The Role of Supplements - Essay Example

"The Role of Supplements" is a wonderful example of a paper on food and nutrition. Supplements refer to all forms of nutrition taken to account for the lack of failure to take in certain nutrients that are crucial to the body. As a result, of the existence of such products, most patients question the safety and benefits of these supplements and what other effects they have on the body of the user. As a result, we seek to explain the benefits, side effects, and risks involved in the use of over-the-counter supplements, as well as issue individual opinions on their use.

Supplements have a crucial part to play in the body of the user in cases where they lack access to the appropriate nutrition. This is in such cases where one lacks adequate amounts of essential nutrients that lack in certain eating habits. Such include cases where certain individuals do not eat nutritious varieties of food and instead opt for fast foods (National Institute of Health, 2011).

They also come in handy in helping manage certain conditions such as bone loss through the use of calcium supplements. Moreover, they decrease the chances of certain birth defects and boost cardiac functionality, this is through supplements such as omega 3 (National Institute of Health, 2011).

However, supplements bear certain side effects or have strong risks associated with their intake. Such risks include poor coagulation of blood as seen in the use of vitamin K supplements. A commonly taken supplement Glucosamine Chondroitin affects the body by causing nausea, indigestion, heartburn, diarrhea, and constipation (Permanente Medical Group, 2006). These are just some of the risks associated with taking supplements in place of actual food.

In my opinion, they should be taken with special recommendation or consideration in the most severe of cases where one is lacking in essential nutrients. This is so as to harness the beneficial power they hold instead of the risks and side effects involved.

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