Facts about supplements

The aim of buying nutritional supplements is to improve your health. However, do you take time to find out the ingredients they contain?

It is important to know that not all supplements labeled ‘natural’ or those that promise no side effects are safe to take. Before you settle for a supplement, learn more about it if you want to make an informed choice.

 A dietary supplement is a product that contains nutrients that might not be sufficient in certain foods.

However, they should never be used as a substitute for a balanced, healthy diet, which you can get from eating a variety of foods.

Some of the nutrients supplemented include minerals, vitamins, amino acids and enzymes. Dietary supplements are taken orally, and come in form of capsules, pills, tablets, or liquid.

Different from medicines, the purpose of diet supplements is not to treat or cure illness.

With lots of information available about diet supplements, it is wise to seek reliable information in case you have any doubt.

Before you can buy or start using any diet supplement, ask the following;

Do you really need a diet supplement?

The purpose of a diet supplement is to make up for the nutrients that are absent or insufficient in some diets. These includes essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

The body needs an adequate amount of nutrients to function properly, however, taking too much of certain nutrients can trigger health problems such as hypervitaminosis (vitamin toxicity).

Also, intake of excessive or mega doses of vitamin A can cause vitamin A toxicity, which can lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches and appetite loss.

Vitamin toxicity during pregnancy can cause congenital malformation. For this reason, vitamins and minerals should be taken within their recommended dietary allowances (RDA) which is the amount you should take of a given nutrient each day depending on your gender, age and other physiological needs.

Do you need to consult a doctor before using a supplement?

Yes. This is important, especially for particular groups of people. Diet supplements can cause health risks if used under some circumstances.

If you have a chronic illness like diabetes, are pregnant or breastfeeding, make sure you seek advice from a doctor before you can buy or take any kind of diet supplement.

Let the doctor evaluate whether you really need a diet supplement on the basis of your health and current diet.

Also inquire about the recommended dosage of the supplement, for how long it should be taken, as well as the benefits and possible side effects of the supplement. You might also need to consult a doctor before giving mineral, vitamin or any other kind of dietary supplement to your child.

Always confirm with a doctor if you are not sure about claims labeled on a supplement product, claims such as ‘totally safe’.

  Are you taking any over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicine?

Most diet supplements comprise of active ingredients that might have strong biological effects. Taking supplements while on prescription or OTC medicine might cause drug interaction, which can have adverse effects on health.

This means that if you are already taking certain supplements, inform your doctor or pharmacist before you are placed on any medication.

A nutritionist can also help you get the right balance between the foods you eat and the nutrients your body needs.