CARLES R. COULTER

HW499-01: BACHELORS CAPSTONE IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS

PROFESSOR EARON DAVISUNIT 4- ASSIGNMENT

8/25/2015

What is a Nutritional (Dietary) Supplement? What are reason one would use a Nutritional

Supplement? Do I need to use a Nutritional Supplement? Where do I find information on Nutritional

Supplements? Who regulates Nutritional Supplements? Can Nutritional Supplements be bad for me?

Nutritional supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs, meal supplements, sports nutrition products, natural food supplements, and other related products used to boost the nutritional content of the diet (Medical Dictionary.TheFreeDictionary.com).

Vitamins and Multi-vitamins Herbs (sometimes combined w/ multi-

vitamins) Minerals (sometimes combined w/ multi-

vitamins) Other dietary supplements ( Whey,

weight loss, laxatives, and meal replacements)

Nutritional Supplements are used for many purposes but the idea is to use them because you are lacking in an area of nutrients. However supplements can be used to boost health and energy, help boost the immune system, and help with mental and physical performance. Some supplements can be used as a Complementary or Alternatives to modern medicine (CAM).

The answer isn’t as simple as YES or NO. Ideally you should try to receive all your nutritional needs through a well balanced meal plan but that isn’t always realistic.

Unable to consume particle foods because of sickness, weaken immune system, or diseases.

Unable to consume particle foods because of unavailability of said foods. (seasonal foods)

Because of sickness, pregnancy, weaken immune system, and disease; more vitamin, minerals, and/or supplements may be needed

Religious or preferred deference of a particular food or substance

A good adequate diet that can provide you with everything you need.

Dietary and nutritional supplements are NOT regulated

Unaware of all ingredients in the supplement and purity of the supplement

Nothing is better than exercise and a good diet

Waste of money

Manufacturer's website United States Department of Health and

Human Services (USDHHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nutrtion.gov WebMD Mayo Clinic Internet Searches and Library

No one regulates supplements from the government until the supplement is link to adverse effect causes. When this occurs the FDA is the leading agency and coordinates with multiple other agencies to resolve the issue.

Though there is no governing agency per-say there are guide lines that manufactures are suppose to abide by set forth by the government agencies

Labeling of dietary supplements is the biggest weapon against improper usage but the ingredients can be generalized and not tell the whole story like “artificial flavoring” or even “Natural Flavoring”. These word are broad and can be misconstrued.

Dietary supplements sold in the U.S. should be properly labeled. The guide lines also applies to dietary supplements produced domestically as well as those produced in foreign countries. Under our regulations, label approval is not required to import or distribute a dietary supplement.

In short the answer is YES. With technology and the invention of new ingredients made constantly and companies being able to place these new ingredients on the market before testing can occur. Issues can arise like the Ephedra, which was banned by the FDA in 2004 because of the adverse effects it caused by common usage.

Ephedra at the time was listed on labels as “traditional Asian herbal formulation”

The misuse of a supplement can cause adverse effect even if it is a vitamin or mineral.

Dietary supplements like laxatives can cause dehydration and if untreated can cause damage to internal organs

Dietary supplements like Thermogenic pills have been linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, and heart issues.

Supplements mixed with other supplements and medication can either eliminate the use of medicine or supplement or even worse cause an adverse effect that can lead to death

The truth is that there are some bad and some good supplement on the market but if either are misused it can cause adverse effects to one’s body.

Before taking a supplement ensure that you understand the ingredients and the side effects that can be caused by those ingredients

Make a decision that is based off knowledge, not the misconception of a magic pill that going to make you better, healthier, thinner, or muscular

Food and Drug Administration.gov, 2015, Guidance, Regulation, and labeling of dietary Supplements: Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/food/guidanceregulation/guidancedocumentsregulatoryinformation/dietarysupplements/default.htm#labeling

MayoClinic.com, 2015, Dietary Supplements and Healthy lifestyles: Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/supplements/art-20044894

Nutrition.gov, 2015, Dietary Supplements: Retrieved from http://www.nutrition.gov/dietary-supplements

The Free Dictionary, Medical Dictionary, 2015, Nutrition Supplements: Retrieved from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Nutritional+Supplements

United States Department of Health & Human Services, National Institutes of health, 2015, Health Information, Dietary Supplements: Retrieved from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/

WebMD.com, 2015, Vitamins and Supplements: Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/default.aspx