In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and obtaining all the essential vitamins and minerals for a balanced diet can be a challenge. Factors such as a lack of awareness, busy schedules, and unhealthy habits make it difficult to consistently prepare nutrient-rich meals. The required micronutrient intake varies based on factors such as gender, activity level, dietary preferences, age, health status, and medication use. Nutritional imbalances may lead to symptoms that can be easily overlooked but stem from vitamin deficiency or mineral deficiency.
This is where nutritional supplements play a vital role in enhancing our daily diets and ensuring we receive the essential nutrients needed for overall health and wellness. These supplements, rich in vitamins and minerals, contribute to our well-being, making us feel and look better.
Components of a Wholesome, Nutrient-rich Meal Plan: A balanced diet should provide us with all the vital nutrients needed to stay fit and healthy in order to tackle both mental and physical challenges:
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Proteins
- Essential fatty acids
- Carbohydrates
- Probiotics, and more
Modern lifestyles characterized by inadequate nutrition – such as skipping meals or opting for fast food – often necessitate the use of dietary supplements to bridge dietary gaps.
Addressing Nutritional Gaps for Better Health: Obtaining the appropriate amounts of essential vitamins and minerals is crucial for long-term immune system, bone, joint, and heart health. Nutritional supplements help close dietary gaps to maintain or boost the nutrient density in our bodies, thus promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Improving Nutrient Absorption: Malabsorption occurs when the body fails to absorb enough nutrients from food. Prolonged use of antibiotics or laxatives can also lead to nutrient malabsorption. Nutritional supplements aid in preventing the loss of vital vitamins and minerals, ensuring effective nutrient absorption.
EXAMPLES OF NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS:
- Calcium and Vitamin D support bone health and minimize bone loss.
- Folic acid reduces the risk of specific birth defects.
- Supplementation can lower the risk of chronic diseases and decrease long-term healthcare expenses, benefiting both your body and wallet. For instance, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may help some individuals with heart disease.