Contents
What are Nutritional Supplements?
How to Find the Right Supplements
How to Take Supplements
Nutritional Supplement Tables
Vitamins
Minerals
Botanicals
Amino Acids
Essential Fatty Acids
Digestive Enzymes
Phytochemicals
Fiber
Probiotics
Unique Nutritional Compounds
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- Which supplements might be right for you
- How to find the best places to buy supplements in stores and online
- Potential benefits and side effects of more than 130 common supplements
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What are Nutritional Supplements?
Nutritional supplements are natural chemical compounds that people take in order to get a wide array of potential health benefits. People use nutritional supplements to:
- Ensure and regulate overall good health
- Fill nutritional gaps in their regular diet
- Bolster the immune system on an ongoing basis
- Support the body whenever it’s weakened, such as during illness or prolonged periods of tension
- Combat environmental factors such as allergens or free radicals, which can cause cell damage
- Treat or relieve specific ailments and chronic conditions
- Relieve stress
Types of Nutritional Supplements
Nutritional supplements are divided into 10 basic groups:
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Botanicals (herbs)
- Amino acids
- Essential fatty acids
- Digestive enzymes
- Flavonoids
- Fiber
- Bacteria
- Unique nutritional compounds
This guide describes the benefits and possible side effects of the most popular supplements within each category.
Forms of Nutritional Supplements
Nutritional supplements are often available in a number of forms, which allow the supplements to be taken in different ways. The most common forms are:
- Tablets: Tightly packed pills that combine the supplement and inert compounds. Must be swallowed.
- Capsules: Powders or gels in capsule form that often have fewer additives than tablets do. Must be swallowed.
- Chewable tablets: Tablets designed to be chewed. Ideal for people who have difficulty swallowing pills.
- Lozenges: Lozenges designed to dissolve in the mouth and/or to apply supplements directly to the mouth and throat. Don’t need to be swallowed.
- Powders: Supplements that must be mixed with liquid. Easy to control dosage. Swallowed by drinking.
- Liquids: Tinctures (plant extracts) or teas added to or steeped in water or juice and then drunk.
- Oils and ointments: Used primarily for botanicals. Applied directly to the skin.
A given supplement’s form can change the supplement’s effects. Check the label to confirm the health benefits of the specific form of each supplement you buy.
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