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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Dietary Supplements

Health Benefits of Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplement is becoming a hot topic for discussion because of the health benefits it promises. People take vitamins and minerals supplement to improve over all health, as dietary supplements or in case of any deficiency of that particular vitamins or minerals.

Dietary supplements are products that intend to supplement a diet and contain vitamins, minerals, herbs and other substances to improve diet. Dietary supplements can be in the form of capsules, pills, powders or liquid form. All dietary supplement products are regulated by FDA before they are sold in market and action is taken by them against those products that make false claims and are not safe to use.

Dietary supplements are becoming a part of conventional medicine or complementary and alternative medicine. Some of the dietary supplements play important role in maintaining health.

Folic acid vitamin when taken by a pregnant lady helps to prevent birth defects in her baby and a good regime of zinc and vitamins help to taper down the progression of age related macular degeneration (eye disease).

There are various dietary supplements available in the market that makes various claims like

  1. Health claim describing a relation between foods with dietary supplement ingredient and preventing or reducing risk of a particular health condition.
  2. Structure or functional claims describes how the product can affect the organ/system of the body.
  3. Nutrient claim describes the amount of nutrient or dietary substances like vitamins, minerals and herbs in the product.

Points to remember while taking a dietary supplement

  1. Inform your physician about any dietary supplement you use, and also talk to him if you are pregnant, lactating or have any health related problems. This will help him to guide you in the right direction. Dietary supplements taken with weight loss diet should also be informed to your physician.
  2. In case of any side effects, discontinue taking that supplement.
  3. Can the supplement interact with any food or drugs you are consumed.
  4. Always take recommended doses only and never take larger doses.
  5. Read the label for contents on the dietary supplement before taking it.
  6. Remember that by law any dietary supplement product cannot claim that it can treat a condition or cure a disease.
  7. Dietary supplements cannot be replaced with healthy foods in diet; they can just be products that can be added to a well balanced diet containing whole foods.
  8. Knowledge and affordability of that supplement.

The best way of taking your daily doses of vitamins, minerals and other essential components of food is including a healthy balanced meal in your daily diet.

Is Belladonna Herb Safe To Use Topically?

Belladonna is an herb that is used to cure a variety of ailments. It is widely used in cosmetics as well. It is generally used as an ingredient in ointments, medications, and skin creams.

Some of the belladonna herb uses are:
• It is used to cure a variety of inflammatory diseases like asthma, whooping cough, hay fever, cold, and flu.
• One of the other belladonna herb benefits is its ability to cure joint pain or rheumatism.
• Belladonna also cures various ailments of the nervous system.

However, Belladonna is also one of the most poisonous herbs and direct topical application may be dangerous, leading to side effects such as palpitation, blurred vision, spasms, and hallucinations. It should only be used as an ingredient in medical and cosmetic preparations in the recommended amount.

How Much Blessed Thistle To Take?

Blessed thistle is a medicinal plant. Its flowers and leaves are used to prepare a tea which is known for its many health benefits.

Some of the blessed thistle health benefits are:
• One of the blessed thistle uses is its ability to promote lactation after pregnancy.
• It may also be used to cure digestive ailments like indigestion, constipation, and flatulence.
• It may also be used to negate the effect of lethal cancer cells or oncogenes.
• Blessed thistle is also anti-inflammatory and helps relieve fever, cold, and the flu.

However, you must not consume more than two to three grams of blessed thistle per cup of tea. If consumed in excess, it may cause side-effects. Some of the blessed thistle side effects are stomach aches, nausea, and allergic reactions.

How Healthy Are Alfalfa Sprouts?

Alfalfa belongs to the pea family of plants. Alfalfa sprouts contain a number of unique antioxidants and compounds which no other single vegetable contains. Therefore, the nutrition provided by alfalfasprouts is unique in itself. In order to get maximum benefits of alfalfa sprouts nutrition you should eat themon an empty stomach early in the morning.

Some of the alfalfa sprouts nutritional health benefits are as follows:
• They keep your digestive system healthy.
• They protect you from bacterial and viral infections.
• They slow down the process of ageing.
• They reduce the risk of heart problems by lowering the cholesterol levels.

How Arginine Lowers Blood Pressure?

Arginine is a type of alpha-amino acid which is generally synthesized in the body. Some common sources of arginine are wheat germ, oatmeal, peanuts, soybean, poultry, cottage cheese, and seafood.

One of the uses of arginine is for regulating blood pressure. You may consume foods rich in arginine for blood flow regulation. Arginine helps lower the blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of coronary heart attack. Arginine produces nitric oxide (NO), a simpler compound of nitrogen. Nitric oxide tones the endothelial lining of the blood vessels, thereby maintaining a smooth flow of blood. It prevents the vessels from constricting, ultimately preventing high blood pressure.
Submitted on January 16, 2014