Overview
While a healthy balanced diet often provides a source of vitamins and minerals, taking dietary supplements on top of your healthy diet may prove beneficial in ensuring your body may be the nutrients it needs each day. Dietary supplements, which are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, are marketed as a solution or preventative measure for a number of disorders, or to supplement nutrients lacking in your diet. To safely reap the benefits of taking dietary supplements, always consult with a physician before taking any supplement to help avoid negative side effects.
Proper Metabolism
After a meal, your body breaks down the carbohydrates, proteins and fats from your meal, and also absorbs the other nutrients in the meal. Absorbing these nutrients partially relies on a number of vitamins – the B-class vitamins – that you must consume each day. Supplementing your diet with B vitamins can help prevent the numerous effects of vitamin deficiencies, including skin disorders, joint pain, nerve damage and anemia, according to Colorado State University.
Promotes Tissue Maintenance and Repair
Consuming dietary supplements may also aid in tissue maintenance and repair, processes that occur throughout your life. Your day to day activities put a strain on your tissues, and specialized cells within your body continually produce proteins that make up healthy new tissue to replace old, damaged tissue. Defects in tissue repair and maintenance lead to diseases, such as osteoporosis, that develop from bone wasting that commonly occurs as you age. You can help promote proper tissue growth and bone strength by taking calcium and vitamin D.
Prevents Disease
The consumption of some dietary supplements may also help prevent cancer. A number of essential vitamins, including vitamins A, C and E, act as antioxidants in the body. They work to neutralize chemicals called free radicals that cause oxidative damage within your cells. The National Cancer Institute explains that oxidative damage to your cells promotes cancer development. While studies on the effect of antioxidant supplements in preventing cancer in humans have proved inconsistent so far, consuming moderate amounts of antioxidant vitamin supplements may prove beneficial to your health.
This article is written by Sylvie Tremblay, MSc
