December 5th, 2019 | Updated on June 25th, 2021
Vitamins and supplements are tools that can be used to help balance nutrition. They can help fill nutritional gaps or help provide additional nutrition for people like athletes and bodybuilders.
1. Supplements With Strong Scientific Support
Everyone has unique nutritional needs and therefore it’s hard to recommend supplements without knowing a person specifically.
However, there are a few supplements that have such overwhelming scientific support that it is almost tempting to do so.
1. Magnesium
Magnesium helps the body produce hundreds of essential compounds known as enzymes. These compounds help your body digest food, produce energy, and even form new memories.
Magnesium is found in leafy green vegetables, nuts, and meats. Research suggests that most Americans do not get enough magnesium from diet alone and therefore, may benefit from supplementation.
2. Vitamin D
Vitamin D describes a series of hormone compounds that help support immune health, bone health, and may even help lower the risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD.) Research has found a strong correlation between low levels of maternal vitamin D and Autism.
3. Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine is a fatty acid found in many plans, such as sunflowers and soybeans. Most commercial PS supplements are soy-derived but there is a handful out there made from sunflower.
PS has earned a bonafide FDA-approved health claim status for the treatment of age-related cognitive decline.
4. Dietary Fiber
Diets high in fiber have been associated with longer lifespans and better overall health. Eating foods high in fiber can help put you into this lower-risk category, but supplements are often more convenient.
After all, there is only so much one stomach can hold. There are several different types of fiber including soluble, insoluble, fermenting, and non-fermenting. The best fiber supplement is psyllium.
2. Finding High-Quality Supplements
Regardless of the supplements you buy and/or take, and it should be understood that higher quality products are better choices.
These are the supplements that have purer ingredients, are free of common allergens like soy, and are formulated by scientific teams. Anything else is a disservice to yourself.
To find quality supplement brands, one must first know how to consider supplement quality.
The FDA doesn’t regulate supplements in the same fashion as prescription medications. Supplement brands are freer to omit critical quality control measures without fear of the immediate penalty.
This is why buying from trusted brands is important. Here are a few of the most important aspects of supplements to consider
- GMP Quality
- USP Quality Ingredients
- No unnecessary fillers or additives
- No artificial sweeteners or flavoring
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Certified Organic Ingredients (When Possible)
Each of these considerations is important as they reflect the overall quality of the products. Also, it is important to know where to buy supplements as well.
Websites like Amazon.com are great for finding low prices but sometimes sell inferior, counterfeit, or expired products. These websites are the best places to buy supplements:
- Vitacost.com
- Pureformulas.com
- iHerb.com
- eVitamins.com
- VitaminShoppe.com
This is a very simplified discussion of a very complex, very important topic. This list of the best supplement brands provides some more information and resources. Dietary supplements are great tools but come with a great amount of consumer responsibility.
3. Final Thoughts
The power of dietary supplements is characterized by the individual. If one knows their unique nutritional needs, supplements can provide a great advantage.
On the other hand, casually taking supplements without specific knowledge of one’s nutritional needs is a fool’s errand.
That said, the supplements listed here are likely to be useful for most people, as reported by many clinical studies.
Health Disclaimer :
Information provided by Newszii.com does in no way substitute for qualified medical opinion. Any text, videos or any other material provided by us should be considered as generic information only. Any health related information may vary from person to person, hence we advice you to consult specialists for more information.
