With so much news related to the benefits of supplements from brands like Thorne Research at Supplement First, you may be wondering if this is what can replace a “bad” diet filled with fast food. After all, with so many tasks to perform daily, we tend to fall off the wagon and succumb to eating quick, processed meals to get through the day. Does that mean supplements are our savior and can help counter a bad diet? Short answer: No. While supplements have benefits for certain communities, they should not replace your need for a varied diet. Read on to find out why.
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Healthy Diets Are More Important
Consuming enough nutrients in your diet can reduce the risk of death. On the contrary, consuming nutrients in dietary supplements doesn’t have such effects. There have been studies that countered the effects of nutrients taken from a diet versus supplementation, and the results have shown consistency in how a varied diet can lessen the risk of early mortality compared to taking supplements.
That said, we are not canceling out the benefits of supplements from reputable brands like Vital Nutrients at Supplement First. Nutritional supplements are still useful in complementing an already healthy diet, as it helps make up for any deficiencies caused by medication or certain conditions.
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Supplements May Cause Side Effects
Research has shown that supplements can cause side effects, especially when taken in excessive amounts. On the other hand, consuming too many nutrients in food does not cause the same side effects.
A study showed that excessive calcium intake is associated with a higher risk of cancer death, as well as those who took excessive amounts of vitamin D.
To prevent such alarming effects, it is important to consult your doctor about how much nutrients you need to take and if there are nutrients you must take n supplementation form. Make sure you follow your doctor in terms of dosage to prevent minor and serious side effects.
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You May Not Require Supplements At All
Supplements aren’t made to replace poor diets. As the name suggests, they are only there to help supplement an individual’s diet if they are not able to get enough of certain nutrients due to a medical condition or restrictive diet. Only certain communities will require supplements:
- Those on a strict diet due to religious or ethical reasons, like vegetarians and vegans
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women
- Those with allergies
- Older individuals may not have the same nutrient absorption abilities compared to before.
If you are not part of the communities mentioned above, you may want to reconsider taking supplements and only take them as recommended by your doctor. However, if you follow a generally varied diet, you might not need them at all.
Wrapping It Up
Now that you know about the importance of a balanced diet, make sure you speak with your doctor about getting started with a healthy meal plan and supplementation, if necessary.
