All Category: 💊 Supplements Articles

Supplements are dietary products available in the form of tablets, capsules, soft gels, or powders which assist people in meeting their recommended requirements for vitamins and minerals. They also aid various health conditions and help reduce the risk of chronic disease. Supplements are typically made up of vitamins, minerals, and herbs or other components which provide both nutritional value and promote better all-around health.

Most everyone can take supplements and it is highly recommended for those who don’t receive enough nutrients from their food or those who require additional nutrients for assisting special health concerns, such as cancer, diabetes, pregnancy, or anemia, to take some form of supplement. Supplements are taken often by athletes and those who wish to maximize their strength and fitness.

As reported by the CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements, over 75% of people in the US take at least one dietary supplement on a regular basis and supplement use is most commonly found among adults within the age range of 35 to 54 years old. The most popular supplements consumed by Americans include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, probiotics, athletic-based supplements, herbal and botanical supplements, and weight-loss products.

No matter your health background or level of fitness, there are supplements available to help all kinds of health issues and concerns. Let’s explore the many benefits and types of supplements available on the market today in order to help you evaluate which ones would be best for you in your journey to living a healthier life.

Benefits of Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements provide a vast amount of benefits which range from helping athletes reach their fitness goals all the way to aiding with health issues such as weight loss, trouble sleeping, and even anxiety.

The following are some of the major benefits associated with the of use of supplements.

Meeting Nutritional/Dietary Requirements

Most Americans do not meet their average daily requirements for nutrition through diet alone. Supplements allow people to help meet their recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) and adequate intakes (AIs) for micronutrients, macrominerals, and microminerals.

Enhancing Athletic Training and Performance

Athletes are always seeking an edge over their competition especially when it comes to taking the right supplements for aiding their training and performance. Athletic supplements generally aid muscle contraction, provide additional energy and focus, and increase blood flow.

Aiding Weight Loss

Some supplements help people to shed body fat through raising their basal metabolic rate or through reducing their appetite.

Increasing Energy and Focus

Supplements may increase energy and focus through acting as stimulants, assisting digestion, or providing cells with enough energy to carry out normal metabolic processes.

Reducing Anxiety and Stress

Some kinds of supplements are able to reduce anxiety and stress through aiding the body’s stress response system, better regulating circadian rhythm, lowering body temperature, or through inhibiting the breakdown of neurotransmitters.

Promoting Better Digestion and Gut Health

Products such as probiotics, herbs, and amino acids may improve digestive properties and allow gut microflora to flourish through providing or supporting good forms of bacteria, relaxing intestinal muscles, or aiding the absorption of excess water and minerals.

Aiding Prostate and Urinary Health

Supplements may aid both prostate and urinary health through assisting the flow of urine, reducing inflammation, and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria while allowing healthy bacteria to prosper.

Controlling Blood Sugar

There are several supplements on the market today which aid blood sugar issues through improving insulin sensitivity and secretion, promoting pancreatic cell growth and maintenance, or through enhancing the uptake of sugar from the blood and transferring it into muscles.

Whether its filling in the holes of nutritional gaps or assisting with health conditions, such as diabetes or obesity, supplements can certainly aid most areas within health and wellness. People who generally benefit the most from taking supplements include pregnant women, aging adults, people with restrictive diets, those who have food allergies or intolerances, and those who suffer from chronic disease.

List of Dietary Supplements

Here are some of the most commonly taken supplements along with their primary health benefits.

Supplement
Health Benefit

Probiotics
Improve Gut Health and Digestion

L-Theanine
Promotes Relaxation

Potassium
Improves Muscle and Organ Function

Fenugreek
Lowers Blood Sugar

Gaba (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)
Improves Mental Health

NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)
Antioxidant Properties

Curcumin
Antioxidant Properties

Nitric Oxide
Enhances Blood Circulation

Melatonin
Promotes Better Sleep

Pre-Workout
Enhances Athletic Performance

Cranberry
Aids Urinary Health

Creatine
Promotes Muscular Strength

Coq10 Ubiquinol
Aids Immune System

Milk Thistle
Antioxidant Properties

Iron
Supports Blood Cells

Polyphenols
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Kava
Anxiety Relief

Fiber
Aids Bowel Movements

Fish Oil
Promotes Cognitive Function

Dietary Supplements Side Effects

Although supplements provide a wide realm of health benefits for most people they may cause side effects in some cases. Side effects of most supplements are generally minor or temporary and usually will resolve within a short amount of time. However, some side effects may be more serious, especially if they interact with other supplements or medications, and might require immediate medical attention.

Here are some of the most common side effects that may be experienced with taking the previously mentioned supplements. It should be noted that most of the following side effects are only experienced when users consume more than the recommended dose or if individuals have specific allergies or intolerances.

Supplement
Possible Side Effects

Coq10 Ubiquinol
Allergic Reaction

Creatine
NauseaLight-Headedness HeadachesThrobbing SensationMigraines

Curcumin
Abdominal/Gastrointestinal DiscomfortUpset Stomach/DiarrheaOral Burning SensationAcid Reflux/Heartburn

Fenugreek
Upset Stomach/DiarrheaBelching and Gas

Fiber
Upset Stomach/DiarrheaBelching and GasBloating

Fish Oil
Upset Stomach/Diarrhea

GABA
Heart PalpitationsShortness of BreathIncreased Hunger

Iron
Belching and Gas

Milk Thistle
Acid Reflux/Heartburn

NAC
Upset Stomach/Diarrhea

Polyphenols
Increased Heart RateTingling Sensation/ItchingHeadachesThrobbing SensationMigraines

Potassium
SwellingRashVomitingSevere DizzinessTrouble BreathingIrregular HeartbeatHeaviness in LimbsMuscle WeaknessFeeling LimpNauseaAbdominal/Gastrointestinal DiscomfortUpset Stomach/DiarrheaChest Pain

Pre-Workout
Upset Stomach/DiarrheaTingling Sensation/ItchingHeadachesThrobbing SensationMigraines

Probiotics
Abdominal/Gastrointestinal DiscomfortUpset Stomach/Diarrhea

Pros of Dietary Supplements

The use of supplements generally leads to better overall health and promotes the function of a realm of bodily systems.

The major pros associated with taking supplements, especially from those previously listed, include:

Ensuring that micronutrient and nutritional needs are met
Enhancing fitness and physique goals
Reducing the effects from aging
Improving overall quality of life
Giving athletes an edge over their competition
Increasing focus and promoting clarity
Enhancing organ system function
Reducing the risk of chronic disease or other health conditions
Improving digestion
Improving sleep quality
Giving the immune system an overall boost

Cons of Dietary Supplements

Although the use of supplements tends to come with many benefits, there may be some negative effects of their use. Some of the cons associated with taking supplements include:

Paying high prices for certain products
Receiving limited servings of a product from a single purchase
Some supplements may provide no benefit or result in negative side effects
Relying on supplementation alone for meeting health needs may promote making poor food or lifestyle choices
Some supplements may interact with, amplify the effects of, or negate the benefits of certain medications and other supplements

Best Vitamin Quiz 

For those who are curious as to which vitamins and supplements they may need to take in order to reach their health and fitness goals there are several online resources available to help in respect to finding the best products available for meeting individualized needs and concerns.

Vitamin and supplement quizzes along with product reviews may be found at the following websites in order to discover which supplements may benefit your health the most:

Persona Vitamins
Care/of 
Rootine (with blood test)
Hundred Vitamins

References