What are dietary supplements?

Dietary supplements are a type of product with the core purpose of supplementing nutrients that are insufficient in daily dietary intake. The tablets, capsules, powders, and oral liquids related to vitamin tablets, protein powder, fish oil, probiotics, and herbal extracts that we usually buy all fall into this category. They are neither prescription drugs nor ordinary foods. They cannot be used to treat diseases, and they absolutely cannot replace three normal meals.

Speaking of which, many people have the impression that it is either an "IQ tax-hit area" or a "must-have artifact for health care." These two extreme views are actually deviated from the actual situation. I previously bought glucosamine for an elder in my family who suffers from degenerative arthritis. The doctor said that as his joint cartilage wears out, it is difficult for him to consume enough glucosamine in his daily diet. Appropriate supplementation can help relieve joint discomfort. However, if you expect to take glucosamine to cure severe arthritis, it is definitely impossible. If serious symptoms occur, you will still need to take medicine and seek medical treatment.

There is currently no unified conclusion in the nutrition field on whether healthy people should take additional dietary supplements. Many scholars believe that as long as the daily diet is diverse and balanced, all the nutrients needed by the body can be obtained. Extra supplements are not only a waste of money, but also carry the risk of excessive intake that cannot be metabolized.； There are also many clinical nutritionists who believe that most people now have irregular work schedules and eating habits. They either do not eat enough dark green vegetables and whole grains in takeaways, or it is difficult to meet the protein requirements for fitness and muscle building with three ordinary meals. Targeted supplements are more efficient.

Take my friend who is doing UI design for example. She stays up late all the time to catch up on plans, and the corners of her mouth are sore at all times. She went for a nutritional test and was found to be deficient in B vitamins. She also naturally doesn’t like to eat whole grains and animal livers. Her symptoms disappeared after taking regular B vitamin supplements for half a month. Do you think this is an IQ tax? Definitely not, but if she often eats these ingredients and takes excessive amounts of supplements every day, she may have adverse reactions such as irritability and headaches.

Oh, by the way, don’t think that dietary supplements labeled as “all-natural” can be eaten casually. I’ve seen news before that some people ate more than three times the amount of lutein every day in order to “protect their eyes”, and eventually their skin turned yellow. Some people also took excessive vitamin D supplements, which increased blood calcium and affected kidney function. Before you really take supplements, it’s best to do a targeted nutrition check, follow the doctor’s advice or follow the recommended amount in the product description, and don’t increase the amount blindly. To put it bluntly, dietary supplements are "patches" to your daily diet. It is useful to supplement the gaps in your three meals. If you insist on supplementing a balanced diet, it will be unnecessary.