Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

Dietary Supplements
By now you know that a balanced, nutritious diet is important for good health. But you may
also wonder if your diet is adequate, or if you could benefit from taking a vitamin or mineral
supplement. You may also be curious about other supplements that claim to help you lose
weight, build muscle, ease joint pain, or help build good bacteria in your gut.
According to the results of a large national survey published in JAMA in 2016, 52% of U.S.
adults reported using supplements in 2011-2012. 2 With over half of Americans reporting
dietary supplement use, it’s important to have a conversation about the safety and efficacy
of these products. Are dietary supplements safe? Are they effective? Do Americans need a
multivitamin/mineral supplement? If so, what are the guidelines and recommendations for
choosing a supplement? We will explore these important questions in this section.
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