We must be clear that food supplements are not drugs, while we find them in the form of tablets and capsules. They are nutrients that, in many cases, we cannot acquire properly from the regular feeding, since current lifestyles don’t always allow it; then, to obtain optimal levels of nutrients is required intake through these products..
The use of natural food supplements in Spain is growing, since there is more awareness among the population about the benefits obtained by preventing nutritional deficiencies that sometimes can cause many health disorders. Those nutrients essential contained in the food supplements are usually: vitamins, minerals, amino acids, supports digestive, nutrients accessories and other natural important substances.
Today there are numerous studies that recognize the importance of the nutrients for general well-being; as well as for the oral health, since shortcomings may also have impact on it. Is by this that every day grows the number of health professional that uses these products in their daily practice.
Currently due to the intense pace of life, we cannot always guarantee an adequate and balanced nutrition. Among other factors, agricultural procedures and processing of food, cause a loss of the value and quality of the nutrients present in them.
Food supplements are usually developed under a range of different formulas to meet the needs of certain groups of people who share some common micronutrient requirements. It is well known that a formula multi nutrient is often the mainstay of a supplementation program. We must know that the correct manufacture of the tablets or capsules is essential. The ultimate purpose is the real absorption in the body.
Fortunately many companies distribute nutrients orthomolecular; all of them offer great information of its proven benefits. There is also a continuous dissemination through internet, Journals of nutrition, scientific studies, presentations etc., showing more and more interest in preventive health. Consumers understand that to be supplemented adequately is natural and fundamental, and when they feel the benefits in their own, satisfaction is immense.
At international and European level are being already recognizing the beneficial effects of food supplements. Thus EFSA in Europe, every day approves and supports to publish and implement the many proven benefits of food supplements. In the same way the CRN or Counsil of Responsible Nutrition of the United States, recommend to the population the use of food supplements to avoid multiple ailments.
The labeling is very important. It must be clear and informative, so that the consumer can know details and ingredients contained in the product. A good labeling must show both active ingredients as inactive, separately, indicating the batch and expiration date for a correct traceability. In this regard LAMBERTS ® is a pioneer. The labeling is informative and accurate. Nothing is hidden!
In the case of Lamberts The Professional Range we can also ensure that all of their supplements are manufactured under GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing standards and controlled by the Agency for the Control of Medicine of the Department of Health of the United Kingdom. All formulations are based on a sound and rational scientific basis.
To work pioneer in this sense made in the mid-20th century by the doctors Irwin Stone, Abraham Hoffer, Humphrey Osmond, Roger Williams, and Ernest T. Krebs, joined later the excellent research and dissemination work of the double prize Nobel Professor Linus Pauling, molecular biologist, who in 1968 made first the terms of nutrition and orthomolecular medicine.
Orthomolecular medicine is defined as the prevention and treatment of disease, providing the optimal amounts of substances that are natural to the body.
As succinctly described, investigations of numerous nutritional health care scientists have demonstrated the efficacy of the beneficial use of food supplements for the human well-being.
Using supplements safely and effectively
The popularity of dietary supplements
There is nothing new or unusual about dietary supplements. Vitamins in tablet form have been around for more than 50 years. Herbs have been used cooking and in medicine for thousands of years, and, according to the World Health Organization, 80% of the world’s population use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care.
Time ago (three decade) most dietary supplements were based on nutrients such as vitamins B and C, and minerals such as iron and calcium, that were known to be deficient in the diets of many people, and herbal remedies often had to be made up at home or bought from specialist health-food shops.
However, the advancement of nutritional knowledge has meant that many diets have been demonstrated to be lacking in several essential nutrients, including trace elements. There is also increasing evidence that insufficient attention has been paid to phytochemicals in fruit and vegetables. This is the reason why, today, we are able to by an enormous range of supplements that have been specially formulated to suit your individual needs.
It is now widely acknowledged that lifestyle changes-paying close attention to diet, exercise and weight, as well as limiting alcohol intake and stopping smoking-have a vital role to play in the business of staying well. Vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements can reinforce and enhance the benefit of these self-care measures, which are also essential to ensure not just the absence of illness but the capacity to lead a full, vital, productive life.
Eating can be highly pleasurable- so much so that some people just can’t stop. Enjoying food is crucially important, and a congenial setting for eating enhances the enjoyment. Finding foods which both taste good and do you good can be part of the fun of eating well, whether you live alone or as part of a family.
All foods are a mixture of nutrients and other chemicals, so while a food may be rich in a particular nutrient it may also contain other valuable nutrients and health-giving factors. For instance, a whole meal loaf of bread is not only a good source of dietary fibre but it also contains a range of B vitamins, magnesium, iron, selenium and zinc.
Dietary supplements should be used to augment good diet, no to replace it. They should not be used to make up deficiencies resulting from low intakes of fruit, vegetables and whole grains. This is because these foods, as well as being rich sources of vitamins and minerals, are abundant sources of phytochemicals. In fact, the health-protective properties of fruit and vegetables may be due as much to phytochemicals as to the other nutrients they contain.
However, supplements can compensate for the great variations in the amounts of nutrients in foods and their ability to be absorbed and utilized an attribute known as their bioavailability. Interactions of a nutrient with other components in a food can reduce its bioavailability. Not all interactions are negative. Vitamin C, when taken with iron, can be increase the latter’s absorption.
The proper balance
Despite the benefits of supplements, it is important to be aware of their limitations. As the word itself suggest, a ‘supplement’ is not meant to replace the nutrients available from foods. Also, although scientists have isolate and extracted a number of disease fighting phytochemical compounds from fruit, vegetable and other foods, there may be many others that are undiscovered-and that you can get only from food source.
Some nutrients may interact with one another, which can affect their absorption or utilization by the body. For example, fat soluble vitamins (A,D, E and K) require some dietary fat to facilitate absorption so they should be taken with food. Calcium absorption is improved by taking supplements with meals, and the effect of calcium on building healthy bones is enhanced when it is taken with magnesium.
Other nutrients, when taken in combination, likewise enhance one another’s benefits. For example, vitamin C helps to regenerate vitamin E after it has been modified by neutralizing reactive free radicals-so, because these antioxidant nutrients work together, they are best taken at the same time.
Herbs
For thousands of years various cultures have employed herbs for soothing, relieving or even curing many common health problems- a fact not ignored by medical science. After all, the pharmaceutical industry grew out of the tradition of using herbs as medicine. Recent studies suggest that many of the claims made for herbs are valid.
Surveys by toxicologist conclude that serious side effects or toxic reactions associated with herbal medicines are rare, nevertheless, some once-popular medicinal herbs, such as foxglove and chaparral, are now recognized as toxic.
Occasionally some people have serious allergic reactions to a herb; these may include a rash or difficulty in breathing.
Products that contain standardized extracts are more likely to provide a proper dose of a particular supplement that those that do not, but whenever you buy a supplement; you are always dependent on the manufacturer’s integrity.
