There are supplements which can be neatly classified as vitamins, minerals, and herbs, but there are also ones which cannot be classified so easily. They are commonly perceived to as Health Supplements by most people. The problem, however, is that sometimes these supplements don’t augment one’s health whatsoever, do what they are advertised to, and can even be detrimental. Throw in the fact that they are often excessively expensive, and the situation becomes even more regrettable. This is not to say that all such health supplements are a waste of money. Indeed, many have been documented by numerous scientific studies as highly beneficial, though perhaps not to the extent as they are hyped by the advertisers. Here, we will separate myth from reality and expose the truth on these much sought after supplements.
Tips on Buying Health Supplements
Another important consideration one must be aware of is that even the beneficial health supplements are not all on a par with one another. This is because some supplements are manufactured to an extremely rigorous standard, using only the purest active ingredients, in which the therapeutic benefit lies. Unfortunately, dietary supplements as a whole are largely unregulated in the U.S., and consumers only have a 1 in 5 chance of buying a product that contains what is stated on the label or one that does not harbor contaminants. To ensure top notch quality be aware about the below mentioned
- Ensure their products are produced at pharmaceutical standard GMP registered facilities. Such places comply with the most exacting regulatory standards. Most supplement companies are self-policing, which means they have little incentive to produce their products true to label.
- Email or call them and inquire if they have a Certificate of Analysis on file confirming the potency of the ingredients listed.
- Since some supplements can adversely interact with others, to the detriment of your health, it’s crucial that any product that contains several or more ingredients is scientifically formulated. Many products on the market are conceived and promoted by marketers rather than top-notch researchers with impeccable credentials.
- Be sure the products do not contain any fillers or additives (examples include: sugar, starch, gluten, silica (sand!) or any artificial colors or flavors).
Mentioned below are some of the most popular and widely used Health Supplements:
Vitamins: What are Vitamin Supplements?
Vitamins are vital nutrients and organic substances that serve as components of enzymes and coenzymes. Enzymes are essential for speeding up chemical reactions that take place in our bodies. Coenzymes assist enzymes in carrying out their life-sustaining functions. In short, these chemical reactions are what control our body’s very metabolic processes. Therefore, taking vitamin supplements are absolutely crucial for maintaining good health, especially if there is a deficiency.
How can Vitamin Supplements benefit you?
Because vitamins and supplements control our metabolic processes, this means they are also central in helping the body produce energy, growth, and the reproduction and health of our cells. A deficiency in even one vitamin can lead to serious health problems because they often work synergistically with other vitamins, minerals, enzymes and coenzymes.
For example, vitamin C is required for an enzyme known as proline hydroxylase to produce collagen. When there is a deficiency of vitamin C, therefore, collagen synthesis becomes impaired. Collagen synthesis is necessary for wounds to heal and is what keeps our skin healthy, elastic, resilient, and youthful.
Minerals: What are Mineral Supplements?
Minerals are elements that occur naturally in the earth, and, like their vitamin supplement counterparts, function as essential components in enzymes and coenzymes. Enzymes are essential for speeding up chemical reactions that take place in our bodies. Coenzymes assist enzymes in carrying out their life-sustaining functions. In short, these chemical reactions are what control our body’s very metabolic processes. Therefore, taking mineral supplements are absolutely crucial for maintaining good health, especially if there is a deficiency.
How can Mineral Supplements benefits you?
Because mineral supplements play a crucial role in our metabolic processes, this means they are also central in helping the body produce energy, growth, and the reproduction and health of our cells. A deficiency in even one mineral can lead to serious health problems because they often work synergistically with other minerals and also vitamins. For example, the mineral zinc is required for the body to convert vitamin A into its active form. Without vitamin A in its active form, a whole host of problems will soon appear, such as vision deterioration.
Some minerals also function as potent antioxidant free radical scavengers. Free radicals are highly reactive chemical substances in our bodies that if left unchecked can lead to premature aging and disease, such as cancer and heart disease. Antioxidant minerals such as selenium have the power to neutralize free radicals before cellular damage occurs.
While it is true that someone can technically get all of the nutrients they need from food alone, it is becoming increasingly harder due to modern farming methods, which have seriously eroded the vitamin and mineral content of fruits and vegetables over the last several decades. It has now reached such a problematic level that unless one is consuming a “perfect” diet, it is vital to take a quality mineral supplement. Indeed, comprehensive studies done by the U.S. government have shown that nutrient deficiencies exist in well more than half of all Americans!
Amino Acids: What are Amino Acids?
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and are utilized by every cell in the body for a variety of crucial functions. Normally, we obtain them from our food sources, particularly those high in protein; the body breaks these proteins down into their constituent parts, and then our cells use these to build the specific types of protein each of them needs.
There are two types of amino acids: essential and nonessential. Essential ones are defined as those which the body cannot manufacture on its own and must obtain from food sources (or supplements); nonessential ones, on the other hand, can be produced by our own bodies, but can also be consumed as supplements.
How can they benefit you?
Amino acids are critical to our body’s proper functioning. Their role includes repairing muscles, organs, nails, hair, skin, ligaments and glands. A deficiency in even one of them will severely compromise one’s health. Deficient people, however, are not the only ones who choose to supplement with amino acids; some people opt to increase their intake simply for therapeutic benefits.
Herbal Supplements: The Rising Popularity of Herbal Supplements
Sales of supplements containing herbs now amount to hundreds of millions of dollars annually in the U.S. alone. Sales figures of Ginseng and Saw Palmetto are indisputably testimony that many people believe herbal remedies work –- and they do. However, herbal supplements, are, in essence, a form of self-medication, and should be respected as such. Indeed, even about one-quarter of prescription drugs contain active ingredients derived from plant and various “natural” sources.
Fish Oil
Fish Oil Information is very important nowadays. Fish Oil supplements, in our opinion, are one of the best supplements you can take to ensure optimal health. Not many things have been studied more than fish oils and the evidence for their benefits continues to mount.