Many products are marketed as dietary supplements, and it is important to remember that supplements include not only vitamins and minerals, but also herbs and other botanicals, probiotics, fish oil, and other substances.

Some supplements may help ensure that you get adequate amounts of essential nutrients or help promote optimal health and performance if you do not consume a variety of foods.

Many terms are used when referring to either the amount of a particular nutrient (such as calcium or vitamin D) you should get or the amount in a food or dietary supplement. The two most common are the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and the Daily Value (DV). These terms can be confusing.

RDAs are recommended daily intakes of a nutrient for healthy people. They tell you how much of that nutrient you should get on average each day. RDAs are developed by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. They vary by age, sex, and whether a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding, so there are many different RDAs for each nutrient.

Our bodies need vitamins and minerals for many things, like breaking down the food we eat, making bones and DNA, helping muscles contract, and maintaining immunity. But there’s no reason to get more than you need, and some nutrients can be dangerous in large amounts.

Each vitamin and mineral has a recommended amount, which is what you should get each day for good health. Most of them also have what is called a “tolerable upper intake level” or UL. Getting more than the UL can cause health problems. Other vitamins and minerals appear to be safe at any dose, while a few have a UL only under certain circumstances.

Yes, Dr. Terry will make recommendations based on your needs and your current medicines or other supplements.

Most of the time, you want food in your stomach unless directions state otherwise. However, water-soluble nutrients don’t require food to be absorbed, but you may feel better taking your supplement with meals regardless.