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Many people in the United States have no idea what supplements are, let alone know that they exist. Some might hear from their doctors every once in awhile that they’re deficient in something, but may not have any idea that they can go to a nutritional supplements store or natural foods store to find what they need to address specific issues.

There’s always been this strange relationship between the supplements field and the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. The basic thing from the FDA is that nothing can be classified as a drug or as a scientifically beneficial item unless it’s gone through thousands of hours of tests to prove the claims. That, plus the make up of the items, is what gets officially classified as something that can be recommended and prescribed by a physician.

Supplements don’t go through anything like that. Herbal remedies are usually passed down from culture and societies based on historical records, many of which lack extensive research, yet companies are able to prove that the properties work for many people. Things like St. John’s Wort are known to address many types of maladies, yet can’t be classified in such a manner because of how much it would take to pass FDA approval. So, it has to be classified as a supplement, with a disclaimer stating that its effects might not work for everyone.

Very few people have physicians who will recommend taking supplements of any kind. Some might recommend vitamins such as Vitamin C or D, but otherwise will stick to the standard prescribed medications that have all sorts of chemicals in them. The problem with pharmaceuticals at times are documented everywhere; how many times have you seen a commercial on TV where it seems the list of problems the drug might potentially bring dominates any of the supposed good things the drug might do for you?

You can pretty much believe that if your body is missing something, there’s a supplement for it. My grandmother has to eat a banana a day because her doctor told her she had to get potassium into her body. So she had to learn how to eat bananas, which she didn’t like. For me, I take a potassium supplement each day because I also don’t like bananas, and I can also measure how much potassium I’m getting through the supplement. I do the same with magnesium, calcium, and a few other things. I also take Omega 3-6-9 daily, since I don’t get the opportunity to eat a lot of fish.

Supplements are viable options to trying to find foods you might not like or won’t eat on a consistent basis to help your body get many of its recommended daily nutrients. Your physician probably won’t be able to help you, but going to one of the types of stores mentioned above will help. These people are usually extremely knowledgeable. However, you need to know that some of these things will cost you more money than other options sometimes. But you’ll know exactly what you’re taking.

See more:
The Different Types of Supplements
Health Benefits of Dietary Supplements
FDA Supplements