Taking supplements is one way to ensure your body has the sufficient balance of required nutrients to maintain physical and mental health. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends certain nutrient requirements for persons of different ages and genders. The nutrients you consume come primarily from food, which studies have shown is increasingly lacking in the required nutrient ingredients for health maintenance. This is because of the proliferation of snack food, ready-to-eat food and fast food that have become the daily diets for most households today. Therefore, many people turn to daily supplements that contain necessary vitamins and minerals to ensure that they receive the required nutrients to build strong bodies and minds and reduce risks of diseases.
There are many reasons why supplements are necessary and highly encouraged by health providers, physicians and nutritionists alike:
Similar to other things in life, balance is the key when you are using supplements. The body only needs a small dose of vitamins and minerals; excessive dosage not only causes damage to the body but also has long-term repercussions. Symptoms of a vitamin overdose include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. There may also be less visible but certainly more serious damage to organs such as the liver that can result from excessive long-term supplement intake.
Generally, the body only requires a small amount of nutrients per day. For example, the recommended intake for a female between the ages of 19 to 30 years is 1,000 mg of calcium, 75 mg of vitamin C and 18 mg of iron. It's important to note that daily food also contains a certain amount of nutrients, and if the supplement dosage is more than the recommended amount, it will be considered excessive. In order to prevent the danger of an overdose, you should consult your physician and acquire a personalized supplements recommendation which takes into consideration age, gender, lifestyle and health condition.