The Great Dietary Supplement Debate
Published by
CONTRAVE Care Team
on
Consider the general unhealthiness of the highly processed standard American diet. For those trying to live healthier, it can be tempting to substitute nutrition by taking a multivitamin or other dietary supplement instead of dramatically changing your diet. After all, it’s easier to pop a supplement than chop up and cook a bunch of vegetables (or is it?).
But is that a good idea? Should supplements have a role in your healthy eating goals at all? Before we try to answer that, let’s dive a little more into what exactly dietary supplements are and how they differ from natural nutrients.
Natural Nutrients vs Dietary Supplements
Natural nutrients are what we find in whole foods. For example, a banana contains the natural nutrients vitamin B6, fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, and manganese. Eating a banana means you consume and absorb those nutrients. However, you can also get these same six nutrients directly in the form of dietary supplements.
Most dietary supplements (or synthetic nutrients) are created by scientists to be chemically identical to their natural counterparts. You’ll see these sold as tablets, capsules, or even gummies in stores, typically labeled with the specific name of the substance. Dietary supplements also include protein powders, fiber supplements, and calming powder drink mixes.
Are Supplements Legit?
Getting your nutrition from a varied diet of healthy foods can be the best way to overall support your body, and it’s hard to argue against getting your nutrients from the real deal.
Clinical studies of synthetic nutrients have shown mixed results and data may be biased. People who take dietary supplements generally tend to be more health-focused individuals which can sway data in their favor. Some supplements, such as vitamin D and fiber, have accepted potential health benefits, but many of the others populating drug store shelves do not.
Unlike with prescription drugs, companies that sell dietary supplements aren’t typically required to prove that their products work to sell them to you. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will step in if a company is selling a misleading or dangerous product, but much is still on the everyday consumer (aka you) to do their own research about supplements.
Talk to Your Healthcare Provider
On that note, it’s essential to talk to your healthcare provider about any vitamin or dietary supplement you’re currently or planning on taking. They may have other recommendations for you depending on your own specific medical conditions.
When A Supplement Might Be Right
In the best-case scenario, it would be ideal to get the vitamins and nutrients you need by eating a variety of healthy and whole foods. The truth is that’s not always possible. Really, it depends on your own personal circumstances—from your food preferences to your budget to your healthy living goals.
Here are some specific examples of when a supplement may be a better and/or more convenient option:
- Taking fiber supplements to address digestive concerns
- Taking a digestive enzyme if you have a lactose sensitivity but still would like to or have already enjoyed something with dairy in it
- Adding protein powder to your smoothies to increase your protein intake can help you feel fuller for longer or help build muscle
- Taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements because you don’t like the taste of fish but want the potential heart health benefits
- Eating a ginger chew to address nausea (definitely easier and yummier than chopping up a raw ginger root)
- Taking a specific supplement recommended to you by a healthcare provider based on your health needs and concerns
CON-1686-001 07/23
