Nutritional Supplements - What Are They?

Nutritional supplements are a subject of some controversy among medical professionals. Some feel that a proper diet is all that's needed to keep you healthy, while others see a legitimate case for the judicious use of vitamin and mineral supplements. Let's take a look at some of the reasons you may want to add nutritional supplements to your healthy eating plan.

The commercial vegetable grower may not practice crop rotation, growing his green beans in the same location year after year. This causes soil depletion, robbing the crop of many valuable nutrients. The green bean that ends up on your dinner plate may not contain the vitamins and minerals a nutritional table leads you to expect. Many vitamins and minerals work in concert. If one is missing, another partner nutrient in the food may not be absorbed. There you have one case begging for  nutritional supplements.

As we age, certain nutrients become more difficult for our bodies to assimilate. This is particularly true of the B vitamins. Children and teens require some nutrients in greater  amounts than adults. Calcium, magnesium and zinc are especially important, as are vitamin A, C and E. Moreover, calcium, magnesium and zinc must be in specific ratios to do their jobs and many processed foods skew these ratios or even eliminate them, rendering them virtually useless. The teenager's bane of skin blemishes is often due to inadequate amounts of vitamins A, C and E. People with poor night vision usually suffer from a lack of vitamin A. Do you bruise easily? Perhaps a lack of vitamin D is the culprit.

Certain diseases and health conditions can be partially or completely remedied with proper nutritional supplements. For example, some women are more prone to yeast infections than others. Causes may be genetic or dietary. Yeast feeds on sugar, so excessive sugar intake may promote these infections. At the same time, vitamin K helps keep the bacteria candiasis in check with a proper balance of 'good' and 'bad' bacteria. Therefore, some women may benefit from nutritional supplements of vitamin K.

It's important to note that nutritional supplements are not all equally effective. Often, the cheaper supplements are not in a form that's readily absorbed or may even have undesirable side effects. Vitamin C made from rose hips are more readily absorbed and does not irritate your stomach like vitamin C derived from ascorbic acid. There's much to know when it comes to choosing the right nutritional supplements. It's a good idea to consult with a knowledgeable person at your local health food store or visit an online vendor of supplements to be sure you're getting a product your body can use.

Nutritional supplements can be a boon to your health when properly chosen and applied. Your family physician can provide valuable information on supplements as they may relate to your specific conditions. Do yourself a favor and look into the possible benefits for you and your family. To your good health!