What are Health Supplements and Importance for Human Body
Did you know? India has one of the highest diabetes cases and it’s predicted that over 80 million people will be diabetic in the country by 2030.
The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the health supplement market to a great extent. Consumers’ demand for health supplements is increasing as they look forward to supporting their immune health, boosting overall wellness, and reducing anxiety due to the pandemic. The awareness among consumers about preventive healthcare has increased to a great extent.
According to a survey conducted by Rakuten Insight on dietary supplements in India, around 67 percent of respondents who took dietary supplements or nutraceuticals had increased the frequency of consuming them after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In FY2020, the Indian Dietary Supplement Market has valued at USD 3924.44 Million and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 17.28% until FY2026, to reach USD 10,198.57 Million by FY2026.
The world is growing crazy as the numbers of consumers are increasingly shifting towards preventive healthcare. This changing trend would step up the country’s health supplement market.
So, what are health supplements, and what is their importance in the human body? Here, in this blog, we aim to provide you with all the answers. So, feel free to jump in.
What are Health Supplements?
“Supplements are meant to be supplementary — meaning they enhance benefits already provided by eating a well-rounded diet,” explains Dr. Millstein.
Vitamins and minerals are essential to help your body development and do the required functions. While most people get all the Vitamins and minerals that are recommended for eating healthy, others need a little extra nutrient boost.
That’s where health supplements come in — providing you with the support your body needs to stay healthy.
Health supplements come in a variety of forms like tablets, capsules, and powders, as well as they, are available in the form of drinks and energy bars. You can easily buy health supplements online or offline from stores nearby.
Most people take health supplements with the impression that these health supplements will increase their energy, maintain their strength, enhance their performance, maintain health and prevent any type of nutritional deficiencies.
Do you require a Health Supplement?
Below are the following groups of people who may require Health Supplements:
- People who are consuming fewer than 1600 calories per day
- Pregnant and breast-feeding women
- Chronic diarrhea
- Food allergies and food intolerances
Supplements are a versatile group of products. The components that one can find on their labels differ.
The most common Health supplement-nutrients are:
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Herbs
- Amino acids
- Enzymes
- Fatty Acids
- Probiotics
Health supplements that may benefit your health include:
- Vitamin B12 helps keep nerve and blood cells healthy, make DNA, and prevent anemia
- Vitamin D, which can strengthen bones
- Calcium can promote bone health
- Vitamins C and E prevent cell damage
- Fish oil, which can support heart health
- Zinc, promotes skin health and slows down vision loss from age-related macular degeneration
- Melatonin, which can help counteract jet lag
A study based on 10 years of data revealed that 18% of adults and about 5% of children used health supplements other than vitamins and minerals.
Based on a survey from 2019, the most popular products were (with the corresponding percentages of people that used them):
- Multivitamins (58%)
- Vitamin D (31%)
- Vitamin C (38%)
- Protein (21%)
- Calcium (20%)
- B-complex vitamins (20%)
- Omega-3 fatty acids (16%)
- Green tea (15%)
- Magnesium (14%)
- Probiotics (13%)
- Iron (13%)
- Vitamin E (12%)
- Turmeric (12%)
What are the things to keep in mind before consuming any health supplements?
- You must consult your healthcare provider as well as take approval before you buy health supplements online or offline for consumption in place of or in combination with the prescribed medicines to treat any health condition.
- If you will be going through any surgical procedure, talk with your healthcare provider in advance about any supplements you take.
- The word “Natural” doesn’t always mean it’s safe. Some all-natural botanical products like comfrey and kava can harm your liver. A supplement’s safety is based on many things, such as its chemical composition, how it will work in the body, how it’s prepared, and your intake amount.
- Before taking any health supplements, always collect answers to the below-listed questions from the healthcare providers
- What are the potential benefits of the health supplement for me?
- Does the health supplement have any safety risks?
- What is the proper dose to take the health supplement?
- How, when, and for how long should I take the health supplement?
