Choosing The Right Supplements: Knowing What Your Body Needs

Somebody conditions may not allow you to get the requisite nutrients from the foods you eat. For instance, underlying medical conditions, like Crohn’s disease, make it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients. Thus, you may be eating as required but still be deficient in some nutrients.

In such cases, you’d want to use supplements to make up for the deficiencies. But you must always check with a healthcare professional before using supplements, as not all of them may be right for your body. With that in mind, here are some common supplements with a brief discussion on why and when you should choose them:

Vitamin Supplements

Your body needs vitamins for nearly every process and function, including metabolism, heart health, fertility, bone health, and immunity. So, make sure you have the correct levels of each vitamin type in your body. These include vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B12, C, D, E, and K.

The following conditions may lead to lower levels of vitamins in your body, for which you’ll need supplements:

• If you’re pregnant, you need to take Vitamin A supplements to prevent complications during childbirth
• If you’re a vegetarian, you may lack Vitamin B12, which is commonly found in non-vegetarian foods like beef, animal organs, and seafood.
• If you have a bleeding disorder from injuries
• If you have food allergies
• If you take substances such as alcohol and drugs

With the conditions above, you’d want to purchase the necessary vitamin supplements. It’s essential to order from reputable shops, bearing in mind that counterfeits abound. You may want to click here for a reliable online pharmacy that stocks a wide range of vitamin supplements and many others.

Also, remember to consult your healthcare provider before purchasing vitamin supplements. They can provide expert advice on exactly what your body needs.

Mineral Supplements

Vitamins work hand in hand with minerals to support several body functions. Essential body minerals include sodium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, potassium, magnesium, and chloride. Aside from these macrominerals, you need microminerals like iodine, zinc, manganese, iron, and fluoride. Each of these has specific functions in the body. Below is a brief breakdown of some of the mineral supplements and conditions that may require you to take them:

Calcium Supplements

You may have to take calcium supplements if you suffer from rickets, abnormal heart rhythms, or premenstrual syndrome.

Iron Supplements

If you have anemia, perhaps due to the absence of healthy blood cells, you may need to take iron supplements.

Magnesium Supplements

These supplements are necessary if you suffer from seizures, numbness, or muscle contractions, which may make you nauseous, tired, or weak. Taking magnesium supplements may help alleviate the symptoms.

Specialty Supplements

Specialty supplements target health aspects like increased energy, improved brain function, joint health, boosted immunity, and reduced stress. So, if you have conditions that compromise any of these health qualities, consider taking specialty supplements to reverse the effects. Below are some specialty supplements you may need concerning your specific condition:

Fiber Supplements

If you have constipation, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids, you need to take fiber supplements to ease discomfort.

Omega-3 Supplements

Omega-3 fatty acids come from seafood, flaxseed, nuts, plant oils, and fortified foods like yogurt. Deficiency in Omega-3 may lead to rough, scaly skin and red, swollen, itchy rashes. So, if you lack this nutrient, perhaps due to rheumatoid arthritis, you’ll need to take dietary supplements like fish oil.

Weight Management Supplements

Being overweight is a common health issue nowadays. It’s primarily a result of eating a lot of processed foods and a lack of exercise. Fortunately, you can use supplements to assist with weight loss. They work in three major ways:

• Reduce appetite to help you reduce calorie intake
• Reduce the absorption of fat
• Increase fat burning

There’s a wide assortment of weight loss supplements on the market. But take only the ones suggested by your health professional for the best results.

Herbal Supplements

Some leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots are rich in essential nutrients. Here’s a quick breakdown of herbal supplements and their primary functions in the body:

• Turmeric may help if you have chronic pain or anxiety.
• Ginseng is believed to boost energy levels and improve brain function.
• Ginkgo biloba may help lower the risk of heart diseases and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
• Elderberry is reportedly effective in treating the common cold.
• Garlic may help if you have a cardiovascular condition.
• St John’s Wort is reportedly helpful in easing depression.
• Green tea may help if you have low cholesterol or would like to lose weight.

Conclusion

Knowing your body’s needs is critical to picking the right supplements. So, check with your dietician or other medical professionals to know what supplements will work well for your body. You wouldn’t want to encounter any unpleasant side effects. Most importantly, purchase them from reliable online or local stores with a proven track record for carrying high-quality products.