Supplements 1O1
Somebody may wonder, what is “Supplements 1O1”? Does it mean something which makes total of 101? Does it have anything related to the figure of 101? What are Supplements? Why is it essential? How many types of Supplements? In this blog, we will try to understand all these jargons in layman’s language…
What is a Supplement:
Supplement is something that is added to make anything complete. Many times, the thing is not complete without certain additives, it is always incomplete or insufficient without it. To make something whole, we need to add something from outside, and that is called a Supplement. A supplement’s job is to fill the gap between ‘what it is’ and ‘what is required’.
This is a general definition, but mainly, the word Supplement is used with diet systems or food. Hence, it is called Food Supplements or Dietary Supplements. Our body is a very complex but beautiful mechanism. Like any other mechanism or machine, it requires fuel. Our body also needs fuel, and we normally call it Food or Diet.
The food we consume in our day-to-day life has many chemical-level ingredients or elements like Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, etc. All these elements are essential for our body to keep it healthy and energetic, in their own proportions. If all the ingredients are up to the mark in our body, then our body is complete and healthy. But due to many factors, these elements lose their optimum levels in our body. Hence, our body starts showing some deficiency syndromes. Now, the body is not complete, and indirectly, the diet is not complete. This is where we require supplements to make it whole again.
Dietary Supplements are those ingredients consumed orally. They do not include any kind of Conventional Food, Medical Food, food preservatives, or pharmaceutical drugs. Thus, they are more of a food and do not serve the purpose of pharma drugs or medicines. Hence, they are free from strict approval or authorization from authorities like medicines and drugs.
Types of Supplements and Their Need:
Vitamins Supplements:
Vitamins are organic compounds and vital nutrients required for our body. Our body produces some vitamins on its own or they are derived from our daily diet. There are many types of vitamins, but our body requires 13 main categories: A, B (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12), C, D, E, K. When any vitamin falls below the recommended level, it starts showing symptoms in the body. If you are healthy and your diet is nutritionally adequate, taking vitamins as supplements may not provide any additional benefit.
Minerals Supplements:
Minerals are indispensable for life. They can be classified into ubiquitous and non-ubiquitous types. Elements like Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen are ubiquitous in food and drinks, while non-ubiquitous minerals include Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Iodine, Manganese, Iron, Potassium, Selenium, Cobalt, Calcium, Sodium, Chlorine, Phosphorus, etc. These minerals are taken either individually or combined with vitamins to form a supplement.
Proteins and Amino Acids Supplements:
Proteins are essential nutrients for our body and one of the main building blocks of our tissues. They are also a source of fuel for the body. The recommended daily intake for protein is 0.8 grams per kg of body weight for sedentary individuals, while those engaged in heavy physical activities may require 1.2 to 1.8 grams per kg of body weight. Amino acids, the elements of protein chains, are essential, with some being produced by the body while others need to be consumed through food.
Specific Purpose Supplements:
- Bodybuilding Supplements: Used by people engaged in heavy exercises, bodybuilding, or martial arts for muscle building.
- Probiotic Supplements: Consumed to control diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome, especially in children.
- Fertility Supplements: Taken to improve sperm count and semen quality in men.
- Prenatal Supplements: Given to pregnant women to lower health complications for the mother and baby.
Why it is called Supplements 1O1:
There is nothing special with the figure of 101. This is an American style of mentioning the basic introductory information of any subject matter. It is not pronounced as “hundred and one” but as “One-oh-One.” “Supplements 101” means the ABCs of Supplements explained in a very basic and layman’s language.
I am India’s leading Health and Nutrition Coach with more than 13 years of experience in the health and nutrition field. I am a Certified Advanced Supplement Advisor and an award-winning Lifestyle and Weight Management Specialist. I am also the founder of the Fit Bharat Mission.
To know more about Dietary Supplements and their benefits, please visit us at www.shivangidesai.com or Call us at: +91 99040 04445 or Reach out to us at shivangi@fitbharatmission.com.