Health Supplements and Vitamins

Dietary supplements are made up of one or more nutrients that are added to the diet to correct or prevent deficiencies of vitamins, minerals and proteins, helping in the recovery of the patient suffering an illness or has undergone surgery and to improve overall health.

Although the nutritional needs of human beings can be met by following a balanced diet, nutritional supplements are especially beneficial in the following circumstances:

* Malnutrition or deficiency of nutrients that is usually associated with diets low in vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fats, changes in intestinal absorption process (ability to draw nutrients), chronic diarrhea and diseases such as cancer or AIDS.

Note that there are periods of life which are more prone to malnutrition, such as childhood, adolescence, pregnancy, lactation and age, the first being that you can leave severe sequelae, for example, decreased IQ, impaired learning and memory retention, poor muscle development and frequent infections. The latter represents one of the leading causes of death, because the nutrient deficiencies alter immune barriers that protect against the attack of germs.

* Anemia or decrease in blood hemoglobin levels (a protein found in red blood cells and carries oxygen from lungs to the body through veins and arteries), condition that is caused by diet deficient in iron, folic acid and vitamin B12, as well as bleeding or changes in the functioning of organs such as spleen (located behind the stomach) or bone marrow (yellow viscous-looking tissue found inside bones).

* To support the treatment of anorexia and bulimia, as those affected by these diseases require large input of nutrients.
* Alcohol, intoxicating drinks as often deplete vitamins and minerals.
* During childhood and adolescence, because in these stages need more nutrients because the body is in development.
* In old age, since aging decreases the consumption of food and the ability to absorb nutrients, and there is difficulty chewing, also, over time your metabolism (a process that can properly assimilate vitamins, minerals, proteins and fat) slows, which causes caloric requirements are lower.
* Convalescence.
* After surgery.
* During pregnancy and lactation because more nutrients are required to contribute to proper development of the baby.
* At menopause is advisable to administer calcium and multivitamin supplements, because they can prevent the onset of osteoporosis and improve the nutritional status of women.
* When practicing intense physical activity.