What you need to know about dietary supplements
A dietary supplement (or dietary supplement) is a natural source of a variety of vitamins, microelements and other beneficial substances obtained from animal, mineral or plant materials.
Occasionally there are food biocorrectors obtained by chemical or microbiological synthesis. However, even in this case, medicinal components of chemical origin are never added to them.
By properly consuming these products, a person can compensate for the deficiency of essential substances in the body.
Main types
To date, scientists have managed to develop several types of dietary supplements:
Classification | Characteristics |
Nutraceuticals | Completely natural product. They are not vitamins, since the production technology is completely different from that practiced in the manufacture of vitamin preparations. Mainly used for the prevention of various diseases. |
Eubiotics | Contain live microorganisms and/or their metabolites. They have an effect similar to probiotics. |
Parapharmaceuticals | They are not medicines, but their composition is almost identical to the composition of drugs. Used for prevention and as an addition to primary drug therapy. |
Each of these groups is divided into its own subgroups, based on the characteristics of the composition, the nature of the components present and their percentage.
General effects on the body
They have the following positive effects:
Possibilities | List of useful qualities |
Wellness | Maintain the functionality of the body in the correct state. |
Protective | They reduce the degree of aggressiveness of certain drugs towards the body. |
Regenerative | Helps restore the body after undergoing a course of drug therapy or antibiotics. |
Preventive | They help prevent the manifestation of certain diseases or improve the process of adaptation to the environment. |
Preparatory | Prepare the body for long-term therapy with synthetic medications. |
When to take them
In what situations can the body benefit:
- Normal state of health.
- Weak immunity.
- Pre-morbid state.
- During illness.
- Avitaminosis.
- Intoxication.
- Restoration of intestinal microflora.
- There is a need to improve the physiological capabilities of the body.
- Obesity (to reduce calorie intake).
- Metabolic disorders in chronic diseases (ischemia, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension).
The most effective dietary supplements
The dietary supplements listed below for hypertension have received positive reviews from patients.
Tonosil
The composition of this extract is natural and consists of plant components: Gingko Biloba eliminates blood clots and reduces the risk of stroke, Gymnema Forest improves blood circulation, Calendula strengthens blood vessels, Melissa reduces tension. As a result, the load on the heart and blood vessels is reduced. The long-term effect is achieved through the action of medicinal plants.
The main advantage of this supplement in comparison with other drugs that lower blood pressure is the gentleness of its effect. A sharp decrease in blood pressure causes damage to blood vessels, which does not happen when taking Tonosil. If there is a sharp rise in pressure, this drug will not help to quickly reduce it, since it has a cumulative effect.
You should take the dietary supplement one teaspoon per day for a month. If your health condition has improved before completing the course, it is recommended to take the drug for the prescribed period to consolidate the result.
ReCardio
This supplement is made from a variety of plant extracts. Hawthorn is able to increase the strength of heart contractions and normalize their frequency; Rosehip removes excess cholesterol and improves body tone; Rhodiola rosea has always been considered a panacea for people with high blood pressure.
The drug also contains Gingko biloba, which has a particularly good effect on blood circulation in the brain, which means it helps with headaches and even memory impairment. Due to its plant composition, ReCardio contains the most important substances: lysine, zinc, selenium, vitamins A, PP, C, D3 and others. They improve the effect of other components and strengthen the body.
It has been proven that the cause of increased stress on the heart is stress hormones: cortisol, adrenaline. Under their influence, the amount of blood released by the heart muscle increases, and the blood vessels dilate. However, after some time they narrow, and spasms may occur. ReCardio prevents this process by normalizing hormonal levels. The drug also strengthens blood vessels, improves immunity, and regulates cellular oxygen metabolism.
Indications for use of dietary supplements:
- sensitivity to weather changes;
- elevated cholesterol levels;
- increased heart rate;
- congestion of the blood vessels of the facial skin;
- manifestations of hypertension, in particular surges in blood pressure.
It is recommended to take the product twice a day, one capsule with meals. It is necessary to conduct courses lasting 1-2 months.
CardioWell
This dietary supplement is distinguished by the fact that its components act on the principle of synergy and improve each other’s action. Locus angustifolia normalizes blood pressure and has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. Coleus forskohlii reduces inflammation and regulates thyroid function. Hibiscus helps to initiate restoration and regeneration of the body.
Thus, the drug is able to regulate cholesterol levels and metabolic processes in the body, cleanse the body of accumulated toxins, restore blood vessels and normalize blood pressure. The effect is noticeable within 15 minutes after administration.
The supplement is used for 1-2 months, one tablet per day. If necessary, the course is repeated.
Normaten
This dietary supplement is indicated for symptoms of hypertension: dizziness, shortness of breath, heart rhythm disturbances, temporary blurred vision. The drug restores the heart, blood vessels and other body systems: nervous, digestive, genitourinary. Thanks to the complex effect, it is possible to reduce drug doses and shorten the duration of therapy.
For the production of dietary supplements, plants grown in the Altai Mountains are used, which guarantees purity from substances harmful to the body. Rauwolfia serpentine lowers blood pressure and regulates protein metabolism. Amaranth is a source of essential fatty acids. Mordovnik is recommended for increased mental and physical activity. Garlic normalizes cholesterol levels.
Monastic tea
Herbal infusions are another addition to the drug course of treatment. Monastic tea is a popular herb used for hypertension. The drink contains motherwort, hawthorn, chamomile, and thyme. At the same time, different manufacturers use other components:
- Aronia chokeberry will compensate for the lack of vitamins and minerals;
- sweet clover has a beneficial effect on blood vessels;
- wormwood cleanses the body.
Therapeutic benefits of dietary supplements for heart patients
Supplements used for hypertension and other cardiovascular pathologies contain substances with the following qualities:
- Eliminate cholesterol accumulations.
- Helps lower glucose levels.
- Improves the performance of the kidneys and liver.
- Expand the vascular lumen.
- Prevents the manifestation of arrhythmia.
- Helps normalize water-salt balance.
- Increases physical endurance.
- Improves mental activity.
- Improves blood quality.
- Prevent heart attack and stroke.
- They have a sedative and tonic effect.
- They have diuretic properties.
- Improves the quality of metabolic processes.
- Accelerate weight loss by actively burning fat.
- Helps stabilize the central nervous system.
- Helps relax the walls of blood vessels.
The main composition of tablets for high blood pressure to reduce
Since the most common cause of transient episodes of increased blood pressure is overexertion and stress, herbal medicines include plants with a calming and relaxing effect. These include:
- hop cones,
- motherwort,
- passionflower,
- valerian,
- evasive peony,
- hawthorn,
- Melissa,
- St. John's wort,
- peppermint.
All these medicinal herbs can be found both in capsule and tablet form, and as part of teas. Many of them are sold in pharmacies in the form of tinctures. For high blood pressure, plants that strengthen the arterial wall (chokeberry, yarrow), have a diuretic effect (horsetail, knotweed, birch buds), and antispasmodics (fennel fruits, viburnum berries, wheatgrass rhizome) are also used.
To prevent the development and progression of atherosclerosis after 50 years, preparations from herbs that remove cholesterol are indicated - red clover, mistletoe, sophora, cudweed. Also, to maintain normal arterial tone, dietary supplements containing vitamins, potassium and magnesium salts are used.
Is it possible to take dietary supplements with high blood pressure?
Although dietary supplements that normalize blood pressure bring significant benefits to the body and can have some therapeutic effect, it would be wrong to treat hypertension with supplements alone. They are not able to completely replace pharmaceutical drugs.
When deciding to use a biological supplement for hypertension, a person should not forget about the following:
- The product is solely a preventative or maintenance product.
- It cannot fully replace antihypertensive drugs.
- The greatest effectiveness of dietary supplements is observed at the initial stage of hypertension, when non-drug methods of blood pressure correction are practiced.
- In severe cases of the disease, the assistance of biocorrectors is very low, so their use is practiced only in combination with antihypertensive drugs.
Rules for the use of dietary supplements for hypertension
A dietary supplement for a disease such as hypertension is used 30-40 minutes before or during a meal, but it can also be taken two hours after a meal. The menu consists of dishes prepared from a variety of nutritious foods, since supplements cannot replace a balanced diet. Nutrition is based on the consumption of only low-fat dairy products, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. The consumption of salt, sugar, fatty, spicy foods should be kept to a minimum.
To achieve a more pronounced effect, specialists sometimes combine dietary supplements so that they complement and enhance each other’s effects. Usually these are drugs of one action group; there can be up to five of them in polytherapy. The average course duration is 2-3 months without a break, then it is stopped or replaced with others to avoid addiction.
Despite the undoubted benefits of dietary supplements for hypertension, it is impossible to interrupt or refuse the main treatment with medications or strictly follow the diet: a complication of the disease is possible. With an integrated approach, dietary supplements will turn out to be faithful and reliable companions that actively fight the disease.
Useful tips for using dietary supplements
Before you start taking dietary supplements to lower blood pressure, you should pay attention to the following recommendations:
- Do not purchase biocorrectors in dubious places, but only in pharmacies.
- Strictly follow the dosage according to the instructions, without increasing it in any way without the permission of the cardiologist.
- It is better to start with small doses to monitor the body's reaction to this product, and in the following days gradually increase the dosage to the one recommended by the doctor.
- For more correct absorption, the supplement should be consumed simultaneously with food, in addition to those dietary supplements that contain calcium and live positive bacteria (these products are consumed an hour before or after meals).
- It is advisable to take tonic supplements in the first half of the day.
- The duration of the course is in accordance with medical prescriptions or according to the information specified in the instructions. Exceeding the deadlines is not acceptable, and shortened courses may not have the desired effect on the body.
- Do not use supplements that have expired.
- You cannot take several types of biocorrectors at the same time.
- Many dietary supplements for high blood pressure are contraindicated for pregnant women, children and the elderly, so you should consult your doctor.
- When purchasing any supplement, check the information about the manufacturer. Preference should be given to well-known companies like Evalar and others.
- Be sure to check the availability of a quality certificate for a particular product. Purchase only those that have passed state registration.
- The best option for storing food complexes is in a dark place, and bacterial ones in the refrigerator.
How long to take
The duration of the course is determined by the purpose and tasks that, depending on the state of health, need to be solved, as well as the individual characteristics of the body.
For preventive purposes.
It is recommended to take it for 3 months, after each month of use there is a 7-day break. The 3-month course is repeated 2 times during the year.
For chronic conditions, a course of 6 months is offered, also with a break of 7 days between each month of use, until the desired result is obtained (confirmed by laboratory and clinical studies).
What is the difference between drugs and dietary supplements
The main difference between dietary supplements and drugs is that medications, which include mainly chemical, hormonal, sometimes poisonous, and other potent substances, allow you to achieve the desired effect more quickly - in 30-120 minutes - by slowing down or stopping the development of the disease, for example:
- bring down the temperature (antipyretics);
- get rid of severe pain (anesthetics);
- stop diarrhea (antimicrobials, probiotics);
- destroy dangerous pathogenic bacteria (antibacterial);
- quickly lower high blood pressure (hypertensive).
The effect of the supplements becomes obvious only after one or even several months, sometimes more than a year. But the usefulness of dietary supplements is not questioned. They have many advantages, namely:
- naturally replenish the deficiency of substances necessary for the normal functioning of the body;
- have almost no side effects except for possible hypersensitivity reactions due to individual intolerance. According to USA Today, dietary supplements harm the body 502 times less often than medications;
- increase endurance and resistance to disease. Recommended for people with an increased need for nutrients: children, the elderly, athletes, those on a low-calorie diet or who, due to financial circumstances, are not able to eat fully.
In addition, dietary supplements:
- strengthen the immune system;
- prevent the occurrence and complications of certain diseases;
- normalize hormonal, neurological, emotional backgrounds;
- improve metabolism by establishing anabolic and catabolic processes.