Pros and Cons of Dietary Supplements

Dietary enhancements are utilized to work on actual execution during exercise, construct muscle, change body synthesis, and postpone weariness. If used unwisely, however, they can affect overall health adversely.

When using supplements, one of the most important considerations that should be made is dosage. Service members and civilians can largely harm their health with a “more is better” attitude.

Dietary supplements are popular, with half of all people, and 70% of older, taking at least a multivitamin daily. Over half of the adults in the. use at least one type of dietary supplement. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common are multivitamins. The term “supplements” encompasses a variety of products such as vitamins and minerals, herbs, and enzymes. Taking the right supplements can benefit your health, but they are not without risks. Never take any type of supplement without first talking to your doctor.

Pros of  Dietary Supplements

As the name implies, supplements add to your diet.  If your diet lacks a certain nutrient like vitamin B-12, you can get the extra nutrition you need in supplement form. With that said, don’t rely on supplements to take the place of a healthy, balanced diet. It is best to get the nutrition you need from food sources.

Supplements also offer separate health benefits and can help combat chronic diseases.

For example, regularly taking fish oil supplements may help lower blood pressure and triglycerides and decrease your risk of heart disease. Chamomile can help soothe a sore throat and upset stomach and improve sleep.

You have to be extra careful when taking supplements if you’re taking medication. Many herbs and vitamins interfere with medications, causing potentially dangerous side effects or rendering the medication ineffective. Vitamin K can reduce the effectiveness of blood thinners; St. John’s Wort can reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants and birth control pills; and antioxidants, like vitamins C and E, can reduce the effectiveness of some types of chemotherapy.

Antioxidants like vitamins C and E may lessen the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs, allowing patients to tolerate higher doses of the drug. Folic acid, for example, has long been used to lower the risk of spina bifida, a birth defect. Large doses of vitamin B3 (niacin) can help raise “good” high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Unless a specific deficiency is found, a supplement is usually unnecessary if you exercise regularly and eat well. Supplements can help you avoid the harmful effects of using too much of them and the toxic effects.

Cons of  Dietary Supplements

If you take large amounts of some vitamins that are fat-soluble (A, D, E, and K), they can accumulate in your body fat. Additionally, excessive consumption is discouraged due to some minerals’ fat-soluble nature. This can result in toxicity when taken in large quantities, particularly for Vitamins A and D.

Especially important to doctors is the potential for adverse side effects that can interfere with prescription medications. In addition, taking some supplements before surgery could complicate things like blood clotting. That’s why your doctor asks what supplements you take and may discourage you from doing so.

The use of vitamin A can contribute to birth defects, reduce bone mineral density and damage the liver. Too much iron can cause diarrhea, nausea, dehydration, low blood pressure, dizziness, fever, chills, headache, and flushing. Overdoing vitamin D can lead to hypercalcemia or too much calcium in the blood.

Even though you eat a lot of whole foods containing vitamins and minerals, your body may not get all the benefits. If your body isn’t properly absorbing the micronutrients, you eat. Even if you eat everything you should, you might not get enough of the micronutrients you need.

Overall, supplements can often do more harm than good, and service members should consult a qualified healthcare professional before taking any supplements,

Some may cause dangerous side effects, such as increased depression, agitation, and an increased risk of having a heart attack.

Weight loss, muscle gain, strength, and endurance are important to improving physical fitness. Still, when taking supplements, users should always take the proper precautions to mitigate the risk of adverse effects.

Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, dietary supplements are not as strictly regulated. The effectiveness or safety of a product is not a requirement for its manufacture. before the shipment of nutritional supplements to retail outlets. The Food and Drug Administration in the United States does not even investigate their effectiveness.

While most dietary supplements are safe if you follow the product instructions, large doses of certain nutrients can have adverse effects. You can even overdose on certain supplements, risking serious harm and death.   Among some of the harmful interactions or dosing concerns:

Advise your healthcare provider about any supplements you plan to take and any medications you are currently taking.  whether they be pharmaceutical, over-the-counter, herbal, traditional, or homeopathic.