Is a dietary supplement necessary to include in your diet? From protein, to collagen, vitamins and more, there are plenty of options out there. Anna Heronimous, registered dietitian and sports nutrition specialist with Avera Sports, explains what these supplements are and if they are beneficial and belong in your daily routine.
When would someone take a dietary supplements?
Supplements are utilized when we don’t get enough nutrients in our bodies, so if you’re lacking a certain vitamin or mineral or maybe having a hard time reaching your protein goals, that might be the reason someone takes a supplement.
What are different types you can take?
You can take different kinds whether it’s vitamin or mineral related or it could be something for a macronutrient, like protein powder; otherwise people like collagen if they are having some joint pain.
Is it necessary to take supplements?
As long as you’re getting a varied diet with fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy and meat sources, you’re probably going to get what you need. There are going to be times when you aren’t getting enough. For example, pregnancy we are going to make sure we have you get a prenatal supplement in. If I’m dealing with an athlete, we might have an issue with them getting enough protein, so they might need to add a protein powder.
Should you consult your physician before taking supplements and vitamins?
Before taking any type of supplements it’s always good to check with your doctor because you might have something that contradicts with the medications you are taking. Sometimes people are taking multiple vitamins and they don’t realize how much they are taking of vitamin C or B12 because they didn’t realize it might not be enough for them, or maybe it is way too much. With our vitamins we do have toxic levels, like vitamin D that's a fat soluble vitamin so we want to make sure we aren’t going above and beyond as that can actually cause more issues than positive benefits.
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