Nutritional supplements are used to fulfill a deficiency of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in our everyday diet. A few years ago nutritional supplements were not as popular among people as they are today. This is because in years passed there was not much need for anyone to take these supplements. People used to eat pure and healthy food which consisted of a balanced diet including milk, eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, rice, fish. Basically back then our diet contained everything that we needed in order for our bodies to function correctly. Today our busy schedules have made our minds so pre-occupied that we don’t have enough time to eat enough to fulfill all our body needs. Combined with the fact that the vegetables are extensively farmed and kept on shelves for a long time, this reduces the nutrient intake that we actually eat. This is why we need nutritional supplements to maintain our health.

It is a known fact that nutritional supplements are useful for people belonging to all age groups. Children need adequate amounts of calcium, phosphorus and iron to develop healthy bones and teeth. Similarly, elderly people need all kinds of vitamins and energy vitalizing substances to keep themselves fit. These supplements also help them fight against various diseases, and some are even thought to prevent heart attacks and even cancer. Many nutritional supplements, including folic acid, are recommended to pregnant women to protect the baby from developing any abnormality. Obesity and high cholesterol can also be treated by using nutritional supplements made from natural plant and animal extracts.

Lately there has been much debate as to whether nutritional supplements are really useful or if there’s really no point in taking them. It’s true that there is no alternative for a proper balanced diet, nothing can take the place of fresh fruits and vegetables. But at the same time taking small amounts of health supplements is not harmful at all, instead it provides protection against many diseases in the long run.

You should never replace your everyday meals with nutritional supplements, although meal replacement powders are available on the market. As with any change in your diet it’s important to consult a health specialist before consuming any kind of nutritional supplement. Also don’t fall for the many attractive advertisements about some supplement products that claim to do wonders overnight. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!

Natural food extracts should always be preferred over other man-made supplements. A weight loss supplement made from extracts of green tea is an example. Many other supplements are also made by combining different herbal extracts and a blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids. As you must have guessed, these materials are not harmful for the body at all as they all occur naturally.

People who are taking antibiotics are advised to ask their doctor before buying nutritional supplements because they might interfere with the antibiotic course that has to be completed in order to treat an infection. Similarly diabetic patients and those suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol are advised not to consume any kind of weight gain or energy boosting supplement before consulting their doctor.

You also need to remember that these nutritional supplements are effective only when right amounts of each one is taken as prescribed by a health specialist. Overdose might prove to be detrimental to your health. Similarly taking less than the correct dosage, or not following the procedure correctly may not prove to be as effective for the body.

Overdose can also cause some side effects like dizziness and nausea. There are no clear signs of vitamin or mineral deficiency in the body, but when you feel that your diet is not composed of all the healthy food that must be consumed every day, you should immediately ask your doctor’s opinion. If taken properly and as part of a healthy balanced diet, nutritional supplements are an excellent way to ensure that your body is being fed with all the necessary nutrients it needs in order to function properly and defend it from various kinds of illnesses.

A few years ago the options of choosing nutritional supplements were limited by the stock of your local stores and perhaps if you were lucky enough to know any manufacturers, then you would have more success. The internet has changed everything, although most people would argue whether it has really made our lives easier.

You can use the internet to search online for all kinds of vitamin and mineral food supplements that exactly match your body needs. You can even read reviews of other consumers who are satisfied with a particular manufacturer of nutritional supplements.

Before buying any kind of nutritional supplement keep some important points in mind. The first and foremost consideration should be the quality. You should always find a manufacturer that is certified in providing health services to customers. The product should conform to the strict quality standards that are set by the government and specialists. It’s a good idea to ask a dietitian before going for a particular food supplement product. It’s also important to remember that high quality food supplements are usually much more expensive than the low quality, cheaper products. As with most things, you get what you pay for!

You should always keep in mind the purpose you are buying a vitamin, mineral or other supplements for Vitamin supplements are composed of many different types of vitamins, including vitamin A, B, C, D, K, folic acid, pyridoxine, thiamin, orotic acid and many others. Of these, vitamin B is further divided into many separate categories. Similarly mineral supplements are categorized as iron, copper, sodium, magnesium, calcium citrate and so on. Different vitamin and mineral supplements serve different purposes.

Antioxidants are a type of flavonoid product that helps to protect the body against free radicals (the by-products formed by certain activities of body cells). It is a popular anti-aging food supplement. Cranberry juice is also known to be another natural anti-aging food supplement.

There are also supplements for sexual enhancement, cure for arthritis, cure for skin cancer, and lowering cholesterol level in the body. Policosano is an important natural food supplement helpful in lowering cholesterol. There literally are supplements that can help everyone. Also arthritis sufferers are catered for, being that there are supplements that can actually prevent swelling and inflammation.

Vitamin food vitamins often contain a vitamin (no surprise there), a mineral, herbal extracts, and amino acids. Some of these supplements are popular treatments for all kinds of cancer, especially skin, lung and prostate cancer. These products can come in both liquid and tablet form depending on your personal preference.

Supplementation for sexual enhancement is also rich in vitamins and some therapeutic herbs. Sexual problems can be caused by many different things, it can be caused by psychological, or physiological reasons. Although it is widely known that most of the sexual problems faced by men and women are psychological, there are sexual enhancement products available for all kinds of sexual problems. Energy and vitality supplements are available for both men and women to help them enhance their love life.

Various herbal products for the treatment of obesity, under-development of breasts, and un-timely ovulation are available. You can search on the Internet to find a particular kind of product and read its description to decide whether it’s suitable for you or not. Omega 3 is a popular and well known food supplement.

There are unlikely to be any side effects associated with the use of these supplements because they are extracted from natural plants. However it is still advisable to consult a health professional before buying any kind of nutritional supplement. Keep the above-mentioned factors in mind and also do a little research of your own to find more about the nutritional supplements available today.

Life is often so busy and stressful that it is impossible not to suffer from nutritional deficiency. To live a healthy life, you need to have a balanced diet. A balanced diet is one that has a balanced amount of all the macro nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats). Nowadays, nobody has enough time to maintain a balanced diet. Enter vitamins and supplements.

Nutritional supplements are products that provide a balance of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and nutrients. Nutritional supplements are consumed for many reasons. They can be taken to improve overall body health, to boost the immune system, to reduce the risk of catching diseases, to improve the health and performance of bodybuilders and athletes, and to help children with irregular food intake patterns maintain a healthy body weight. Nutritional supplements are very popular throughout the world and in the United States alone, they account for about a $19.8 billion market value.

Vitamins are essential for a healthy life:

Nutritional supplements provide the right amount of vitamins that your body requires each day. Vitamins are micro nutrients that are required by the body to maintain a healthy metabolism. Vitamins are present in citrus fruits and many other foods. However, the vitamin content of most foods is considerably lowered when the food is overcooked because most of the vitamins are easily destroyed by heat. Wheat contains vitamins, but when the wheat is industrially processed to form wheat flour, its vitamin content is lowered.

If vitamins are not supplied in adequate amounts through the diet then the person suffers from deficiency diseases, such as a deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) which causes scurvy. Scurvy is characterized by the bleeding and ulceration of gums. Therefore, nutritional supplements are taken to provide adequate amounts of vitamins.

Minerals:

Nutritional supplements are used to supply an appropriate amount of minerals. Like vitamins, minerals are micro nutrients which are required in small amounts to maintain a normal body metabolism. Minerals, if not supplied in adequate amounts through your diet, lead to deficiency diseases. Deficiency of iron leads to anemia, as iron is a constituent of Heme prosthetic group which is present in hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is responsible for the transport of oxygen from the lungs to of the rest of the body. Minerals are also important because they act as co enzymes which are needed for the normal activity of cellular enzymes. Minerals are also important for maintaining a healthy and elastic epithelium.

Herbs:

Herbal supplements are used for nutritional and medicinal purposes. Herbal supplements containing extracts of Gingko biloba are particularly popular. Gingko biloba is an herb that is known to stimulate micro circulation throughout the body. The use of certain herbal supplements together with moderate exercise has proven to be effective in losing weight.

Meal supplements:

Often, nutritional supplements are used as a meal substituent or to fortify meals. Meal supplements are popular with people who are suffering from diseases that affect the efficiency of the digestive tract. Meal supplements are available for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian individuals. They contain an appropriate amount of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients.

Sports nutrition supplements:

Athletes require increased amounts of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients because their dietary requirements are higher than that of other individuals. Therefore, they are at a higher risk of suffering from nutritional deficiencies. Hence, sports supplements are specially formulated to supply increased amounts of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Other nutritional supplements:

These include nutrient dense foods such as brewer’s yeast, bee pollen, fish oils like cord liver oil, psyllium seed husk, wheat germ, spirulina, wheat grass, and colostrum. These supplements are used for special purposes. For example, supplements containing psyllium seed husk are used for cleansing and maintaining a healthy digestive tract.