Dietary Supplements 1

Dietary Supplements Report

SCI/241

Sharen Washington

October 7, 2012

Andrew Lachut

Dietary Supplements 2 Dietary Supplements Report Like many people around the world will take some sort of daily dietary supplements to add in hopes that we receive the essentials that our bodies requires and need. Nevertheless, because our bodies vary from one another what might work for one may not work well for the other. There may be extenuating circumstances or conditions that person may have that would prevent them from may cause ri A dietary supplement is a food or nutritional addendum that was destined to improve the health of people that did not receive the necessary nutrients for the body to stay healthy. Dietary supplements come in capsule, pills, liquid, and powder form. The body requires certain nutrients on a daily bases because some nutrients do not stay in the body long, thus dietary supplements are used. People use some supplements that come in the pills, liquid, powder, and capsule forms and labeled as such. People use Dietary supplements to help or add to their diets and provide the necessary nutrients that may be missing or lacking in their diets. Many different types of dietary supplement like your vitamins and minerals have major nutrients to help the body to stay on course. There are herbal supplements that have medicinal purposes to help certain areas of the body such as the liver, bone, and or the skin. Taking dietary supplements adds to the nutrients that we lack or that dispels on a daily basis. Taking dietary supplements is beneficial in proper metabolism, aids in tissue repair, and some in the prevention of some disease like cancer. After we have eaten, our bodies commence to break down the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats and soak up those nutrients that were in our meals. According to a study by the Colorado State University, “supplementing your diet with B vitamins can help prevent the numerous effects of vitamin deficiencies, including skin disorders, joint pain, nerve damage and anemia”(Tremblay, 2011). As far as the prevention of cancer vitamins A, C and E, act as antioxidants in the body, thus a reasonable consumption of antioxidants vitamin supplements could possibly improve your chances of not getting cancer.

Dietary Supplements 3 As with drugs that a doctor prescribes, stating how many pills to take so that you do not harm your body, overdose, or die the same with dietary supplements. Taking too much vitamins or a mega dose can be harmful to the body. Too much vitamin C can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney stones. If a person has a certain health condition, some dietary supplements may impede the effectiveness of the prescription drug or trigger an allergic reaction. There are risks taking vitamins as well as the pill a doctor prescribes this is why one should consult their doctor if they have existing health conditions. Under the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services is the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA focuses on the safety, effectiveness of foods and drugs in the United States. “FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines more effective, safer, and more affordable and by helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to maintain and improve their health” (FDA, 2012). The FDA provides guidance documents for dietary supplements manufacturers that tell the FDA’s viewpoints. There are standards that the FDA has provided for dietary supplements that make certain their identity, purity, strength, and composition is legit. “These standards are designed to prevent the inclusion of the wrong ingredient, the addition of too much or too little of an ingredient, the possibility of contamination, and the improper packaging and labeling of a product. The FDA periodically inspects facilities that manufacture dietary supplements” (Office of Dietary Supplements, 2011). Dietary supplements use today to help prevent diseases and or clear up symptoms of certain ailments. The condition called gout is a type of acute inflammation in the joints mainly the foot. This disease attack mostly men, women are not immune, usually after menopause, but still more men have gout. Gout is called the “disease of kings” because they would overindulge in food and alcohol. High ingestion of carbohydrates promotes high levels of uric acid build up that increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Gout is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by a doctor, however, there are preventive measures that can be taken to prevent gout flare-ups and ease the symptoms. Eating fruits like cherries and blueberries help because of the abundance of antioxidants in these types of fruits. Drinking plenty of water
Dietary Supplements 4 helps to dilute the uric acid and flushes it out in your urine. Taking the dietary supplement Bromelain that helps breaks down protein because many of our foods contain a high amount of protein that the enzymes that break down the protein is destroyed once the food has been thoroughly cooked. Although the foods we eat may contain all of the nutrients we need, we do not always eat right, thus the use of dietary supplements. The benefits, uses, and risks of taking dietary supplements are the same as taking prescription drugs. When taken properly the benefits are high and the risks are low.

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Reference:
Food and Drug Administration, 2012. What We Do. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/whatwedo/default.htm
Office of Dietary Supplements, 2011. Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from http://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx
Tremblay, L., 2011. The Health Benefits of Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/370194-the-health-benefits-of-dietary-supplements/#ixzz28er3kPpj