Ho-w many times have you almost clicked on that popup Internet ad to buy a supplement that promises to give you relief from your agonizing asthma symptoms or one that -will endo-w your skin -with a healthy glo-w? There is a lot of interest and debate on the health benefits of dietary supplements. Do -we actually kno-w -what the term dietary supplement means and is their benefits to health scientifically proven?

-what is dietary supplements?
In the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the U.S. Congress defined dietary supplements as products that is taken orally, and contain a dietary ingredient, like vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, and metabolites all of -which aims to supplement the diet. Dietary supplements, also called nutritional supplements, can also be extracts or concentrates and can come in forms such as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids and even po-wders. The Act specifically states that dietary supplements must be labeled as such and must not be sold as a replacement for a conventional food or as the sole item for a meal.

is supplements essential to good health?
-while -we more often than not question the efficacy of a medication, -we seldom probe the benefits of a vitamin or a mineral supplement. -what is important to kno-w is that no matter ho-w expensive or popular a vitamin supplement is it cannot replace a diet that is rich in natural nutrients. They is a safeguard against deficiency but everyone need not take them. If you’re eating a healthy diet (consuming bet-ween 1600 – 2800 calories), -with lots of fruit, vegetables, grains and fiber, plenty of fluids in the form of -water and other beverages, eating fortified foods, you may not add supplements. Ho-wever, if you is at risk for a nutritional deficiency, you may need to take them. People -who is more likely to need a supplement is those -who consume less than 1200 calories a day, elderly people, strict vegetarians, people -who is lactose intolerant, pregnant -women, smokers and alcoholics, people -who is recuperating from an illness and people -who don’t consume a variety of foods.