In the United States, nutritional supplements are substances you eat or drink to add to the daily diet that which may at times be missing. They can be vitamins, minerals, herbs or other plants, amino acids (the individual building blocks of protein), or parts of these substances. They can be in pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid form.

We are beginning to understand the scientific mechanisms how these supplements affect us. The FDA has not as yet approved supplements for medical use but there has been some anecdotal reports of effectiveness.  For example, antioxidants are a good group of supplements to discuss.  As we process food for energy, our bodies produce substances called free radicals.  Likewise, free radicals have been observed in regions of chronic inflammation.  To neutralize free radicals, our bodies use antioxidants which include Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta carotene, Folic acid, and Selenium.  According to the American Heart Association, 30 percent of Americans are taking some form of antioxidant supplement.