Pros and Cons of Diet Supplements

Keith, a promising athlete in his late 30s, charts out a special workout plan to keep himself fit. He isn’t satisfied with just his routine exercise, and is looking for that something special to boost himself each day. Keith wonders, “Should I go for muscle mass supplements? Are supplements safe and can they do me any good?”

Tara, an upcoming star in her late 20s, is concerned that those extra pounds may ruin her career. She is inquisitive to explore the pros and cons of the dietary supplements that claim to shed weight within a specified period of time.

Being in the health conscious age like Keith and Tara, we, too, may have concerns about supplements. This article is just a primer to discuss the various pros and cons of such supplements and for us to make a wise decision before trying them.

On the fundamental level, supplements are those that add up to your nutrient count, support your health and, to some extent, may claim to lower health risks. Since these are available without a doctor’s prescription, a thorough knowledge of the pros and cons, before consuming, is recommended.

Probable Pros of Supplements

• Supplements used for enhancing the muscle strength in men may be a quick means to achieve fitness goals. Such supplements not only increase muscle strength, but also help burn excessive fat in the body through the fat oxidation process. Creatine supplements can help to rebuild muscle after a workout and also increase muscle mass.
• Certain supplements consumed to support body building or pre- workouts seem to improve blood flow, resulting in efficient nutrient delivery and better performance during workouts.
• Protein supplements effectively function to repair and build body systems. Being one of the primary builders in the body, proteins are a must. If the diet of a person doesn’t provide with the recommended allowance of protein, intake of protein supplements is advantageous.
• Many fat burner products available are scientifically proven to reduce fat absorption, increase fat metabolism, lower the levels of Low- Density Lipoprotein (LDL), increase stamina and, thus, help to lose weight.

Everything comes with a disadvantage, and so it is with supplements as well. Supplements consumed the right way under proper guidance can be beneficial; in other situations, the cons may outweigh the pros.

Cons of Supplements

• Overuse of certain creatine supplements for muscle strengthening may cause diarrhoea, lead to kidney damage and other complications. Combined with caffeine, creatine supplements may also increase the risk of dehydration.
• High dose of protein consumed can damage the kidney and unused protein is turned to fat that can lead to other serious complications.
• Certain body building supplements, when consumed for a prolonged period without guidance, can result in blurred vision, mood swings, impotence in men and may also increase the risk of hypertension.
• Consumption of few supplements for weight loss can disrupt the natural metabolism of a person.  The appetite may decrease leading to slow metabolism. Later, losing weight beyond a certain point may be difficult. Hence, people on diet pills can shed only certain amount of weight beyond which, it is difficult to lose weight despite consuming the supplements.

Using Supplements Wisely

Consider questioning yourself before going for supplements:-

“Should I take a supplement? Do I get the recommended nutrients through food for my workout?” It’s advisable to consult the health practitioner to access the benefits and health risks associated with supplements.

“I’m over 50 and obese and cannot do rigorous workouts to burn the excess fat. Do I need anti-oxidant supplements to lower the risk of fatal disease like cancer?” Research specifies that high doses of such anti-oxidant supplements may cause stroke in some cases. Again, you are recommended to check with your nearest health practitioner to evaluate the risks.

Are supplements safe? They may help if consumed under appropriate guidance. In combination with certain medications, they may prove to be harmful. Diet supplements alone cannot help to achieve the desired goal; a change in lifestyle and food habits is required.

The Food and Drug Association (FDA) doesn’t consider dietary supplements to be medicines; however, it educates consumers about the benefits and associated risks of such supplements. Hence, researchers are still working on to answer the question regarding the safety of supplements. Until then, it is advisable to learn and educate yourselves about the potential merits and demerits of supplements and decide wisely.