Food Supplement: What is it?

A dietary supplement is a foodstuff in the form of a dose (capsule, liquid ampoule, lozenge, etc.) made up of a concentrate of nutrients, i.e. vitamins and minerals, substances with a nutritional or physiological purpose, or plants and plant preparations whose purpose is to make up for deficiencies in a person’s regular diet.
The purpose of a food supplement is to provide you with a nutritional contribution.

What does it contain?

Also, food supplements generally contain

– nutrients or substances with a nutritional or physiological purpose such as vitamins or minerals (vitamin C or iron for example)
– plants traditionally considered as food (e.g. chamomile flower or thyme)
– foodstuffs authorized for human consumption (e.g. fruits and vegetables)
– additives and flavors authorized in food (for example, ethylvanillin is used for its vanilla flavor).

No substance can be used in the composition of a food supplement if it has exclusively pharmacological properties, i.e. intended for medicinal use.

What is it for?

The primary role of a dietary supplement is to supplement the diet. Our body uses what we ingest as fuel. This allows it to properly function organs such as muscles and the heart, but also our brain. Supplements as well as food therefore play a fundamental role. They act both on our physical and mental health. Their effects are also on our stress level or on our emotional well-being.

To do this, it provides the body with a nutritional gain, which depends on its composition. It can be vitamins, minerals, trace elements, antioxidants, amino acids, fatty acids, etc. These are then offered alone or in combination in a supplement dose.

If food supplements are effective, it is primarily because they contain active ingredients. In natural products, these active substances are contained in plants, vegetables, fruits…

What are these active ingredients used for?

Vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, calcium, omegas 3, 6 and 9, minerals, iron, antioxidants, flavonoids, polyphenols, gingerol, guaranine, caffeine, curcumin… You have often heard about these different active ingredients without really knowing what they are used for. The active ingredients are indeed the first quality criterion to be taken into account. It is essential to choose a food supplement. Their nature and their concentration will condition the effectiveness of the latter. The content of active ingredients in a product determines its degree of effectiveness, but also the recommended dosage for the product. In terms of the effectiveness of a product, everything depends on the active ingredients and their concentration.

The active ingredients act on the brain, on hormone secretion and on all the functions of the body. In most cases, they stimulate and improve these functions. But here again, everything depends on the active ingredient and its concentration in the product. Each supplement has its own active ingredients. Organic Korean red ginseng, for example, is effective if it is highly titrated in ginsenosides. The same is true for turmeric and its curcuminoids (including curcumin).

It is these active ingredients that are mainly responsible for the health benefits of dietary supplements. They come in addition to the benefits of nutrients contained in plants.

Benefits of food supplements: are these products effective?

To be effective, a nutritional supplement must have a high concentration of active ingredients.

However, in addition to the concentration of active ingredients, other selection criteria will also be taken into account. They concern of course the effectiveness of the product. This is the case of the ability of the supplement to be absorbed by the body, also called bioavailability. From this point of view, Natura Force is a brand that offers high quality products, among the best you can find.

The effectiveness of dietary supplements is proven by the tens of thousands of scientific studies published on the subject over the last three decades. These serious studies appear in recognized scientific journals such as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and many others. Always refer to the results of scientific studies to know the effectiveness of a dietary supplement. Don’t believe everything you read in the press. Nor all the claims without proof that unscrupulous sellers can give to their products.

Supplements with powerful active ingredients

Natural food supplements take advantage of the active principles of plants (or other natural elements). For some, they are very powerful and can even represent a danger, especially if we misuse them. Before buying or consuming a food supplement, it is important to consult the list of possible contra-indications. As well as its possible undesirable effects. We also advise you to seek medical advice before starting a course of treatment. Active ingredients should be considered as potentially dangerous substances if not used properly.

Always respect the dosage indicated on the packaging or the dosage prescribed by your doctor. Do not exceed the indicated duration of the cure and observe sufficient breaks between each cure period. Finally, do not combine food supplements until you are sure that they are compatible. This advice will allow you to use food supplements safely. Of course, in case of side effects or unexpected reaction, consult a doctor and stop your treatment.