What to Know About Natural Supplements

Many people use dietary supplements. Tons of publications with health tips recommend them due to their strong effects. Whether you have a few herbal supplements on your bathroom counter or many bottles in the medicine cabinet, you aren't alone.The use of dietary supplements has been increasing continuously year after year.They have been around on the market for many decades. When herb medicinal options were stocked in drug stores in the 1940s, people lined up for them immediately. The claims that they can increase energy and help with various health conditions without the need for a pharmacist have been very attractive to public.

What Are Dietary Supplements?

A supplement contains concentrated amounts of nutrients that have physiological benefits. They are marketed as tablets, capsules, powder, or liquid forms.Most frequently, supplements include vitamins, minerals herbal products, also known as botanicals, mushroom extracts. 

What Are They Used For?

People take supplements to make sure they get enough essential nutrients and to maintain or improve their health. Manufacturers create them as alternatives or complementary to medications to support bodily processes and functions. Many have one active ingredient to address one or more issues like a heart condition or hormonal deficiency or to fill a nutritional deficiency.

Others have mixed active ingredients that through different mechanisms help more efficiently improve health and wellness outcomes.

Differences Between Synthetic and Natural Herbal Supplements

A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources or from synthetic manufacturing in order to increase the quantity of their consumption.

So what distinguishes health supplements is whether they are natural or synthetic. Both types address similar types of health concerns but are obtained through different manufacturing processes.

Synthetic supplements are created in a lab through chemical and physical processes. The structure in synthetic supplements tends to be nearly the same as those in nature; however, the production methods are much different between the 2 types. Natural supplements are derived from plants, from whole foods sources in the diet and include herbal extracts, enzymes, vitamins, and other substances usable by the human body. Synthetic supplements are mainly multi vitamin supplements and minerals like vitamin D, zinc, vitamin C, iron, and B12, calcium, copper, folic acid, vitamin A.

There are benefits and drawbacks to both, which makes it important to determine which is best for you. Main differences between the two types of supplements are related to absorption and risk of overconsumption.(https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/synthetic-vs-natural-nutrients-whats-the-difference).

The Best Brands for Excellent Health

Many supplement brands incorporate not only natural ingredients but also synthetic components like vitamins and minerals. If you want to determine whether a certain supplement is pure natural, the label will indicate this. You may also be able to learn about what ingredients are included in a specific formulation by visiting the company website where the manufacturer places product specifications. Or do a search on the Internet for additional information about health, efficacy, scientific research and purity.

Health supplements offered by manufacturers with quality standards incorporate extracts from herbs, fungi, algae, animals, or other natural sources. Most of these natural ingredients have been used throughout history in traditional, ancient  remedies, for thousands of years. They are in general considered safe to use. However, it is always a good idea to consider allergic reactions, potential (although rare) side effects, and interactions with other drugs that you are already taking before choosing vitamins and supplements to take. While the risks may be low, you should account for them and consider checking with your healthcare provider first.

Final Thoughts

Eating a balanced diet, drinking enough water, exercising, getting good sleep are all great for human health. Supplementation may be needed to meet nutritional needs and fill gaps in diet.In addition, supplements containing various herbs and mushrooms extracts help you achieve certain health goals and your overall desired well-being.