While food supplements should never replace a balanced and healthy diet, they can provide a useful top up for people who smoke and drink to excess, or who fall into certain demographic categories that put them at risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Lifestyle Factors
A side effect of smoking arethe free radicals created in our bodies which deplete it of vitamins and minerals. Food supplements can provide a key role in replacing those vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C food supplements can help reduce nicotine cravings and vitamin E food supplements can help reduce the heart attack risks that comes with smoking.
Alcohol depletes your body of vitamins and minerals because they are needed by your liver to metabolise the alcohol. Food supplements containing vitamin C, magnesium, and B complex vitamins are some of the things that can help your body restore itself to its natural equilibrium after a big night out.
While a lot of people get all the vitamins and minerals they need from a balanced diet, there are also plenty of people who do not. It is this group who need food supplements.
While takeaway based diets can contain protein and carbohydrates, they are often lacking in folate, iron, calcium and fibre – all critical for good ongoing health.
Another group of people who often need food supplements because of lifestyle factors are vegans. In many ways a healthy way to live, vegans can also be missing some key vitamins and minerals. Food supplements containing vitamin C, vitamin D, long chain omega-3s, iron, calcium and zinc should also be considered by vegans.
If you think your lifestyle could be causing you to miss out on essential vitamins and minerals, food supplements can be an appropriate course of action. If in doubt, check in with your Doctor.
Demographic Factors
We all know older people are at heightened risk of osteoporosis because of calcium deficiencies. Calcium based food supplements are commonly taken by older people to help manage this risk.
In addition, older people can need vitamin B12 food supplements. Vitamin B12 is important. It helps create red blood cells and maintain a healthy nerve function. If you’re older (or not so old) and not eating enough fruits and vegetables, you run the risk of a folate deficiency. Again, food supplements can help out.
In summary, vitamin B12, calcium, and folate are the key areas where food supplements can help older people.
Younger in years are women of child bearing age. Reduced rates of certain vitamins and minerals can reduce the chance of conception. Depending on your point of view, this may or may not be a bad thing. But it’s overall impact on your body is negative.
Although you may not yet be pregnant, you want your body to be in the best shape possible if you do fall pregnant to avert issues during pregnancy. Women of child bearing age need to think about their folate levels and vitamin B12 levels. Low levels of folate can increase the risk of problems like spina bifida and anencephaly. Food supplements can help keep your folate and vitamin B12 levels up.
Finally, breastfeeding Moms… You’re looking after two people. Your milk needs to be full of nutrients to give your baby the best possible start to life. Food supplements can boost your vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and iodine levels – all crucial to a baby’s development.
Overall
Food supplements are not a replacement for a healthy and balanced diet. But most people don’t eat ideal diets. Food supplements can help them turbo charge their health.
