Consuming nutritious foods is highly important for our health. Every day we become wiser and careful in choosing our foods, especially at this time that we are experiencing a pandemic. However, more than that we also take into consideration taking it up. Just like foods, these also help us in nourishing our body and mind. Foods and supplements greatly contribute to our overall health.
But, what are supplements?
These are vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes that our bodies need. People who would like to include more nutrients into their bodies take these. It helps the body to maintain its healthy condition. It can be bought t in the market and other online stores.
Who Takes It? Am I Allowed To Take It?
Young or old people take it to improve one’s health. However, not everybody is allowed by doctors to take it. Since it can alter the effect of other medicines, it is always recommended to seek the advice of your medical practitioner. From there you will know if you are permitted to have it.
Is It Safe To Take?
It is almost everywhere. You hear it from people close to you. You see people at work and home are taking it already. Then you ask yourself if it is safe to take.
So, how would you know if it is safe to take?
According to the National Institutes of Health, the FDA approves it to be released in the market. On the other hand, companies may or may not divulge what it is composed of. It is the responsibility of the companies to keep it safe for consumers. So, it does not mean that the label says “FDA approved” would mean it is safe. Read more about it here.
The most suggested step to take is always to ask first your doctor if you are allowed to take it. Most of the time, we will try to experiment with what we see in the market. And when the people around us encourage us, we eventually indulge ourselves in it. We should always take in mind we need to be more careful in looking at this.
Functions of Supplements
There are many things that we can get from it. This is one of the reasons why people are buying and taking it with them. Below are its functions and use.
#1. It can boost our immune system.
It can guarantee a healthy body by giving us more energy for the day. One example of this is vitamin C. It will prevent us from getting sick and weak. When we get busy in our work, we should consider taking vitamin C in our diet. Fruits like oranges, lemons, and guavas are rich in vitamin C.
#2۔ It gives protection to your body.
Vitamin E protects by acting as an antioxidant. It prevents the cell from being damaged by chemical toxins from foods or environmental factors. Our bodies also produce antioxidants but this can be taken from it too. Nuts and green leafy vegetables are rich in Vitamin E.
#3۔ It helps in the development of the fetus inside the mother’s womb.
Pregnant women are also needed to take vitamins for their health. Ob-gyn requires them to take folic acid. It keeps the baby healthy by building the neural tube properly. Spinach, bread, cereals, and beans are rich in folic acid.
#4۔ It builds and strengthens your muscles.
We are not only talking about the vitamins that we can get from it. You can also take protein supplements if you are keeping track of it. Protein contributes to gaining muscle mass which better than people who are not getting enough protein. Foods like egg, chicken, lean meat, and cheeses are rich in protein.
#5۔ It prevents people from getting heart disease.
Supplements like the omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and magnesium help in keeping one’s heart strong and healthy. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish oil. Fiber can be found in vegetables and fruits. Magnesium is found in broccoli, salmon, and legumes.
No matter how many beneficial effects it has, still, it is not exempted from criticisms. People or even medical practitioners have set their judgments regarding this. Others would claim its effectiveness to one’s health, why others look at its potential danger to consumers. You can refer to sources like this Supplements Smarts site to see reviews.
About the idea we have in the previous paragraph, let us discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having using supplements.
Advantages
It is convenient to use especially for busy people. Also, this is practically the better option to consume the right minerals and vitamins that the bodies need. Your health improves. It affects your mood, cognitive skills, and attitude.
Disadvantages
Some supplements are not advised to be taken with people who are under medications. Some of them are using unsafe chemicals that are not known by consumers. It can also affect your appetite, behavior, and sleep. You can visit this link to get to know more about its effect even to younger kids.
According to Dr. JoAnn Manson, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and professor of epidemiology at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “Supplements are never a substitute for a balanced, healthful diet.” She also emphasized that this can also give a negative impact on getting a healthy lifestyle.
With so many criticisms for supplements, it should be everyone’s responsibility to coordinate with his or her doctor before trying it out. Supplements are here to support you with your health concern, but not to keep you away from staying active and doing your exercises.
People are becoming more aware of their existence in the market. However, not everyone fully understands what it means to our health. Intake of this does not mean we are getting cured of our diseases. Again, this is only a part of the protection that we can over to our bodies. It is still best to get our nutrients from the foods that we eat every day.
