Date Published: 13 March 2008

Food supplements do not replace a healthy diet (safefood, Eire)

safefood, the Food Safety Promotion Board - in the Irish language, An Bord um Chur Chun Cinn Sabháilteachta Bia - is an implementation body. Food safety policies are underpinned by comprehensive access to current, accurate, high quality scientific information, and to adequate means for the analysis and interpretation of such data.

One in four on the island of Ireland currently taking food supplements

safefood launches informative guide to food supplement

safefood in collaboration with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland has launched a new guide to food supplements, with research revealing that one in four adults on the island of Ireland are currently taking food supplements. Entitled “Thinking of Taking Food Supplements?” the leaflet is an informative guide to what food supplements are and what they do.

Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director, Human Health & Nutrition, safefood said:

" Nutritional supplements should not be used as a replacement for a healthy balanced diet, which can provide the vitamins, minerals and other natural ingredients beneficial to our health. However, the exception to this would be folic acid, which all women of childbearing age and who are sexually active should take daily to lower the risk of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord in the baby. With many people believing that supplements can improve their overall health, we have developed this leaflet to help inform consumers about food supplements.”

By enjoying a variety of foods which provide energy, protein, fibre and other natural ingredients in addition to vitamins and minerals, a healthy balanced diet can have beneficial effects on health that supplements cannot match. It is this combination of nutrients working together in food that can help keep bodies healthy.

“ Taking supplements can appear like a quick fix solution but it just doesn’t replace a healthy balanced diet. There is often uncertainty about whether we actually need to take supplements in the first instance or which ones to take. There are also potential health consequences of taking too much of certain food supplements or taking them with medication”, continued Dr. Foley-Nolan. “ With the exception of folic acid, people should consult with their doctor or dietitian first before considering food supplements for themselves or their families."

“ In certain circumstances, GPs will advise consumers to take food supplements and we hope this leaflet will help inform consumers before they seek that advice”, she added.

News is included on the IvyRose website to inform visitors about current health issues, but not to endorse any particular view or activity. The views stated in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released by safeFood (Ireland) on 13 March 2008 and may have been edited (e.g. in style, length, and/or for ease of understanding by our international readers) for inclusion here. For further information, please visit their website using the link below.