What types of dietary supplements are there?

They supplement the basic nutrients that are lacking in the daily diet, supplement active ingredients from animal and plant sources, regulate the microecology in the body, and provide functional bonuses for specific groups of people. Many products are compound formulas and will not be so stuck.

The most common ones are the basic nutrient supplements that we can buy easily, such as pharmaceutical-grade vitamin C that costs a few dollars a bottle, folic acid that pregnant mothers must take to prepare for pregnancy, calcium carbonate D3 that middle-aged and elderly people chew every day, and glucosamine chondroitin that people with joint problems often take. They all fall into this category. The supplements are micro or functional nutrients that the human body needs but may not get enough through meals. My mother had knee pain while climbing stairs last year, so the doctor asked her to take daily glucosamine supplements. After three months of taking it, it really relieved a lot.

If you browse e-commerce platforms, you will often see supplements in the "beauty" and "blood vessel protection" categories. Most of them are animal and plant extract supplements, such as proanthocyanidins in grape seeds, Omega-3 in fish oil, and Ganoderma spore powder and American ginseng saponins that are favored by elders. However, this type of controversy has never been controversial. Small, for example, some people insist on eating grape seeds for half a year and feel dull. There are also authoritative clinical studies that show that the antioxidant effect of low-dose intake is not reflected in the skin at all. There are many people who fall into this trap. When buying, don’t believe the propaganda that “you can get whiter skin after eating it” or “cure all diseases”. First, check whether the content of the active ingredients is sufficient.

In the past two years, young people also like to stock up on products that regulate microecology, such as Bifidobacterium probiotics that focus on regulating the gastrointestinal tract, cranberry extracts that protect urinary health, and Lactobacillus preparations that care for women's private parts. I used to have stomach problems when taking cold drinks during the seasonal changes, and the doctor also recommended taking probiotics for two weeks. However, the strains of these products are very different. If you want to regulate the gastrointestinal tract, don't buy strains that focus on gynecological care. No matter how much you take, it will be useless.

There are also functional products for specific groups of people, such as creatine and branched-chain amino acids that are often taken by those who exercise and gain muscle, white kidney bean extract that is taken before meals by those who control sugar, and milk thistle liver-protecting tablets that are often bought by those who stay up late.

Nowadays, many products are compound formulas. For example, some eye protection tablets are added with the basic nutrient vitamin A, plant extract lutein, and some are added with blood vessel protective grape seeds. There is no need to classify them into a certain category. When buying, first check whether there is a formal blue hat logo, and then choose based on your own needs. After all, supplements are always a supplement to the diet and cannot replace a good meal.