Significance
These substances are considered as important to maintain good health. Providing these substances to the body in proper dosages can keep the body cells functioning effectively and attain extensive benefits. The supplements given along with the diet may be of synthetic or natural origin. The natural supplements are known to be giving minimum side effects.

Adds to the food nutrients
Today, most of the manufacturing processes and agricultural processes are leading to loss of nutrients in the food and in the soil. Therefore, a balanced diet only can help us from several deficiencies and disorders. Dietary supplements aid in giving an addition to the normal diet which can make our body healthy and fit. The dietary supplements intake can provide lot of nutrients in adequate quantities for keeping the body healthy. The supplements will help in avoiding the health problems occurring currently. The dietary supplements will tackle with the cause of the disease or disorder and not with the symptoms.

Replace the drugs
The safety and efficiency of the dietary supplements are proved in many of the clinical studies published in the Medline information. The pharmaceutical drugs are used for the treatment of the health condition and not for prevention of the same. The drugs have adverse side effects which might be sometimes fatal as well. So, pharmaceutical drugs are considered as dangerous as the heart attack, stroke and cancer in taking away the human life.

Food supplementation
The quality and length of the life can be improved by us and it is in our hands. The nutritional supplements aid in improving the health of an individual if taken every day appropriately. The dietary supplements have the capability to provide disease resistance and prolongation of life if taken every day. The food supplements help us to maintain optimal health conditions. Though no food supplement claims in preventing any disease, they aid in maintenance of health and well-being of the user. The FDA in United States will not regulate the dietary supplements the same way as it does for the medicines.

Other uses
Dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals help in treating diseases. For instance, Echinacea helps in treating cold and bring relief. Vitamin C in high doses is also known to bring relief to the cold. Many herbal medicines are in use to treat infections, wounds, pain, and constipation, decrease fever and functions as stimulants or relaxants. Omega3 fatty acids are found to be helpful in reducing the triglyceride levels.

But, some of the dietary supplements may not be safe to use without the recommendations given by the doctor. When the woman is pregnant or in breast feeding stage, it is essential to take the suggestion of the doctor before she uses the dietary supplement. Dietary supplements sometimes also might cause allergies or react with other medications. The quality of the dietary supplement is usually evaluated based on the manufacturing standards followed by the branded company, which has made it. Sometimes, the same brand might be available with different quality standards in different grocery stores.

Some of the examples of interaction of dietary supplements with the drugs are

1. The blood thinner called Coumadin that prevents the clotting of blood can be decreased by Vitamin K.

2. The efficiency of chemotherapy used for cancer treatment is reduced by the use of antioxidants like vitamin E and C given in the form of supplements.

3. The efficiency of antidepressants and tablets for birth control is reduced by the use of St. John's Wort plant product.

Dietary supplements are meant for supplementing the diet and not replacing it. They are different from drugs and hence are not meant for preventing or treating or diagnosing the disease.

About Author / Additional Info:
I am Hareepriya alias Haripriya interested to contribute health articles