| In this day and age, most of us find ourselves | | | | women who are pregnant are advised to take |
| failing to take in the recommended daily amount | | | | supplements that contain ingredients beneficial to |
| of nutrients that we should be getting. Nutritional | | | | them and their babies, such as folic acid, vitamin |
| supplements help to fill this gap by providing the | | | | D, iron, phosphorus, and calcium; women's needs |
| vitamins, minerals, and other substances that we | | | | for them increase as much as twofold during |
| may be missing out on. In addition, personal food | | | | pregnancy. |
| preferences, lifestyle habits, or special health | | | | Nutritional supplements are also recommended for |
| needs may prompt a person to take nutritional | | | | those who are at risk for a certain disease or |
| supplements in order to remain in the pink of | | | | health problem. For instance, people who are in |
| health. | | | | their thirties and forties are advised to take |
| It's a common practice among cultures of | | | | calcium supplements to head off osteoporosis. |
| different countries to give multivitamins or other | | | | Regular intake of vitamin C and B would help |
| supplements to their children (many grown-ups | | | | prevent scurvy and beriberi, respectively. Studies |
| nowadays still wrinkle their noses at the memory | | | | have also shown that vitamin C can aid in the |
| of cod liver oil). Giving vitamins and minerals to | | | | prevention of eye disorders, such as cataracts |
| children is a good idea more than ever today, | | | | and age-related macular degeneration. Vitamin D, |
| simply because of the types of food many of | | | | on the other hand, has been shown to have |
| them eat -- fast food, junk food, food that is full | | | | preventive effects against some cancers, including |
| of empty calories and which do not provide them | | | | colon, prostate, and breast cancer, while some |
| with the nutrition they need to develop properly. | | | | studies suggest that vitamin E is helpful in |
| In addition to the basic vitamins and minerals, | | | | preventing colds and other upper respiratory tract |
| many children's supplements today include | | | | infections. |
| ingredients that would enhance growth, such as | | | | Did you know that dietary supplements can also |
| chlorella growth factor (for height) and taurine (for | | | | help a person psychologically and emotionally? At |
| proper physical development). | | | | the American Psychiatric Association's 2003 |
| Adults who partake of similarly | | | | meeting, papers were presented on the effects |
| nutritionally-deficient food also need to take a | | | | of vitamin and mineral supplements on the mental |
| dietary supplement. Eating convenience foods like | | | | state of young adults. For instance, study |
| take-out or microwave dinners is fine once in a | | | | subjects in a prison population started exhibiting |
| while if you're pressed for time, but not always. A | | | | less anti-social behavior after going on a |
| person should remember that being nutritionally | | | | supplement regime. Another experiment showed |
| deficient will make him or her more prone to a | | | | that female college students had faster reaction |
| variety of diseases. | | | | times and less mood swings after taking a larger |
| Sometimes our food or drink choices influence the | | | | amount of thiamin or vitamin B1. Further, young |
| degree to which we need nutritional supplements. | | | | adults who took selenium found themselves less |
| For instance, vegetarians forego a significant | | | | depressed, anxious, and tired. Finally, a group of |
| source of protein and iron -- meat -- and they do | | | | young female adults who were given the |
| not get the necessary amounts of these nutrients | | | | recommended amounts of nine vitamins exhibited |
| in vegetables; so protein and iron supplements are | | | | improved cognitive functions after one year. |
| suitable for them. Those who avoid dairy | | | | Nutritional supplements are an essential part of |
| products, on the other hand, whether because of | | | | today's diet for the vast majority of us. But |
| lactose intolerance or a general dislike for this | | | | remember that not all supplements are created |
| type of food in general, should make sure to take | | | | equal. Offerings by other companies are |
| a calcium supplement to correct any calcium | | | | pharmaceutical-grade; meaning that they have |
| deficiencies. Smokers and alcoholic beverage | | | | more active ingredients and that they underwent |
| drinkers need a greater supply of vitamins B and | | | | more rigorous quality control. Also keep in mind |
| C since they find it harder to absorb these | | | | that taking although vitamins and minerals are |
| nutrients. Those on a weight loss diet should use | | | | more often than not safe and good for one's |
| supplements to ensure that their nutritional needs | | | | health, taking too much of them could produce |
| are being met even as they eliminate or reduce | | | | toxic effects and result in complications. |
| the amount of certain foods in their diet. And | | | | |