Dietary supplements refer to any health products and solutions that can supplement our diet. They include vitamins, herbal supplements, Probiotics, digestive enzymes, amino acids, minerals, glandular extracts in addition to dietary fibers etc.
The consumption of dietary supplements continues to be rising each year. Although lots of individuals are convinced that dietary supplements can improve their health or perhaps prevent particular illnesses, some consumer groups or health professionals have warned that dietary supplements might be dangerous. And so, the question is: are dietary supplements really dangerous? Regrettably, the question does not have an easy answer.
Dietary supplements, by the broad definition of its, include a huge number of products that are different. In 2004, Consumer Reports listed twelve potentially deadly dietary supplements. A lot of them are herbal products. Some of these herbs have been used by herbalists for a huge selection of years and are viewed as secure. Nevertheless, when the active substances in these herbs are extracted in concentrated or pure form and consumed over prolonged time, they are able to be harmful to lots of individuals.
Lots of dietary supplements such as vitamins and minerals are safe and can supplement what is missing in the diet of ours. Nevertheless, including the benign supplement may become dangerous in overdose. For news that is local, a woman was reported to give her 2 teenage daughters mega serving of vitamin A testosterone booster for men (visit their website) prolonged time, thinking that the supplement is good for the eyes. Both endured acute liver failure and one called for a liver transplant to save her life. Vitamin A isn't hazardous but mega dose of vitamin A is hepatotoxic. In this instance, ignorance itself is dangerous!
The quality of dietary supplement is additionally a crucial factor. The presence of contaminations, for instance toxic substances, drugs, and heavy metal are able to make a benign supplement dangerous. A good example will be the presence of microcystin toxin in blue green algae dietary supplements. Microcystins are natural toxins from certain strains of blue green algae which might cause liver harm as well as liver tumors. According to the research conducted by Health Canada, only one strain of blue green algae, Spirulina, is free from microcystins as Spirulina is harvested from controlled ponds. Most of the non-Spirulina blue green algae health supplements are contaminated by microcystins, especially those harvested from healthy lakes. Daily eating of these nutritional supplements would exceed the acceptable level of microcystin consumption started by Health Canada and WHO.
Good manufacturing practice (GMP) is another critical factor to safeguard the quality as well as safety of dietary supplements. Dietary supplement makers in conformity of GMP requirements have testing the identity of raw materials, implement an excellent control product, provide expiration date for the completed products, maintain very good records of batch generation plus written procedures, as well hire personnel that are taught to recognize and follow GMP. This process can decrease the chance of getting batch to batch perturbation for power, composition, quality and purity of finished products.
To sum up, although most nutritional supplements are safe when consumed based on the label, customers preferably should educate themselves before taking these supplements. What are the features of these supplements? Just how long should I be using them? Are they manufactured by reputable companies in compliance of good manufacturing practices? Never consume in excess of the recommended measure unless supervised by healthcare professionals. If you're pregnant, breast feeding, or possibly suffering from pre-existing health conditions, you should also take extra precaution and check with your nutritionists or doctors.