Healthy Supplements
Project Oveview
This project consists of 8 pages as follow:
1. Pros and Cons
2. Vitamin vs. Supplements
3. Food vs. Supplements
4. Drugs vs. Supplements
5. Exercise vs. Supplements
6. Diet and Nutrition
7. Living Healthy
8. Contact Information
Pros and Cons
Advantages
It is much easier to take a pill or gummy than to eat two pounds of broccoli. However, for some seniors, prepping and cooking fresh vegetables just isn’t possible. A decreased appetite or difficulty chewing can make getting the recommended servings of produce a challenge. Taking supplements can help ensure they get the recommended amount of vitamins and minerals every day, no matter their eating habits. Supplements should accompany and bolster a healthy diet rather than replace healthy eating, but for those who are unable to do so, they may be of some help.
Supplementary. Support for a healthy diet, not a substitute. Dietary changes have a greater impact on our overall health, and fresh fruits and vegetables provide benefits beyond what can be attained from a vitamin. Healthy, balanced nutrition is the best way to get all the vitamins and minerals we need to function properly.
Disadvantages
Not everyone can afford to buy fresh produce, let alone prepare it, and a bottle of vitamins may be cheaper and easier to manage. Supplements can be better than not receiving any nutrients at all, so they may offer a solution to those who cannot afford the cost of healthy eating. Also, adding supplements to older aldults can help them better than to adjust their eating habits. The supplements can be a healthy diet program that provides nutrition for all people especially for old people from 60 or older. Therefore, taking supplements is neccesary for a person’s life.
We don’t normally think of supplements and vitamins as being potentially dangerous. While there is no concrete evidence to show that they actively damage our bodies, they can interact poorly with medication. Certain prescription drugs are rendered ineffective by supplements, and it is very important to check with your doctor before taking them.
Vitamin vs. Supplements
What are Vitamins? Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential for good health. In fact, vitamin deficiency can lead to diseases such as hypovitaminosis D (vitamin D deficiency can cause pain in the joints and bone as well as fatigue) and a deficiency of Vitamin B-12 can result in heart palpitations, constipation, muscle weakness and even depression.
What are supplements? Supplements come in a few forms such as liquid, pill and powder. Types of supplements include herbs, vitamins or minerals. Most often, users turn to supplements because they are concerned about not getting enough of what they need in their diet. In other cases, users may be looking for a particular health benefit such as improved mood, or better joint or skin health.
Food vs. Supplements
Vitamins and minerals might be tiny but they play a major role in the correct functioning of our bodies. Various nutrients like these do everything from creating red blood cells to keeping our eyes in top condition.
Deficiencies in different vitamins and minerals can also have severe, negative effects. The most well-known deficiency might be an iron deficiency. This causes fatigue, heart palpitations, and many other symptoms. With 10 million Americans being deficient in iron and increasing numbers at risk of multiple deficiencies, surely we’re in need of nutrient supplements?
When you eat food, your digestive system and enzymes work to separate different nutrients for different purposes. Your body takes what it needs and usually throws away the rest through waste. This means taking more than you require of some vitamins and minerals has no added benefit, your body will dispose of the excess.
In many instances, the vitamins and minerals found in food sources are easier to absorb than those in supplement form. With the added benefit of the other nutrients found in food, eating healthily gives far greater benefits than opting for supplements and eating poorly.
The average American diet is now high in ultra-processed, low-nutrient food. This is why we eat more than ever but are less healthier and have more deficiencies. By focusing on eating a healthy diet of whole foods, it’s not difficult to get all of your nutrients through your diet.
Drugs vs. Supplements
Drugs are tested by the FDA. They’re defined as substances intended to diagnose, treat or prevent disease. Medications must pass clinical trials before being released to the public and the tests need to prove each drug is safe, performing just as the manufacturer claims. After these trials, your doctor can prescribe the drug to you. The general rule is drugs are considered unsafe until they’re proven safe.
Supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), the FDA treats supplements like food and biological substances and they’re available in a variety of shapes and sizes, including concentrates, extracts, capsules, tablets, liquids and powders.
Keep in mind, herbs and vitamins don’t have to be tested for safety. Self-regulated by the manufacturer, no proof is required to demonstrate their effectiveness. The general rule for supplements is they’re considered safe until they’re proven unsafe.
Once a supplement causes some kind of health problem, the FDA (Food And Drug Administration) steps in. Their duty is to prove the supplement poses a health threat, which is difficult to accomplish, meaning suspect supplements can remain on shelves for years.
You should complete thorough research before taking any supplement and always practice caution when mixing drugs and supplements. It’s extremely risky to assume that, since a supplement is “all natural,” it doesn’t cause adverse effects. Many drugs and supplements interact poorly with each other and can negatively impact your health. Be sure to consult your physician before taking anything over the counter…better to be safe than sorry.
Exercise vs. Supplements
If you’ve ever embarked on a new food regimen or exercise program, you know there’s no shortage of advice — and products on the market — promising to deliver a leaner, healthier you, with more energy and stamina than ever! It can sometimes be hard to sort fact from fiction. If you work out regularly or play competitive sports, you may have heard about workout supplements — also called dietary supplements, ergogenic aids or performance supplements — that promise to help you exercise more efficiently, train with greater intensity and, in general, get better and faster results from your efforts. Some supplements are meant to be taken before your workout; others are said to help with post-workout “recovery,” rehydrating you and replacing nutrients depleted by your workout.
Supplements come in different forms, including capsules, tablets, powders, drinks and bars. Their ingredients vary, but can include vitamins, minerals, protein, amino acids or herbs in differing amounts and combinations. Some supplement ingredients actually can have a positive effect on performance, with relative safety. For instance, beet juice has been shown, in many (but not all) studies, to improve performance and endurance in activities like running and cycling. Caffeine may boost endurance, strength and power in team sports. The point is that it’s best to approach your nutrition and dietary supplement options as an informed, skeptical consumer.
Diet and Nutrition
The best way to define diet is that it is the food that a person habitually eats. Looking at diet as a noun and not as a verb is a good way to redefine what diet is. Whether a person makes good or bad choices, these things make up their diet. The overall goal is to get people to choose the healthiest options that will improve their wellbeing.
Examples of specific diets that exist today: vegetarian, vegan, ketogenic, gluten-free, paleo, blood type diet, ect. Each one includes certain foods that are consumed regularly. There may be variations here and there, but many staple foods are meant to make up that diet.
Good nutrition differs from diet, for it refers to the quality of the food itself. Nutrition is food that our bodies need to consume daily for our bodies to function optimally. This includes complex carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, and fibre. We need these foods in a balanced quantity and ideally, from the cleanest sources possible. As a general guide, balanced nutrition for the day should comprise of: 30% protein, 40% complex carbohydrates, 30% essential healthy fats, 2-4 litres of water.
Proper nutrition should also consist of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and antioxidants. A few ideal food choices include dark leafy greens, whole grains, sweet potatoes, raw nuts, seeds, salmon, berries, oats, and avocado. When it comes to good nutrition, these examples give consumers the best bang for their buck.
Living Healthy
“Healthy living” to most people means both physical and mental health are in balance or functioning well together in a person. In many instances, physical and mental health are closely linked, so that a change (good or bad) in one directly affects the other. Consequently, some of the tips will include suggestions for emotional and mental “healthy living.”
Healthy eating (diet and nutrition) All humans have to eat food for growth and maintenance of a healthy body, but we humans have different nutrition requirements as infants, children (kids), teenagers, young adults, adults, and seniors.
For example, infants may require feeding every 4 hours until they gradually age and begin to take in more solid foods. Eventually they develop into the more normal pattern of eating three times per day as young kids. However, as most parents know, kids, teenagers, and young adults often snack between meals. Snacking is often not limited to these age groups because adults and seniors often do the same.