Dietary Supplements For Elderly People Explained

With age come health issues, we are all aware of that. But, what is the primary cause of most health problems? The answer is a weak immune system. An immune system drop is often caused by a lack of some vitamins or minerals in your body. Nowadays, this problem is easily fixable with nutritional (dietary) supplements.

Nutritional supplements help you improve your health by inserting extra vitamins, proteins, calcium, etc., in your organism. Nowadays, you can find a supplement for every need. You could take a multivitamin for your immune system, iron for blood, etc.

But, are they actually reliable when it comes to increasing health and longevity?  Some people claim the supplements are good, some claim they would never touch them, but what is the truth? Is there more to them than it seems or are they harmless (usually tasty) helpers?

Dietary Supplements Basics

Supplements, as we earlier explained, add one dose of a nutrient you are lacking. Some contain only one nutrient (vitamin D, iron, magnesium, etc.), while on the other hand, some contain a dosed mix of nutrients (multivitamin, vitamin complex, etc.). Many people claim that dietary supplements can help improve your health or even prolong your life for quite some period.

Are Supplements Necessary for Seniors?

Most of the companies which produce and sell supplements target senior citizens. Supplements do have their upsides such as improving digestion. A calcium supplement enhances the structure of your bones, and magnesium helps maintain muscle health (remember that the most important muscle in your body is the heart).  Overall, If you were to ask professionals, most doctors recommend a multivitamin.

Are Nutritional Supplements Effective?

Like most pharmaceuticals, if you take too much, supplements might end up causing side effects, but in the recommended doses, supplements can be quite helpful. So, even though their purpose is not to solve the problem, but to reduce it, they can actually come in handy.

Are Supplements Safe to Use?

They are safe to use if you use them carefully, but they can be quite harmful otherwise. Main safety issue when using nutritional supplements is that most nutritional supplements don’t undergo the FDA testing, says AgingCare.com. ^[1] The website stated that even though prescription drugs need to undergo serious testing before being released, pharmaceutical companies responsible for producing and selling the supplements don’t actually test them before release.

Furthermore, some dietary supplements can seriously interfere with your prescription medication. According to Consumer Health Daily, ^[2] 15%  of seniors take a mix of supplements and meds that can be dangerous, if not even fatal. That’s why it’s best to consult your doctor before you start taking any supplements.

Is it Better to Take the Supplements or Not?

As we mentioned it earlier, nutritional supplements can be beneficial if you have proper usage guidance. If there is a need, you shouldn’t hesitate to consult your doctor about it. After all, only he or she can give you the right instructions. Still, the decision is entirely up to you, so be careful and don’t forget that the improper use can cause serious health problems.

[1] https://www.agingcare.com/articles/dietary-supplements-for-seniors-more-is-not-always-better-133854.htm

[2] https://consumer.healthday.com/general-health-information-16/prescription-drug-news-551/1-in-6-seniors-takes-dangerous-combos-of-meds-supplements-study-709168.html