Who Should Take Supplements?

Maintaining Health

Supplements are Not Medicines

Taking supplements is all about taking responsibility for your own health

They are part of the range of positive steps you can take to help yourself stay healthy - both now and throughout your life until you reach old age.  Many lifestyle decisions that we make now have a direct impact on our health in both the short term, and in the years ahead.

A healthy balanced and varied diet which includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, fish, nuts, seeds and wholegrains is generally sufficient to provide us with an adequate intake of essential nutrients. However, not everyone is able to follow an optimal diet plan at all times, and this is reflected in the results of national dietary surveys which show that many of us do not successfully follow this dietary guidance.

The reasons for this range from poor dietary practices, dependence on convenience foods, or sometimes just a dislike of certain food types or dietary intolerances.   Everyone is different, and an individuals particular lifestyle or 'time of life' may also mean that they have a greater need for particular forms of nutrition to maintain health.

This is where dietary supplements can have a valuable role, as they give you the choice to increase your intake of nutrients to support and maintain health. 

Maintaining Health

Different supplements have different roles in supporting health, and some are particularly useful in specific areas:

A few examples

Phytosterols: - to keep your cholesterol levels healthy

Glucosamine:- for healthy joints

Essential fatty acids: for heart and general health

Calcium & Magnesium: for bone health

To find out more, take a look at the Health Topics sections or read the reviews in the Directory.  Supplements are not medicines, and health benefits will usually take at least a month to be felt by an individual along with a general sense of well-being.

Supplements are Not Medicines

Food Supplements should not be used as a substitute for a balanced and varied diet, - nor are they intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Instead, supplements are often recommended by health practitioners as a standard part of self care - in the US supplements are a standard part of general health treatment programmes prescribed by physicians.

Anyone with health problems or concerns should always consult their medical practitioner for advice and guidance, especially if they have a pre-existing medical condition or are receiving a prescription medication.  Some supplements can have interactions with certain medications, and your physician will be able to guide you with respect to which supplements may be be safely of benefit alongside your existing treatment programme.