A food or dietary supplement is intended to provide nutrients that may otherwise not be consumed in
sufficient quantities.
Supplements as generally understood to include vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids,
or amino acids,
among other substances. U.S. authorities define dietary supplements as foods,
while elsewhere they may be classified as drugs or other products.
These products are not intended to prevent or treat any disease and in
some circumstances are dangerous, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. For those
who fail to consume a balanced diet, the agency says that certain supplements
"may have value.
Food supplements are
not medicines; they are intended to improve health problems. They can be
used before or during medical treatments, during the period of
physical or mental distressed condition, such as exams period of time. The
food supplements serve memory, strengthens the immune system, bring a boost of
vitamins and minerals, prevent atherosclerosis and kidney stones, etc.
Most supplements should be avoided, and usually people should not eat
micronutrients except people with clearly shown deficiency. Those people should first consult a
doctor. An exception is vitamin D, which is recommended in Nordic
countries due to weak
sunlight.
