By Akeem Alex
You would be surprised to find that the dietary supplements industry makes an estimated $30 billion a year in America. While these numbers may surprise you, you may be shocked when you find out the real truth behind dietary supplements. Keep on reading to find out more.
What Are Dietary Supplements?
There is a growing number of Americans who rely on dietary supplements or vitamins to obtain the required doses of nutrients in their system. Many factors such as a busy schedule affect the number of nutrients that many people can consume. This has created a market of manufacturers who aim to improve the way that people have access to their nutrients. As a result, dietary supplements that come in tablet, capsule, or effervescent form have increased in demand.
Companies have partnered up with leading medical professionals of various degrees such as Dominique Fradin Read to develop dietary supplements that are high-quality and packed with the recommended daily dosage of nutritional content.
Popular dietary supplements are the ones that include commonly known vitamins and minerals such as B12 and iron. Other companies focus on providing their consumers with organically sourced products that are infused with the finest and freshest organic ingredients. Most of them come with product labels that warn against any potential risks.
While the effectiveness of most supplements remains inconclusive from a medical point of view, it goes without saying that the continuing existence of this industry shows that consumers are happy with their reviews.
Do You Really Need Dietary Supplements?
While this industry grows in popularity and in revenue, many researchers are tasked with the responsibility of answering this very significant question. Do you need dietary supplements? The answer is two-fold. For the most part, dietary supplements are supposed to be good for your health and give you the recommended boost of energy or cell reproductive ability. But, if you are someone who understands the importance of maintaining a well-balanced and healthy diet as well as regular exercise, you may not need supplements as much as you think you do.
Moreover, research has not necessarily concluded on whether there are any significant health benefits of taking supplements or not. Studies also suggest that the most commonly found ingredients in the majority of dietary supplements are not effective in the prevention of chronic diseases. So, do people who claim to gain benefits from dietary supplements suffer from a placebo effect, or are they experiencing these health benefits? There is no sure way to guarantee that dietary supplements have the health benefits that most people claim. Moreover, the industry suffers from a lack of visibility and a proper regulatory framework. This means that it is difficult to ascertain whether there are any contaminants that may be affecting how these dietary supplements function or not.
Possible Health Risks
Generally, it is safe to take most dietary supplements. However, you should avoid them if you have any chronic disease or if you suffer from any allergic reactions after the first time that you use them. High doses of certain ingredients can lead to complications such as lung cancer or liver damage in severe cases. Other issues that may arise are the thinning of blood and nerve damage.
The Bottom Line
Should you wish to take dietary supplements as part of your journey towards a more healthy lifestyle, you should consider doing research and speaking to a medical professional who has more knowledge on the nutritional benefits them. Any medication that is orally ingested should be approved by your doctor at all times.
