Dietary Supplements: Unnecessary evils, or little healthy wonders?

~In the end, its up to you to determine how your life goes; band wagons will take you on a journey you did not need to traverse in the first place~

When you mention dietary supplements, a common thought is steroids, pills and injections to bulk up or to act as short cuts to having the perfect body... or lose weight.... but that is one sad and crippling myth!!

Dietary supplements are not only found in capsules and powders; they are also present in herbs, teas and tinctures like moringa, ginseng, stinging nettle, green tea etc 

(※※check them out here※※)

They are called SUPPLEMENTS because they TOP UP on what we may have missed on our plates

(even wild animals know this... that is why salt lick rocks and specific mud pools are popular to some animals, and so are tourist attraction sites even though wildlife survive on clean, organic diets)

One reason capsule and powder supplements are popular  is due to their cost effectiveness.

Thus, as it would take an entire platter of food to provide the same nutritional content in one capsule or serving of powder shake or tea.

This does not mean that we should rely on supplements entirely; quite the contrary!!
※※they are called SUPPLEMENTS because they top up on what we may have missed on our plates※※

This means that those on portion control diets or on medication that make it difficult to eat can effectively prevent malnutrition and the problems associated with malnutrition.

Dietary supplements mainly provide trace elements that are essential but are easily destroyed during cooking, storage or processing.
These include delicate vitamins, trace metal elements like magnesium and copper, some protein and amino acids.
Some of these minerals are totally absent in the mainstream diet like white rice and refined wheat, and some are found in fortified cereals which are pretty costly.

Here is a small breakdown on some of these minerals and some of their benefits...

Whey protein
※※※here is a breakdown of amino acids found in whey protein. ※※※

Selenium

Antioxidant Protection
Selenium is required for the proper activity of a group of enzymes called glutathione peroxidases which play a key role in the body's detoxification system and they also provide protection against
oxidative stress.

※※(Oxidative stress is physiological circumstance in which there is excessive risk of oxygen-related damage to the body.)
You can read more on ANTIOXIDANTS and FREE RADICALS here ※※

Of the eight known glutathione peroxidase enzymes, five of them require selenium.
In addition to the activity of glutathione peroxidase, selenium-containing enzymes are involved in recycling of vitamin C from its spent form back to its active one, allowing for greater antioxidant protection.

Support Normal Thyroid Function
A selenium-containing enzyme is responsible for transforming a less active thyroid hormone called T4 into the more active T3.
Selenium and iodine work together to keep thyroid function strong and consistent.

Copper

Copper Provides Relief for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Copper is known for its use in reducing some of the pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis. Copper's effectiveness is due to the fact that this trace
mineral is important in a number of antiinflammatory and antioxidant enzyme
systems.
In addition, copper plays an important role in the activity of an enzyme needed for the cross-linking of collagen and elastin — the ground substances that provide structure, strength and elasticity in blood vessels, bones and joints and youthful skin and hair. 

Magnesium

Magnesium Supports Vascular and Respiratory Health
Preventing the airway spasm in asthma
Lowering high blood pressure, a contributing factor in heart attack, stroke, and diabetic heart disease.
Preventing the trigeminal blood vessel spasm that triggers migraine attacks
Restoring normal sleep patterns in women who are experiencing unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause.

Calcium

Calcium Helps Prevent Colon Cancer, Osteoporosis, Migraine and PMS
In recent studies, calcium has been shown to:
Help protect colon cells from cancer-causing chemicals
Help prevent the bone loss that can occur as a result of menopause or certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Help prevent migraine headaches in those who suffer from them.
Reduce PMS symptoms during the luteal phase (the second half) of the menstrual cycle.

Zinc

Zinc for Bone Health
Another reason for older men to make zinc-rich foods such as sesame seeds a regular part of their healthy way of eating is bone mineral density. Although osteoporosis is often thought to be a disease for which postmenopausal women are at highest risk, it is also a potential problem for older men.
A report that  was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a clear correlation between low dietary intake of zinc, low blood levels of the trace mineral, and osteoporosis at the hip and spine.

Zinc for beautiful skin..
Zinc is an essential mineral to produce collagen. Zinc is great for healing damaged tissues anywhere in the body.
Also, sesame oil is known to prevent skin related disorders (sesame oil is rich in zinc).

Phytosterols

Phytosterols are compounds found in plants that have a chemical structure very similar to cholesterol, and when present in the diet in sufficient amounts, are believed to reduce blood levels of cholesterol, enhance the immune response and decrease risk of certain cancers.

Phytosterols beneficial effects are so dramatic that they have been extracted from soybean, corn, and pine tree oil and added to processed foods, such as
"butter"-replacement spreads, which are then touted as cholesterol-lowering "foods."

Molybdenum,

Molybdenum, an essential mineral, plays an important role in your body's biological functions. Although this trace mineral is available in liquid and
capsule form, food is the main source for most people.
Molybdenum is commonly found in legumes, including beans, peas and lentils, leafy vegetables, grains, nuts and liver. Mineral water or "hard" tap water may also contain molybdenum.

May Protect Against Cancer
Molybdenum is a necessary soil component for preventing the growth of cancer-producing agents, known as nitrosamines, in plant foods.

source:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=84

http://www.livestrong.com/article/361012-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-molybdenum/#page=1

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=95

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