| Nutritional supplements are used to fulfill a deficiency of | | | | specialist before consuming any kind of nutritional |
| vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in our everyday | | | | supplement. Also don't fall for the many attractive |
| diet. A few years ago nutritional supplements were not | | | | advertisements about some supplement products that |
| as popular among people as they are today. This is | | | | claim to do wonders overnight. If it sounds too good to |
| because in years passed there was not much need | | | | be true, then it probably is! Natural food extracts should |
| for anyone to take these supplements. People used to | | | | always be preferred over other man-made |
| eat pure and healthy food which consisted of a | | | | supplements. A weight loss supplement made from |
| balanced diet including milk, eggs, fresh fruits and | | | | extracts of green tea is an example. Many other |
| vegetables, rice, fish. Basically back then our diet | | | | supplements are also made by combining different |
| contained everything that we needed in order for our | | | | herbal extracts and a blend of vitamins, minerals, amino |
| bodies to function correctly. Today our busy schedules | | | | acids and fatty acids. As you must have guessed, |
| have made our minds so pre-occupied that we don't | | | | these materials are not harmful for the body at all as |
| have enough time to eat enough to fulfill all our body | | | | they all occur naturally. People who are taking |
| needs. Combined with the fact that the vegetables are | | | | antibiotics are advised to ask their doctor before |
| extensively farmed and kept on shelves for a long | | | | buying nutritional supplements because they might |
| time, this reduces the nutrient intake that we actually | | | | interfere with the antibiotic course that has to be |
| eat. This is why we need nutritional supplements to | | | | completed in order to treat an infection. Similarly |
| maintain our health. It is a known fact that nutritional | | | | diabetic patients and those suffering from high blood |
| supplements are useful for people belonging to all age | | | | pressure and high cholesterol are advised not to |
| groups. Children need adequate amounts of calcium, | | | | consume any kind of weight gain or energy boosting |
| phosphorus and iron to develop healthy bones and | | | | supplement before consulting their doctor. You also |
| teeth. Similarly, elderly people need all kinds of vitamins | | | | need to remember that these nutritional supplements |
| and energy vitalizing substances to keep themselves | | | | are effective only when right amounts of each one is |
| fit. These supplements also help them fight against | | | | taken as prescribed by a health specialist. Overdose |
| various diseases, and some are even thought to | | | | might prove to be detrimental to your health. Similarly |
| prevent heart attacks and even cancer. Many | | | | taking less than the correct dosage, or not following |
| nutritional supplements, including folic acid, are | | | | the procedure correctly may not prove to be as |
| recommended to pregnant women to protect the | | | | effective for the body. Overdose can also cause |
| baby from developing any abnormality. Obesity and | | | | some side effects like dizziness and nausea. There |
| high cholesterol can also be treated by using nutritional | | | | are no clear signs of vitamin or mineral deficiency in |
| supplements made from natural plant and animal | | | | the body, but when you feel that your diet is not |
| extracts. Lately there has been much debate as to | | | | composed of all the healthy food that must be |
| whether nutritional supplements are really useful or if | | | | consumed everyday, you should immediately ask your |
| there's really no point in taking them. It's true that there | | | | doctor's opinion. If taken properly and as part of a |
| is no alternative for a proper balanced diet, nothing can | | | | healthy balanced diet, nutritional supplements are an |
| take the place of fresh fruits and vegetables. But at | | | | excellent way to ensure that your body is being fed |
| the same time taking small amounts of health | | | | with all the necessary nutrients it needs in order to |
| supplements is not harmful at all, instead it provides | | | | function properly and defend it from various kinds of |
| protection against many diseases in the long run. You | | | | illnesses. |
| should never replace your everyday meals with | | | | Chris DiCicco owns the Supplement Store |
| nutritional supplements, although meal replacement | | | | Flexhealthnutrition.comand has been involved with |
| powders are available on the market. As with any | | | | nutrition for over 20 years. |
| change in your diet it's important to consult a health | | | | |