Watch out for dietary supplements

A lucrative industry

It seems as if everyone knows at least one person who uses dietary supplements or herbal remedies religiously. Did you know that Americans spend over billion on dietary supplements ranging from vitamins to more herbal products like ginkgo biloba, kava kava and St. John’s wort? In fact a recent survey conducted showed that 49% of interviewees had used a supplement within the past year and 24% used them regularly. The sad fact is that the majority of people who use supplements are really on their own. Authoritative information on the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements is limited. Fortunately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently made strides in this area by publishing a final ruling this year that defines the types of claims supplement manufacturers can make about their products.

What exactly are dietary supplements?

Dietary supplements extend far beyond the typical diet pill (e.g. Dexatrim) conception most people have. Let’s start withthe basics of dietary supplements. According to the Dietary SupplementHealth and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 a dietary supplement isdefined as any product intended for ingestion as a supplement to thediet. This includes:

Vitamins
Minerals
Herbs
Botanicals, and other plant-derived substances
Amino acids (the individual building blocks of protein) and concentrates, metabolites, constituents and extracts of these substances.

Dietary supplements come in many forms, including tablets, capsules, powders, softgels, gelcaps and liquids. Dietary supplements are not drugs nor should they be used to diagnose, treat or cure a condition.

What should I look for in a dietary supplement?

As a general rule, don’t expect a dietary supplement to take the place of eating healthy. The key here is to focus on maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. Your goal should be to eat enough fruits and vegetables, bean, whole grains, and low-fat dairy, poultry and fish in order to satisfy your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. Because on average, women eat less than men, they may need supplementation to make up for some vitamins and minerals not received through food. If you desire or need additional supplementation, here are read more