• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Joy of Wellness

Living better and longer, Natural Health

Main navigation

The Joy of Wellness

What? Would you like to find?
Browse by categories
  • Weight Loss
  • Health and Beauty
  • Diets and Nutrition
  • Natural Remedies
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Life in Fullness
  • The Joy of Wellness from A to Z
  • All topics

Dietary Supplements: Advantages and Disadvantges

  • Properties and uses of Jasmine Essential Oil
  • Digestion, Health, and Chlorella

Published: 11/26/2015 - Updated: 03/08/2020

Author: Dra. Loredana Lunadei, PhD

There’s no doubt about it: the best way to get the nutrients that the body requires is through healthy foods.  However, as our current diet becomes more and more deficient (nutritionally speaking) seeking supplements seems like the best alternative.  Although it could be a good idea to take them, you also need to do so responsibly in order to decide which supplements are best for you.
Dietary Supplements

Contents

  • Disadvantages of consuming dietary supplements
  • Advantages of consuming dietary supplements
  • Recommendations when taking dietary supplements

Disadvantages of consuming dietary supplements

Whenever talking about supplements, we generally think that this is something healthy that’s going to improve health.   There are some disadvantages, however, that go along with consuming things that, often times, we don’t even fully understand.

Food is healthier: Although you’ve heard that taking supplements is an excellent way to stay healthy, it’s important that you recognize that the healthiest option is simply to obtain these nutrients from your food.  Supplements don’t always imitate the nutritional value contained in food, nor the unique combination of nutrients that each food offers.  Nutrients consumed directly from foods have also been proven to be more easily absorbed than the majority of nutrients consumed in supplements.

Side effects: Although supplements contain nutrients that are normally consumed via the diet, they could also produce side effects if consumed in excess.  For example, in high doses zinc could cause vomiting, nausea, and also certain allergic reactions.  Excessive vitamin A could damage the liver or cause headaches, just to name a few examples.

Negative interactions with medication: Supplements can also cause medications to be less effective, although this is not common.  You should always let your doctor day before including any sort of supplement into your diet, especially if you’re undergoing any sort of treatment.

Poor quality: Because dietary supplements are not regulated in the same way medications are, you could easily find poor quality supplements.  These may not work, and they may also create unwanted side effects.  To avoid consuming poor quality supplements, we recommend using a reliable laboratory and avoid any that promise miracles or unrealistic effects.  It is quite likely that this is simply a bunch of talk.

Misleading advertising: Unfortunately, not all supplements are the same quality as those previously mentioned.  Often times products can turn out to be something other than what you had expected, or they are not effective because they don’t contain the necessary amount of active ingredients to affect the body.  That’s why it is always a good idea to look at the active ingredients list in your supplement before buying it.

Advantages of consuming dietary supplements

In spite of their disadvantages, we can’t overlook the fact that supplements can be a good alternative, if used responsibly and with the appropriate understanding.

  • Blood Circulation and Quality Blood
    MORE IN THE JOY OF WELLNESS
    Blood Circulation and Quality Blood

They help balance a poor diet: If your diet is not sufficiently varied, you might have certain dietary deficiencies.  In this case, supplements are a perfect alternative for improving your nutrition, although we always recommend that you try to make healthy dietary changes first.

General health benefits: Although not all supplements are recommended for just any condition, some, like folic acid, don’t have any side effects and can be consumed regularly.  It helps prevent a certain type of anemia and birth defects for pregnant women.  A lot of health professionals recommend that any fertile woman that wants to get pregnant takes a folic acid supplement.

Prevents illness: Some supplements can be useful for preventing the development of certain diseases.  Iron, for example, can be used for people that need increased amounts of iron, such as pregnant women, in order to prevent anemia.  Other illnesses can also be prevented by consuming different supplements.  Some vitamins with antioxidant properties, for example, can be used to prevent diseases related to vision.  Supplements are often times recommended to prevent dietary deficiencies.

Recommendations when taking dietary supplements

Responsible supplement consumption can be very beneficial for the body.  That’s why it’s important to follow a few recommendations before including a supplement in your diet:

  • Always see your doctor before starting any type of supplement. 
  • Don’t use supplements as a substitute for medication, especially without seeing your doctor.
  • Read the labels.
  • Try to choose supplements from trustworthy laboratories.
  • Do not consume in excess.  Your dosage level must be safe.  When supplements are consumed in excess they could cause different health problems, depending on your case.
  • Do not take supplements that don’t clearly indicate their contents.
  • Get informed about side effects that your chosen supplement could cause.
  • Follow directions on the label, and those from your doctor.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Loading...

About the author

By Dra. Loredana Lunadei, PhD

Dr. Lunadei is a specialist in dietetics, nutrition and healthy eating. She studied at the University of Milan where she obtained her degree and doctorate. This is her Linkedin.

Reader Interactions

You may also be interested

  • Henna, a natural option for dying your hair Henna, a natural option for dying your hair Dying your hair is very common today, both in women and men.  It's stylish and [...]
  • High Cholesterol: Super Effective Avocado Diet for Lowering it High Cholesterol: Super Effective Avocado Diet for Lowering it Avocados are one of the most rewarding fruits, with some of the most healing properties [...]
  • Diabetes should not be lethal; Three keys to controlling it Diabetes should not be lethal; Three keys to controlling it If you have diabetes, don't worry.  While it is true that this is a delicate [...]

You are here: The Joy of Wellness » Alternative Medicine » Dietary Supplements: Advantages and Disadvantges

All about Health and Beauty

  • Prevent and soften wrinkles around the lips Prevent and soften wrinkles around the lips A very delicate and sensitive skin surrounds the lips, almost as sensitive as the area [...]
  • Henna, a natural option for dying your hair Henna, a natural option for dying your hair Dying your hair is very common today, both in women and men.  It's stylish and [...]
  • 7 Tips to Stop Eating Meat for living healthier 7 Tips to Stop Eating Meat for living healthier Meat is the main source of high biological quality protein for most of us.  It is [...]
  • Martial Arts and their health benefits Martial Arts and their health benefits The fascination with martial arts has been caused largely by films, where fighters play the [...]
  • Diabetes should not be lethal; Three keys to controlling it Diabetes should not be lethal; Three keys to controlling it If you have diabetes, don't worry.  While it is true that this is a delicate [...]
Footer
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2023 · The Joy of Wellness
   
Disclaimer  About Us  Cookies Policy  Privacy Policy  Contact  Topics
The services, content and products on our website are for information purposes only. The Joy of Wellness does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment