A vast majority can get minerals, nutrients, and vitamins from the food they consume. For instance, a large orange gives all the vitamin C for the day. Likewise, a small carrot may provide a day's worth of vitamin A.
A lot of ads promise you to be super-energized, muscular and thinner body. Make sure it lives according to its claims.
What You Need to Know About Supplements
These are substances which you can eat or drink. Basically, they come in various forms such as capsules, tablets, powder, botanicals, drinks or energy bars.
Let me give you some examples: amino acids (glutamine) and herbs (St. John’s Wort). They can be widely available via the internet, email, groceries, pharmacies and food stores.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, many people used the active ingredients in supplements so many years to assist health and treat sicknesses. Also, they form the basis of modern medicine.
Pharmaceutical companies figured out the chemical component for example in Willow Bark tea to produce aspirin. Supplements are sold without research. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not regulate them like it does to medicine.
Which Supplements Are the Best?
Different supplements offer different health benefits – but which is right for me? Some can provide respiratory, Restorative Care or immunity support, while others have urinary tract health benefits or support general wellness.
Protein Supplements
Protein supplements increases calorie and protein intake.
Besides, they expedite recovery from workouts. For example, dairy-based Whey and casein are common in the market today. Vegans looking to stay away from animal-based proteins may use plant-based soy brown rice or hemp.
Health and Well-Being
Your body is a complex system and needs vitamins and minerals to perform at its best. It supports vitality such as joint support, digestive health, and anti-oxidants.
Weight Loss
The feeling of pressure to lose weight either for aesthetic or general health reason drives many to get products promising to help them lose weight. Companies, therefore, try to respond to this demand.
Energy Supplements
These supplements come in different forms such as carbohydrates, nootropics, bars, and drinks. If you have a busy day fuel your intense workout with energy supplements to boost your metabolism and increase your focus.
Amino Acids
Amino acids have antioxidant properties that help you recover quickly after the workout. Also, help in the growth, repair, and maintaining of cells. So, let's say, it is next to water since proteins make a greater portion of your body weight.
Growth Enhancers
Do you want to build muscles, increase strength or burn fat? Sounds good? These products achieve fitness by manipulating hormone levels.
Advantages of supplements
- Help you derive your daily dose of minerals and vitamins
- Help protect your body from diseases so the body meets its daily recommendations of vitamins and minerals
- Improves muscular strength, endurance, and physical performance
- Complement treatment for a health condition.
Supplements Checklist
- Choose standardized products
Get supplements from the best source and make sure if they can be, they are standardized. - Interactions with prescription drugs
If you are on prescription drugs consult with your doctor before you take supplements. A medical exam may reveal you need doses of certain nutrients. - Unhealthy vitamin fillers
Did you know that some commercial brands of supplements contain harmful fillers? Look out for words such as Sodium Benzoate and Butylated Hydroxytoluene. Sodium benzoate preservative is cancer causing chemical. - Overreliance on supplements
Supplements cannot and should never replace a healthy diet. The main aim is to “fill in” the gap in nutrients that you are unable to get in your diet. - Supplements for weight loss
Although there supplements that help metabolize fast. The best way to lose weight is to take calories that you easily burn. - Supplements label
It is important to understand the label on the supplement and what it means. The basic role of the label is to “let the buyer beware”.
Precautions
Always check with a doctor before taking any supplement especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have any medical concerns or currently on medication.
Not all herbs and supplements are harmless. They may trigger allergic reactions or interaction with a prescription drug you are taking. Effects differ among brands. The one you buy from the food store may not be the exact one used in its research.
Final Thoughts on Supplements
Recently, supplements are receiving a great deal of focus for their ability to support more exciting health problems.
The bottom line: Some supplements work unbelievably well to support natural healing and effectively burn fat. Keep doing your part with exercises and a balanced diet, supplements are additions to your wellness to look best. Sadly, some supplements do not live up to their marketing hype they have a downside. So, choose wisely.