Feeding of Dietary Botanical Supplements and Teas to Infants in the United States
Did you know that more than two-thirds of Americans take at least one dietary supplement daily? This industry is rapidly growing, but along with the rapidly growing industry comes a lot of questions. While some experts say dietary supplements are the perfect way to supplement your diet and fill in the gaps where your nutrition is lacking, others question the safety behind these supplements.
Dietary Supplement Regulation
There are many rumors concerning dietary supplements, and one of the most common is that they are unregulated. However, the rumor is merely that. In fact, The 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) regulates the labeling and safety of all dietary supplements on the market. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) administers the DSHEA Act, and it includes stringent guidelines to ensure safety. For one, the company producing the supplement must maintain a sanitary facility and test each raw ingredient that comes into the facility before going into their products.
While testing isn't required on dietary supplements the way it is on prescription medications, the DSHEA helps ensure some safety for consumers. Even with this practice, consumers question how they can know if a supplement is safe?
According to the DSHEA guidelines, dietary supplements are only permitted to contain ingredients that the FDA have reviewed and regulated. An additional act called the 2006 Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act helps protect consumers by requiring manufacturers to notify the FDA of any side-effects that are associated with the dietary supplement they product. Certain supplements that are beneficial, like the benefits of fish oil capsules can benefit greatly from this act, as it encourages manufacturers to produce products that contain lower levels of mercury than they had in the past. In fact, you can find fish oil capsules that contain little to no mercury at all, as labeled on the product packaging.
Any dietary supplements that pose a serious health risk to consumers can be taken right off the shelves. The FDA can force the company from producing the product altogether to keep consumers safe. Consumers can also report any problems with supplements they are taking. While it may take a while, the FDA will eventually become aware of the issue and will look into it and determine the proper course of action.
Beneficial Supplements and Steps to Safety
Even though there is a regulatory system for dietary supplements, it's important that you be proactive on your end. Certain supplements can provide you with a variety of benefits, but they aren't all made the same. Some are created with high-quality ingredients that are better absorbed by the body. Also, the fillers within the supplements can vary by-product. Looking at the inactive ingredients is just as important as the action to avoid potential side-effects to allergy-producing products like gelatin or nuts. If you're in the market for dietary supplements and don't know where to start, here's a list of the most popular dietary supplements on the market today and the benefits they can provide.
- Vitamin D Benefits: Essential in regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D helps keep your immune system running normally. Healthy levels of Vitamin D keep bones and teeth healthy and can even prevent certain diseases.
- Vitamin B Benefits: Vitamin B is essential for energy and cell production. B vitamins are commonly deficient because they are excreted through the urine regularly and need to be replenished. Vitamin B can even help with anemia, weak muscles, and even depression.
- Vitamin C Benefits: Vitamin C is great for the immune system, as it protects it against deficiencies. It can also be effective in preventing prenatal health problems, eye disease, and may even prevent skin wrinkling.
While buying dietary supplements can feel overwhelming, the regulatory system in place can help put your mind at ease. When buying supplements, start off the three most important and commonly consumed supplements listed above and do your research. By researching brands and their reputation and ingredients, you'll keep yourself informed and make a safe decision for your nutritional supplementation needs.
Source: https://www.questionsanswered.net/article/a-guide-to-dietary-supplements?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740012%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex&ueid=d4d60956-1da7-4a56-8586-ccee3c7e7a62