When it comes to selecting the right vitamin supplement, there are two main considerations to keep in mind: your current health and any medications you are taking, and the form of the supplement. It is essential to be aware of your health and any medications you are taking, as they could eliminate the vitamins and minerals needed by your body. Vitamins and supplements come in many forms, such as pills, liquids, or powders. Depending on how they act on your body and how you prefer to take them, you may need to choose a specific form.
For instance, some only work in the form of a dry extract, such as capsules or pills. Others work faster and are more effective in liquid form. Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you don't know the right medication to take. Safety and quality are the most important factors to consider when buying vitamins and supplements.
However, there are also other aspects to think about. Many adults and children in the United States take one or more vitamins or other dietary supplements. In addition to vitamins, dietary supplements may contain minerals, herbs or other botanical ingredients, amino acids, enzymes, and many other ingredients. Dietary supplements come in a variety of forms, including tablets, capsules, gummies and powders, as well as energy drinks and bars.
Popular supplements include vitamins D and B12; minerals such as calcium and iron; herbs such as echinacea and garlic; and products such as glucosamine, probiotics and fish oils.Certain supplements come in pill form because they stop working or become dangerous if they come into contact with stomach acid. Many multi-level marketing companies sell dietary supplements, which are often advertised to support various aspects of health. The FDA has established good manufacturing practices (GMP) that companies must follow to help ensure the identity, purity, concentration and composition of their dietary supplements. Supplements that contain herbs and botanicals can be of particular concern, as many have been shown to interact with several medications. It is important to note that supplements cannot replace the variety of foods that are important to a healthy eating routine.
The safety of many supplements has not been well evaluated in children and in people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. From individual vitamins and minerals to nutrient blends and herbs, there are numerous supplement products on the market that claim to offer specific health benefits. While supplements are generally not necessary for healthy adults and children, some populations may benefit from dietary supplements. For example, zinc is another popular dietary supplement but can be found in foods such as beef, crab, lobster, chickpeas, cashews, chicken, beans, and oats. Products sold as dietary supplements come with a supplemental information label that lists the active ingredients, the amount per serving (dose), and other ingredients such as fillers, binders, and flavorings. Supplement ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other botanicals can have unintended negative consequences if combined with some medications, other supplements, foods and alcohol (2).
Therefore it is important to be especially careful when choosing them - for example if you want to have a slimmer figure you'll want supplements designed to help you lose weight.
