Are you one of the millions of Americans who take some type of dietary supplement? If so you might be wondering about the usefulness of some supplements.
A recent report out of the National Institutes of Health reported that gingko biloba was not effective in improving memory. While this study was on one supplement it is just another of a line of studies questioning the value of supplements.
A recent position paper from the American Dietetic Association states that many Americans lack awareness of safety, proper usage of them or even if they need supplements. The position goes on to state - “the best nutrition-based strategy for promoting optimal health and reducing the risk of chronic disease is to wisely choose a wide variety of foods. Additional nutrients from supplements can help some people meet their nutrition needs as specified by science-based nutrition standards such as the Dietary Reference Intakes.”
If you’re confused by all the supplement options; want to know if you need to take any and if so how much, your best advice is to do two things. First, visit your physician for a health check-up and second contact a Registered Dietitian for a review of your eating habits. Locate a dietitian in your area by visiting eatright.org and click on Find a Registered Dietitian.
Position Paper of the American Dietetic Association accessed at eatright.org.
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