Introduction
Fulfilling our nutrient requirements is very important for the betterment of our health and wellness. The ideal way to meet these requirements is through food sources, by eating a lot of variety. However, it is not always that simple even when we consciously try our best to eat different foods.
Dietary preferences, access to sun, work commitments, etc mean we are generally lacking in one nutrient or another. In these scenarios, the right kind of dietary supplement can help you bridge the gap between optimal nutrient intake for your overall health and wellness.
When to consider
Today the dietary supplementation and nutraceuticals market globally is valued at more than USD 450 billion and continues to grow at a CAGR of above 10 percent. There are more than 10 categories in different types of supplements. From general health supplements like omega-3, ashwagandha, probiotics to ergogenic supplements like creatine, beta-alanine, etc, and dietary supplements including whey protein , mass gainers, carb drinks, etc.
Now, just because we have everything available in the market doesn’t necessarily mean every nutrient is to be supplemented or consuming supplements is a must for optimal health, wellness, or even physical performance.
There are many supplements that are newer to the market and are yet to survive the test of time and may not be the best ones around. Others are heavily marketed but have very little to offer in terms of efficacy. In the future articles, we will try to break down the majority of the popular supplements that the available in the market, however for now, here is the checklist of things you should consider while buying the supplements ;
- How does it help - Knowing about a supplement, and its functions will help to understand its need and efficacy
- Deficiency/ Insufficiency - Whether you are really deficient or insufficient in the nutrient supplementation you are seeking to consume
- Affordability - Supplements can be an expensive choice of some, so we suggest always looking for alternatives in diet before thinking about supplementing
- Legality - This is very relevant specifically for an athlete, sometimes supplements are often confused with anabolic or performance-enhancing aids. Make sure you check the banned substance list released by WADA or any other equivalent governing authority/ organization to understand the potentially banned and harmful substances ****
What to consider buying
Like any other popular FMCG industry, the supplementation industry has its fair share of exposure to aggressive marketing, adulteration, etc.
So like any other product, the more we are aware of as a consumers, better it is. Some of the things one can take care of are as follows ;
- Examining the nutrition label with regards to the claim that supplement makes
- Buying from the authentic source
- Identifying the sign of duplicity, like no bar code, different styles of packaging, damaged box, open container, etc.
