Are nutrient supplements essential for everyone?

Rushing into the pharmacy to buy Paracetamol or crocin or azithromycin, you may notice plenty before the billing desk which pharmacist suggest on offers & deals to avail: If it's a toothbrush you are not hesitant but, when it comes to cod liver oil, whey protein tin, herbal products, botanicals, anti-aging or whatever listed as dietary, nutritional supplements, you pinch yourself why I need to buy it?.

All you buy and consume consists of three main categories: 

1. Essentials & Must have - It's not by choice, like or dislike but, inevitable to purchase.

2. Wish to have in particular  - Decided based on economical standards, limited to push & pull buying desire according to  the stuff in your purse.

3. May have or not - Associated to lavishness, New to market, Offer/Deal in the sale, believe that it defines altered lifestyle

People are provided continuous information through media about these supplements that they get enough essential nutrients and to maintain or improve their health.

Why the hesitation comes to you perhaps to go for it or not?

Supplements may have side effects if taken before surgery or with other medicines in particular. It also causes problems for people with certain health conditions, few have to be barred from consumption by children because they are not tested in children, pregnant women. So talk with your health care provider if you’re thinking about taking dietary supplements. 

The only exception is multi-vitamin capsules, which serve as antioxidants to prevent cell damage and help to maintain health. Is sure that supplements won't cure, treat the disease but, help indirectly to prevent it. Again, it's common thought by people that supplements are for sexual delight or sports especially athletes or heavyweight championship participants.

Coming to dietary supplements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves them as foods, not as drugs. Just because a supplement is promoted as “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe. Few herbs can damage visual sight & liver. With supplements, we are not sure about its chemical dynamics, preparation measures, and how it collaborates with other drugs you take along with it.

“It’s possible to get all of the nutrients you need by eating a variety of healthy foods, so you don’t have to take one,” says Carol Haggans, a registered dietitian, and consultant to NIH. “But supplements can be useful for filling in gaps in your diet.”

% Daily Value (DV) for each nutrient shouldn't exceed the upper limit,” says doctors. Too many certain supplements can be harmful.

“Deciding whether to take dietary supplements and which ones to take is a serious matter,” says Coates. “Learn about their potential benefits and any risks they may pose first. Speak to your health care providers about products of interest and decide together what might be best for you to take, if anything, for your overall health.”