Are health supplements necessary?

Research carried out by the UK Food Standards Agency  revealed that British people spent more than 200 million pounds in 2006 on health supplements, however, most experts agree that a healthy, balanced diet contributes all the body needs and therefore taking a range of health supplements is not the best or most cost-effective means of being healthy. Many health supplements are approved by experts, but some carry serious risks, especially now that they can be purchased online.

Many experts are worried that people take supplements as an easy way out of eating healthily. Some people assume that they have a healthy diet because they take vitamin and mineral supplements on a daily basis, however, this is not the case and it is always important to keep an eye on your diet and try to eat as healthily as possible. In the majority of cases, it is neither beneficial nor harmful to take health supplements but it may be unnecessary.

What should a healthy diet include?

If you are a healthy individual and you eat well, you should not need to take additional supplements, your diet should provide you with an adequate range of vitamins, nutrients and minerals. A good diet should include plenty of fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables (aim for at least five portions per day), plenty of wholegrain carbohydrates, including wholemeal bread and pasta, brown rice and wholegrain cereals, two portions of oily fish per week, a good intake of calcium (from milk, yoghurt and cheese) and good sources of protein, including nuts, meat, fish and poultry.

When should you take health supplements?

You should take health supplements if you are not getting the nutrients you need from your diet or you are at a stage in your life when you need additional supplements, for example if you are pregnant. Experts recommend taking health supplements in the following cases:

●     If you are pregnant, or you are planning to get pregnant, it is advisable to take folic acid supplements, as these help to reduce the risk of birth defects, such as spina bifida.

●     If you are elderly and you have difficulty getting the nutrients and vitamins you need from your diet.

●     If you have problems with your appetite or dental problems that affect your ability to eat a balanced diet.

●     If you are house bound, you may wish to consider taking vitamin D supplements, as your body will not be able to make vitamin D because the skin has not been exposed to sunlight.

●     If you are vegan or vegetarian you may need to take vitamin B12 supplements.

●     If you have anaemia you may be advised to take iron tablets.