Are Dietary Supplements Necessary for My Health?

6 things to know about dietary supplements before taking them

Walk down the vitamin and mineral aisle of your local drugstore. You’ll see rows of capsules, liquids and powders listed as dietary supplements. Their labels claim they can help improve your health and well-being. But are dietary supplements necessary for your health?

It depends. Supplements contain nutrients but they cannot treat or cure disease. Some can be beneficial to your health and for managing some health conditions. But some can put you at risk if you take too many, or if you mix them with medication.

“Not everyone needs supplements. But if you're thinking of taking them, do your homework,” says Immanuel Hausig, DO, a family medicine physician at Scripps Coastal Medical Center Carlsbad. “Learn how safe and effective they are first.”