What are dietary supplements? Dietary supplements are defined as a consumable product that supplements your food intake. While there are many kinds of supplements, the general purpose of each dietary supplement is to provide the body with some sort of nutrient or vitamin that it needs but is unable to obtain through everyday foods. They are available in multiple forms including tablets, pills, liquid, and powder, which make them easy to consume. This paper will outline the basic types of dietary supplements, who should take supplements, how to integrate supplements into a daily diet, the dangers and regulations, along with specific supplements that are recommended and supplements to avoid.
First I think it is important to understand that dietary supplements are not intended to be a food substitute because they cannot replicate all of the nutrients and benefits of whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Whole foods offer three main benefits over dietary supplements. Greater nutrition is the first benefit. Whole foods are complex, containing a variety of the micronutrients your body needs, not just one. An orange, for example, provides vitamin C plus some beta carotene, calcium and other nutrients. A vitamin C supplement lacks these other micronutrients. Whole foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes, provide dietary essential fiber. Most high-fiber foods are also packed with other essential nutrients. Fiber, as part of a healthy diet, can help prevent certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and it can also help manage constipation. Lastly protective substances are in whole foods contain other substances important for good health. Fruits and vegetables, for example contain naturally occurring substances called phytochemicals which may help protect you against cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Many are also good sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that slow down oxidation, a...