Life, Death and Health Supplements

The vast majority of us would like to stick around for a few more years enjoying our loved ones and having the experiences that make life so special. Many of us are turning to supplements to help maintain our health and improve well-being, but with so many different types being available, finding the right ones for you is very important.

Supplemental Benefits

Daily routines which include eating and exercise are two of the main contributors to our health and well-being. Health supplements are there to make sure our habits don't prevent us from getting the right mix of vitamins and minerals we need. If your diet is deficient of some vitamins, health supplements are a way to give your body what it requires to function at its best.
Medical evidence supporting the use of supplements is found in the recommendations by doctors and other medical professionals, with many supporting their inclusion in your diet. For instance, if you are hypertensive doctors will recommend that you include Coenzyme Q10 in your diet.  Other lesser known supplements like agaricus blazei, offers six different health benefits, whilst pregnant women are encouraged to take vitamins D and C along with folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy.


The Use of Supplements

There is little to fear from over the counter vitamin supplements, so long as they are produced by reliable and reputable companies. Taking too much of a certain group of vitamins (the fat soluble ones) can have negative health effects, although if you follow the recommended dosage these should not be an issue. It's as simple as identifying what your diet includes, identifying what vitamins you need, and making up the difference with vitamin supplements.

A good multivitamin can make this simple, and help insure you don't consume too much of any supplement. The benefits of supplementing your diet will far outweigh the small monetary cost because feeling physically and mentally good is almost priceless.  Something that definitely needs to be considered is supplements that are designed to help you do something faster or better than nature intended. Steroids for example, are a supplement to muscle growth but can be very negative to your overall health. However, there are muscle building supplements that can be used intelligently and thus safely. Consult your doctor and always follow directions to make this a rewarding experience instead of one that could end badly.

Know Where Your Supplements Come From

Where your supplements come from is also an issue that needs to be considered. This is more of a concern with supplements that are not made by a major brand or that are not purchased from a reputed source. We all like saving money, but ordering from online pharmacies that act as middle men for supplement sales is not a good idea. There has been a high rise in the number of “fake” supplements hitting the online markets.  These particular products are often made up of ingredients with no health benefits whatsoever and in some cases these ingredients could be detrimental to your health and even life threatening. There is no need to order the majority of supplements from such sources as any supplement you may decide to add to your health regime is likely available at a local pharmacy.

Health supplements are everywhere these days. With a sensible approach, they can be an excellent way to promote your health. However, there is no substitute in most instances for not getting the vitamins and minerals you need from natural sources i.e. your diet.  Always seek medical advice before taking any health supplement and make sure you purchase from a reputable and trusted source.

This article written by Georgina Clatworthy, who writes on topics relating to health and nutrition.  She is currently a contributing writer for supplement provider Atlas World USA whose supplement, agaricus mushroom can help maintain a healthy immune system.