It has been a while since I brought you my frequent dose of our precious side greens. Today I am coming to you with something in that same line. Dietary supplements are of interest these days. They can take the form of a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid intended to supplement one’s diet.
“Nutritional supplements are not a substitute for a nutritionally balanced diet.” – Deepak Chopra.
Dietary supplements take various forms because they are made from food sources and as such are different from one another. They are supposed to provide nutrients so it would be a good note to remind ourselves of them. The class of nutrient compounds includes vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, and amino acids. Animals can also be a source of supplements such as collagen from chicken or fish.
As vitamins, they come in the form of any of the water-soluble or fat-soluble types. So basically these vitamin supplements are vitamin A, D, E, K, B, and C. Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid seems to be the most common one. Personally, I often take vitamin C even when I am well. Vitamin B is a complex as we have it as B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic acid), B6, B7 (Biotin), B9 (Folate), and Vitamin B12. All vitamins have to be taken in the recommended amounts only. Like a normal drug do not overdose it.
The essential nutrient minerals for humans include potassium, chlorine, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine, chromium, molybdenum, selenium, and cobalt. There are so many benefits in including these in your daily routine. Adequate calcium throughout life as part of a well-balanced diet may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Protein-containing supplements, either ready-to-drink or as powders to be mixed into water are normally used as aids to people recovering from illness or injury, or those hoping to thwart the sarcopenia of old age or to athletes who believe that strenuous physical activity increases protein requirements, to people hoping to lose weight while minimizing muscle loss and those who want to increase muscle size for performance and appearance.
We also have essential fatty acids which has fish oil to be the commonest. Fish oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. There are also some plant oils such as seed and nut oils.
Dietary supplements are important for a number of reasons. They maintain general health, support mental and sports-related performance, and also provide immune system support. However if unwisely used, they can adversely affect the overall health. They can increase heart rate, high blood pressure, agitation, diarrhea, sleeplessness, kidney, and liver damage, or even cause rectal bleeding.
This means that these goodies can either help or hurt our bodies that is why we need to be careful with them. If you do not have time for your fruits you can get a supplement in place of them. This should still go with your balanced diet. Nutritional supplements are good for the sick, convalescent, invalid, healthy, children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, or the aged. Everyone has a share but you just have to be extra cautious.
Like I always say, it does not end here.
Tracy Obeng Nyamekye.
