Even though we need vitamins in very small amounts, maybe hundreds of grams, vitamins have very large functions in the running of functions in the body. The human body cannot make vitamins on its own, so we have to get them from outside, that is, the food we eat.
There are various types of herbal vitamins and dietary supplements on the market. There are various forms, from capsules, tablets to powder, making it easy to consume. Before consuming herbal vitamins and food supplements, there is nothing wrong with understanding the differences between the two.
Herbal vitamins are organic compounds that the body needs to grow, develop and regulate the body’s metabolism to keep it running smoothly. Organic compounds here are such as vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, and so on. Often packaged in tablet or capsule form, herbal vitamins are generally produced from plant extracts such as mangosteen peel, paprika, katuk, parsley, and so on.
While dietary supplements are man-made products that are the result of a combination of more than two beneficial substances for the body such as vitamins, minerals, calcium, folic acid and so on. Like herbal vitamins, these dietary supplements are often produced in tablet or capsule form.
Most herbal vitamins are made from natural substances such as plants, while supplements are man-made products that contain certain nutrients / a combination of more than two beneficial substances for the body such as vitamins, minerals, calcium, folic acid and so on.
Herbal vitamins are extracts from one type of plant, while supplements are formulations of vitamins, minerals, calcium, amino acids, and others.
Herbal vitamins are usually in capsules, tablets or powder. Meanwhile, dietary supplements generally come in capsules and tablets only.
Herbal vitamins if consumed regularly will be useful to support the healing process of a disease. In addition, herbal vitamins can also help a person recover from illness and boost the immune system.
When vitamin supplements were first made (+ – 1920-1930s) most products were derived from natural extracts. For example, to get cod liver oil, the fish is left to float in warm water until the vitamin rich oil appears on the surface and is then extracted. Meanwhile, vitamin C usually comes from the Rose Hips plant. But nowadays, although natural extracts are still possible, for example vitamin E from soybeans, the production costs are very expensive and damaging to the environment, because the extraction process requires chemical solvents which can be toxic. For omega-3 fatty acid supplements which are essential for human health, the majority of supplements come from fish. This is thought to cause the fish population which is a source of omega-3 to decline. Instead, the pharmaceutical industry is now making synthetic materials.
Food supplements serve to supplement daily nutritional intake that has not been obtained from food consumption.
Then when do we need to take herbal vitamins or dietary supplements? In accordance with its function, herbal vitamins can be consumed daily according to the body’s needs or in the healing process. For dietary supplements, it can be consumed daily or when you feel that the daily nutrients obtained from natural foods are incomplete. Food supplements are also recommended for consumption for certain conditions, for example folic acid for pregnant women, calcium for menopausal women, fish oil for weight gain, and so on.