In this era of life, it’s not common to get pure food having all the essential nutrients. It’s now become a trend to intake supplements with real food to ensure the consumption of an adequate amount of nutrients.
What are Supplements?
Those artificially manufactured products that are added to the diet for enhancing it are known as supplements. These are available in many forms such as pills (tablets, capsules), powder and drinks.
Supplements are considered very beneficial for promoting good health. However, along with health benefits, the excessive intake of unnecessary supplements can cause serious health issues. So, it’s worth consulting with a professional about supplements you can trust.
Doctors recommend supplements if there is any health issue. They usually prescribe supplements for testosterone health, birth defects, calcium and vitamin D deficiency, prevent the risk of heart disease, improve vision etc.
What is Real Food?
The unprocessed and natural eatables are known as real food. Real food is always prefered over processed food as it contains all the necessary nutrients by default. If you observe, grandparents always force their children and grandchildren to eat fresh fruits and vegetables as they are better absorbable for the body as compared to artificially manufactured supplements.
Main Differences Between Supplements and Real Foods
Following are some of the main differences between supplements and real foods that are worth considering.
- The manufacturing processes of supplements and real food are entirely different. Supplements are made artificially whereas real food is naturally manufactured.
- In some cases, supplements are not readily absorbable to our body or not suitable at all. On the other hand, natural foods easily swallowed.
- Intake of supplement pills is just meet with the need for specific vitamins and nutrients. On the other hand, real food contains multivitamins, minerals, enzymes and other co-factors. All these additional compounds create a perfect balance.
- Studies show that the moderate intake of nutrients naturally from food is far better than excessive intake of nutrients from supplements as the natural nutrients lower the risks of deadly diseases.
Let’s talk about some types of natural foods and synthetic supplements.
Types of the Natural Foods
Following are the types present in natural foods.
- Fruits and vegetables
- Oily fish
- Beans and legumes
- Nuts and seeds
- Whole Grains
- Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are rich in fibres, vitamins and minerals. They are always emphasized in every nutritional advice as they are responsible for promoting good health. These natural foods keep our body healthy, enhance its immunity and prevent it from many fatal diseases: including diabetes, brain disorders, arthritis, and heart diseases.
- Oily Fish
Studies show that oily fish is highly advantageous in enhancing heart health as it contains Omega 3 fatty acids. Aged people should add it to their diet. They must take up to one serving per week so that they may be fit enough to compete with any health issue.
- Beans and legumes
Beans and legumes play an important role in preventing deadly diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart diseases. They maintain the cholesterol level in our body. Their one serving per day is a compulsory part of every diet plan.
- Nuts and seeds
Nuts and seeds are the most efficient antioxidants and prevent cell damage in our bodies. They are very beneficial in reducing the risk of early death, heart diseases, and diabetes. The intake of nuts and seeds make our body strong as they contain an efficient amount of fats and minerals. Nutritionists recommend its 4 servings per week.
- Whole grains
Whole grains contain an efficient amount of essential minerals, fibres, vitamin B, minerals, iron, and magnesium. Obese people are recommended to intake an excessive amount of whole grains daily and reduce fat intake. It will be beneficial in losing weight and preventing the risk of heart diseases and cancer.
Types of supplements
Supplements are usually available in the form of pills. Following are some types of supplement pills that are often used.
- Multivitamin pills
- Single and paired vitamin pills
Multivitamin Pills
Multivitamins are beneficial in preventing diseases like heart attacks, strokes and diabetes. However, these pills have different effects on different people. To some people, it is very suitable and vice versa. Professionals don’t recommend a high dose of these synthetic multivitamins due to their observed side effects.
Multivitamin pills single and paired vitamin pills
Vitamin B (folic acid) is beneficial in enhancing brain functioning and memory. Vitamin D supplements are always considered best among all. These are beneficial for bones and nails. These supplements make the bones stronger for a longer period.
The use of vitamin D along with calcium can be helpful to enhance the bone health of elders. Other than improving bone health, vitamin D supplements are also helpful in preventing fatal diseases like cancer and diabetes. It makes the body strong and enhances its immunity. Vitamin D is one of the best supplement among supplements for testosterone health.
Is it worth taking synthetic supplements?
It is clear from the above information that real food is more beneficial than getting nutrients from synthetic supplements. However, there are some groups of people who are unable to meet the appropriate nutrients’ demand of the body from the regular food intake. Those people are suggested to take essential supplements. These groups include:
- Elder people group with vitamin D deficiency
- Vegetarians who can’t get certain vitamins and minerals present only in animals
- People with nutrient deficiency
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women
- Males with low testosterone levels.
Final Words
In this article, it is clear that synthetic supplements can’t be an alternative to real food. Natural food is always a preferred choice to fulfil the nutritional deficiency. However, supplements can be an option if the proper food intake is not enough to meet the demand for the particular nutrient. Moreover, it is necessary to take expert advice before using any supplement. Don’t use it on the recommendation of a normal person because a particular supplement can be suitable for one person and harmful for another at the same time.
