It is rather surprising this fetish for supplements nowadays. Everyone wants to take Calcium, vitamins, B12 shots etc. The market in India is currently pegged at 107.7 billion Rs(1.8bn euros).These are supposedly driven by more health awareness and the growing middle-class with disposable incomes.
The real question is DO WE NEED IT ?
The most important thing we need to keep in mind is that all these so called supplements are produced artifically in a lab/industry.Most are made from chemicals.Our body which is geared to produce all of these within itself so we dont as such need it.By taking them our body becomes lazy and forgets to make them over a period of time. Our body mechanics is wired so that we can make all the things we need.
So when do we need supplements? We need them when our body is sick and cant make them or it is excessively strained and unable to cope with all the functions it requires to do.Say after a severe bout of jaundice ,typhoid or malaria body is too weak to function or during pregnancy when the needs are lot more.
Or in old age when we are active and body is not the same.Or in some families there is an absorption problem, or you have had a major surgery and body cannot absorp..
How should you take them?
If you have to take them take it for short duration of time --say 2-3weeks in cases post major illness.Then stop and observe or do a test to find out the levels in blood.Do blood calcium levels and then take supplemets.Again take them after a gap of say 6-8weeks. Always take natural food which can also supplement the body--like jaggery for iron etc.
Understand the word supplements are to supplement for a short time only..
The real question is DO WE NEED IT ?
The most important thing we need to keep in mind is that all these so called supplements are produced artifically in a lab/industry.Most are made from chemicals.Our body which is geared to produce all of these within itself so we dont as such need it.By taking them our body becomes lazy and forgets to make them over a period of time. Our body mechanics is wired so that we can make all the things we need.
So when do we need supplements? We need them when our body is sick and cant make them or it is excessively strained and unable to cope with all the functions it requires to do.Say after a severe bout of jaundice ,typhoid or malaria body is too weak to function or during pregnancy when the needs are lot more.
Or in old age when we are active and body is not the same.Or in some families there is an absorption problem, or you have had a major surgery and body cannot absorp..
How should you take them?
If you have to take them take it for short duration of time --say 2-3weeks in cases post major illness.Then stop and observe or do a test to find out the levels in blood.Do blood calcium levels and then take supplemets.Again take them after a gap of say 6-8weeks. Always take natural food which can also supplement the body--like jaggery for iron etc.
Understand the word supplements are to supplement for a short time only..
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