Prepared by, Jason Lee, Yoke Han
UK NHS says that most people do not need to take vitamin supplements and can get all the vitamins and minerals they need by eating a healthy, balanced diet. Vitamins and minerals, such as iron, calcium and vitamin C, are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to work properly.
Supplement industry has mushroomed enormously wide in this decade, however why do people still get so caught up buying supplements when we actually could get all the essential micro and macronutrients in the diet?
The answer is vitamins and minerals that we obtain in food is minute and may not be adequate for our daily intake. In addition, 60 % of Malaysians are working at least 8 hours a day. With the limited amount of time it is obvious that most Malaysians choose ordering out as an option for lunch and dinner. Choosing to eat out is challenging when it comes to fulfil one’s daily nutrition uptake. The menu that people could choose for lunch and dinner are normally limited. Example, hawker stalls will often sell our favorite meals like char kuey teow, nasi lemak and roti canai. Ideally, these food does not even consist of a balanced diet which requires a balance of carbohydrate, protein and vitamins. Mostly these food are really high in fats and carbohydrates which could consequently lead to high risk of hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes.
Supplements are basically our balanced diet compressed in the form of tablets or capsules that would certainly help busy working people to stay healthy amidst their busy schedule. There are a huge variety of supplement in the market, from losing weight to maintaining blood sugar and many others. However, not all supplement are clinically proven. It is important to consult your general practitioner or your pharmacist in order to get the best supplement for your personalized medication. Here in City Wellness Pharmacy, we make sure that our supplements adhere to the standards required in order for a maximum therapeutic efficacy for your wellness.
