Natural Nutrition: Do Supplements Help You Live a Better Life?

Bottom Line: Supplements are everywhere. Vitamins, minerals, bone broths, and protein powders are no longer only available at the health food store, you can find them nearly everywhere you shop. For those of us with diet’s that aren’t exactly pitch-perfect, dietary supplements can provide an additional way to gain the essential daily nutrients. Not only are supplements a way to get what you’re missing from your regular diet, but they may also have the ability to help improve your overall health.

Why it Matters: Researchers have been hard at work examining the potential health benefits of various supplements. For instance, a fascinating new study suggested multivitamins may be able to reduce overall cancer rates in men. Even with this exciting development, and a low risk of side effects, we recommend you consult with a qualified healthcare professional before beginning to take a new supplement. 

• Supplements are often used to help maintain the daily recommended levels of many vitamins and minerals.  
• Malnutrition from an insufficient diet is found in approximately 40% of people with chronic diseases.  
• Researchers have found a statistically significant reduction in total cancer for men taking a daily multi-vitamin compared to those who did not. 

Next Steps: The best way to get your daily intake of nutrients is directly from the foods you eat. But, for many of us, it may feel impossible to reach the recommended daily levels. Dietary supplements can be a fantastic way to bridge the gap and meet your minimum daily requirements. As research continues to evolve, we may also discover additional health and performance-boosting benefits of dietary supplements.

Science Source: Multivitamins in the Prevention of Cancer in Men: The Physicians’ Health Study II Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA 2013