Health Supplements - A Natural Way to Improve Your Health

  Dietary supplements are concentrated sources of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals. They come as pills, tablets, gel capsules and powders. Examples include folic acid for pregnant women and calcium and vitamin D for strong bones. Nutritional supplements should supplement, not replace, a healthy diet. In some cases, such as fortified foods or in pregnancy and breastfeeding, supplements are necessary. Boost Your Energy One of the most common reasons people take health supplements is to boost their energy levels. There are a number of different ways that this can be accomplished. Energy supplements often include vitamins, minerals, herbs or even probiotics that help your body to get the nutrients it needs to stay energized. Taking certain supplements can also improve your memory, making it easier to focus during the day. Additionally, some supplements increase exercise and athletic endurance, which can make exercising more fun and allow you to push yourself a little bit further than you would normally be able to. Vitamins for energy may also include antioxidants that can improve your metabolism and help your body burn calories more efficiently. Additionally, a number of supplements are designed to combat stress, including adaptogens that can help you to stay energized while maintaining a healthy response to everyday stresses. One example is ashwagandha, which is known to reduce fatigue and help you cope with stress. Improve Your Memory Many supplements claim to improve memory and sharpen focus. But some don’t deliver. “There’s very little good evidence that any of the brain boosting products on the market actually work,” says Adriane Fugh-Berman, an associate professor in the complementary and alternative medicine master’s program at Georgetown University. She mentions ginkgo biloba, made from the fan-shaped leaves of the ginkgo tree; omega-3 fatty acids (from cold-water fish and nuts); and B vitamins, including folic acid, B6, and B12. She adds that more research is needed to understand how to better prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive declines. For now, she recommends getting enough sleep and limiting alcohol consumption. Other strategies include eating a balanced diet and managing chronic health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, which are also linked to dementia. Supplements she recommends include choline, an antioxidant that works to prevent memory decline; bacopa, an Ayurvedic herb that’s been shown to help with memory problems; and CDP-choline, which can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Check here to find out a useful source about Cognizin. Help Your Body to Heal If you're deficient in certain nutrients, supplements can help bridge the gap between your usual dietary intake and what your body needs. These supplements can include vitamins, minerals (including calcium, vitamin D, and iron), herbs or botanicals, and amino acids. They come in many forms including pills, liquids, powders, and bars. Nutritional supplements can be helpful if you're trying to conceive or are pregnant because they contain the vitamin folic acid that prevents birth defects. Generally, however, a well-balanced diet of whole foods should provide the nutrients you need. Because nutritional supplements don't undergo the rigorous testing of drugs, they may make health claims that aren't proven. That's why it's so important to follow a health professional's recommendations and read the label carefully. In addition, talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement. Your doctor can let you know if it's safe and whether it could interfere with any medications you're taking. Your doctor can also recommend a good quality brand and help you decide how much to take. Boost Your Confidence Many people take supplements to help them get all the nutrients they need. These may include vitamins, minerals and herbal products, also known as botanicals. They come in pill, powder or liquid form and do not require a prescription. They can be helpful when your diet is deficient or if you are undergoing certain health conditions, for example, pregnancy requires folic acid to prevent birth defects in the baby. However, using drugs to boost your confidence artificially can lead to dangerous behaviors and even worsen existing mental health conditions. For example, benzodiazepines can be addictive and cause depression or psychotic episodes in those with preexisting mental health conditions. Although it’s a good idea to take supplements, you should always talk to your doctor before taking them. He or she can help you determine if your diet is deficient and recommend the best supplements for your health. They can also make sure that the supplements you are taking will not interfere with any medications you are taking for a health condition.