The health supplement is a multi-billion dollar industry worth 36 billion in 2017 alone. Each health supplement sells a different promise such as stronger bones, smoother skin, and a healthier immune system. With ad placements for these health supplements plastered all over your television screen at any time of the day, it eventually makes you think: does it really work? Is it worth your every penny? What’s the difference between each supplement? What are the advantages and disadvantages of ingesting these health supplements? The answer is, some are good and some are bad – you have to make sure you are investing in the right ones. For example natural energy supplements use natural resources to give a boost of energy, rather than artificial supplements. But with all that in mind, we are rounding up the advantages and disadvantages of taking these health supplements and how they can affect your body:
ADVANTAGES
- They’re practical and convenient
This is perhaps one of the most obvious reasons why some people take health supplements: it’s because they’re practical and convenient. Not all people have a lot of time to wake up extra early every day to whip out the healthiest dishes from scratch and moreover, not everyone eats vegetables and fruits enough to get the recommended vitamins and nutrients. With health supplements, you’re practically taking the shortcut to becoming “healthier”, some could say the same for something similar to Texas Medicare supplements. Plus, you can take them anytime and anywhere. Just pop a capsule in a second and you have saved 30 minutes of cooking while obtaining the same amount of nutrients. You can find supplements that contain things like dopamine, (this is a solid dopamine supplement) and carnitine.
- It provides you vitamins and nutrients
In line with the reason of the health supplement advantages above, dietary supplements for men can give you the same amount of nutrients and vitamins. Not everyone has the creativity to eat a diverse range of food in order to acquire the recommended nutritional value. Not to mention, creating a meal plan and executing it perfectly takes a lot of money, time, and effort. By taking health supplements, you’ll be able to absorb missing nutrients that you may be lacking. I’ve heard VigRX Plus is a useful supplement for those that could do with a sexual boost.
DISADVANTAGES
- Not an ideal food substitute
While you still may be able to acquire the optimum vitamins and nutrients, however, your body is naturally programmed to ingest certain food in order to acquire these for a healthier body and performance. Completely relying on health supplements may create a nutritional gap that can only be filled by following a well-balanced diet full of vegetables, meat, and fruits.
- Health hazards of overdoing it
Abusing the use of anything can pose a risk to the development of your own body–even having too much water can be poisonous. That’s why taking too many health supplements without any medical advice can cause a plethora of complications that you don’t want to suffer from. If you’re really struggling with weight loss consult with a doctor about bariatric surgery instead. Here are some examples of complications caused by taking health supplements:
- diarrhea
- birth defects
- hypercalcemia (having too much calcium in your blood)
- reduced bone density
- liver damage
- Some health supplements have been contaminated with drugs
Unfortunately, you can’t fully guarantee the safety of these health supplements as some of them have been found with laxatives, antidepressants, and cancer-causing drugs which can ultimately result to:
- sudden death syndrome
- heart failure
- stroke
- arrhythmia
The FDA doesn’t necessarily examine these health supplements before they’re sold to the market, therefore, full precaution has to be observed in order to avoid further complications in your health. You should be very careful in whatever you intake, and you should also ask for your doctor’s advice before committing to any of these health supplements. For more information, follow supplement investigator for more health tips.
Trevor Gilligan
Trevor Gilligan is a writer contributing pieces for Supplement Investigator. His interests lie in the health and nutrition niche, being a fitness enthusiast himself. Trevor strives to provide creative flair in his articles, which he also ensures are informative and entertaining for his readers. He spends his free time painting.