Nutritional supplements are a billion-dollar industry, and it is one of the few businesses nowadays that are actually booming due to the global pandemic. If you are thinking of taking nutritional supplements so your immune system gets a boost, you need to learn all that you can about them.
Among the information you should gather include the potential advantages and disadvantages linked to taking supplements.
Advantages of nutritional supplements
Provides the body with nutritional nourishment
Where the body is lacking some essential nutrients, vitamins or minerals, supplements can be used. It will adequately supply the body with these essential nutrients conveniently.
Supplements are apt alternatives for food
Instead of going through the rigor of preparing a particular meal, one can get every nutrient from that meal by swallowing just a single pill. It is that easy and practical to use. It saves people from the stress of having to ingest a particular food type because they are deficient of a particular kind of nutrient
Prevent diseases
Certain kinds of supplements can help prevent certain diseases. For instance, expecting mothers are prescribed with folic acid supplements to help reduce the risk of birth defects on their babies. Other supplements contain antioxidants that prevent cancer.
Correct nutritional deficiencies
If your diet lacks certain nutrients, you can counteract deficiencies by taking dietary supplements. Some examples of medical issues caused by nutrient deficiency include but are not limited to, low bone density, anemia, weak immunity, and more.
Strengthen your immune system
You may also want to take in health supplements designed to keep your immunity strong. One supplement that you can take, in this case, is Vitamin C, which can help you fight common viruses and illnesses.
Increase your level of energy
Most health supplements aim to provide you with all the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. Note that if you lack certain nutrients, then you will be at risk of experiencing fatigue since your body will have to work even harder to function well. By taking health supplements, you can, therefore, boost your energy.
Apart from the mentioned benefits, various health supplements can also improve your mood, lessen your anxiety and stress, and maintain the strength of your muscles. You have to remember, though, that you should not just depend on health supplements to keep yourself at the pink of health.
Disadvantages of nutritional supplements
They are not ideal food substitute
The importance of food in the body cannot be overemphasized. In fact, it is illogical to want to replace food consumption with mere pill intake – it is an emphatic error.
Tendency of addiction
Drugs have a way of sticking to people. Once it serves the purpose they want it to serve, they hardly let go. As such, supplements are pills that anybody can get used to taking on daily basis, thus, resulting in overconsumption.
High risk of chronic health problems
Overconsumption of supplements can lead to high risk of stroke, cardiac arrest, arrhythmia and even, sudden death.
Don`t forget to get natural nutrients
Remember that just because you are taking nutritional supplements, that does not mean that you no longer need to consume the daily recommended servings of the basic food groups. It is still better to get your nutrients from actual food instead of supplements.
Supplements are not healthy in excessive amounts
Another possible disadvantage of supplements is that some of them are potentially toxic. It might be toxic for you if you take in excessive amounts of supplements. For instance, if you take in too much fat-soluble Vitamins A, D, and E, then they will eventually accumulate to toxic levels in the body.
Even herbal or organic food supplements can accumulate to toxic levels in the body if taken too often in a day, especially if you already have underlying medical conditions like liver disease.
FAQ: Advantages and disadvantages of supplements
Here are some frequently asked questions on supplements with clear cut answers:
What are supplements?
Supplements are pills or drugs that are designed to serve as an alternative for food. Supplements are expected to provide the body with the same amount of nutrients like what a diet can also offer to the body. They are produced to serve as apt replacement for diets.
Can supplements perform the role of real food in the body?
Yes, supplements can also do what any typical diet can do in the body. They can be used to replace specific food types in order to treat any nutritional deficiency.
Are supplements better than food?
Supplements are not better than real food. They can only be used towards specific ends. It is wrong to completely replace typical food intake with supplement consumption. It is unfounded.
Are supplements intake healthy for the body?
Yes, supplement intake is healthy for the body. However, owing to the fact that some supplements are not made from organic materials, excessive consumption might be harmful to the human health.
How to be safe when taking supplements
To be safe, consult your physician before taking supplements as they could have side effects, especially if you are on certain kinds of medication. Note that you may deal with harmful and life-threatening drug interactions when you take certain kinds of supplements along with prescription medications.
If you are on prescription medications, ask your doctor if there are certain supplements you have to avoid and take. That way, you will only take in those that are safe and good for your body and health.
