Supplements and Herbs
Supplements are exactly what their name suggests—pills, drinks or other preparations that are designed to supplement the diet and provide minerals and vitamins that may not be regularly ingested. Included in this category are other substances like herbs and botanicals and amino acids, as well.
Although dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA, they are regulated as food products and not actual drugs. Dietary supplements do not have to be pre-approved before they enter the market, but manufacturers are held to very strict guidelines on what they can contain and what types of claims they can make. Today, the FDA continues to monitor and regulate these products to ensure that they do not contain any impurities or contaminants and that products are accurately labeled.
Browse our index of consumer information on supplements and natural remedies:
Beano is a dietary supplement used to prevent gas and bloating and is from the drug class of digestive enzymes; it contains a natural enzyme that breaks down the complex carbohydrates that are commonly found in the foods that cause flatulence.
Centrum is a brand of vitamin supplements and is offered in several different tablet or liquid formulas; these varying formulas are designed to meet the diverse nutritional needs of age and gender.
A naturally occurring substance in the human body, Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is found in a number of foods and is also available as a dietary supplement.
Creatine is commonly available in powder form, which can be mixed with liquids and taken as a dietary supplement that aids the body’s energy production and muscle fiber growth.
Fish oil, ingested either by eating fish or by taking a dietary supplement, is made up of the tissues from a variety of different fish, such as salmon, tuna, and anchovy.
Folic acid is a type of B vitamin that is naturally present in a variety of foods and it is an important part of a healthy diet.
Glucosamine taken as a supplement is used to enhance the body’s own supply of natural glucosamine to repair cartilage.
Melatonin is found in animals, plants, and microbes and serves various functions in each species. In humans, melatonin is the hormone that is responsible for the body’s sleep-wake or daytime-nighttime cycles.
Metamucil is known generically as Psyllium and is a brand of fiber and bulk-producing laxative supplements.
Marketed under brand names like Niaspan, Niacor and Slo-Niacin, niacin is also referred to as Vitamin B3 and is necessary for general health and wellbeing.
Often referred to as ‘good bacteria’, probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to the beneficial microorganisms that occur naturally in the human body to promote good health.
Protein shakes, as the name suggests, are beverages with high protein contents and are often consumed by athletes and body builders before or after a workout.
Valerian is an herbal supplement that is made from the roots of the Valeriana officinalis plant.
Vitamin D is an important vitamin found in fatty fish such as tuna, salmon and mackerel as well as oysters and dairy products like butter, cream, cheese and fortified milk.
Whey protein is a byproduct of cheese production. Whey is the watery part of the milk used to make cheese which separates from the solid curds.