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ith new developments in the food and pharmaceutical industries, the production of supplements is on the up and the ads that promote them clearly state qualifying information about particular multivitamins or mineral supplements being able to eliminate specific nutritional deficiencies or reduce the risk of certain diseases. However, one should not consume them without the right guidance from dietitians and doctors.

Let us compare the consumption of vitamin C from supplements over orange juice. The nutrient content of the supplements may provide an excellent source of vitamin C but one should keep in mind that amounts of vitamins in the supplemental form are highly concentrated.

As a result, high doses can cause hypervitaminosis, resulting in problems such as stomach inflammation and diarrhea. Therefore, obtaining vitamin C from natural sources such as oranges would be more recommended. An orange can easily provide 98 milligrams of vitamin C, fulfilling the recommended daily dietary allowance (RDA) of adults.

Another example is the consumption of omega-3 oil. One can find it abundantly in fish. However, the trend of consuming extracted omega-3 oil is rising.

In such cases, one should realize that solvents are used during the extraction processes of oil and some amounts can end up as residue in oil. When people are exposed to certain solvents, they experience irritation and certain illnesses.

For most people, it'€™s best to get the nutrients our body needs by consuming a variety of healthy and unprocessed foods rather than taking supplements.

For people on long-term restrictive weight loss diets or people with malabsorption problems or strict vegans, supplements can be of benefit when taken in the right amounts to avoid the adverse effects of toxicity levels. So be wise as the age of nutrition tries to take over the age of food.

Neha Lalchandani
Jakarta