kitchen. To counteract these bad habits, you might choose a dietary supplement to enhance your health and fill in nutritional gaps. But these products should be a last resort or complementary therapy, to be used as an adjunct to a balanced diet.
Types
Pharmacy shelves hold a plethora of products designed to boost your daily intake of nutrients. These dietary supplements might be herbal -- made from botanical substances -- or derived from food sources, such as omega-3 fatty acids. They might be synthetic, made by a chemical process, or natural. Many are safe and offer nutritional benefits, but others might produce side effects and might be downright dangerous for some people.
Benefits
Scientific evidence indicates that some dietary supplements benefit overall health and help manage certain conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health. They are most effective for people who have poor dietary habits and lack essential nutrients. Additionally, people who have conditions that affect vitamin absorption, who have a greater need for certain vitamins or who have undergone stomach surgery might benefit from the additional nutrients a supplement provides. Most people who maintain a healthy diet, however, do not need a supplement.
Risks
Although dietary supplement manufacturers have some rules to follow, they do not have to prove their products are safe or effective before they are sold. As a result, some products have been found to contain harmful additives, unsafe dosages and medications not listed on the labels. For this reason, it's safer to consume nutritionally dense foods rather than vitamins. If you decide to use vitamins, choose products made by reputable manufacturers. Keep in mind, however, that even quality products carry risks. Some supplements can interact with prescription or over-the-counter drugs. For example, Vitamin K might interact with blood-thinning medicines. Additionally, if you get enough vitamins from your diet and use supplements as well, you might taking too much, which puts you at risk for health complications from possible overdose side effects.
Considerations
Because dietary supplements lack many of the nutrients, fiber and protective substances whole foods provide, it's always better to consume your daily intake of vitamins from foods rather than pills. However, if you have difficulty consuming a variety of foods, or if you feel you might be deficient in some vitamins, you might benefit from using a dietary supplement. Consult your doctor for advice tailored to your needs.
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