Why should I take dietary supplements?
Let's start by saying that no one forces us to do so, and in fact, until a few years ago, supplements were demonized. Sometimes rightfully so: many supplements on the market simply followed a trend, without proper research on the ingredients and raw materials by the producers themselves.

Several vitamins offer a synthetic alternative to the natural ones. If a supplement and its ingredients are natural, for example, extracted from plants or yeast, then our body will interpret them as food-equivalents and, just like food, will be able to absorb and optimize them functionally for the organism.
On the other hand, synthetic vitamins are synthesized, created specifically. Maybe yes, with a higher concentration than the natural ones, but are they better? Does our body use them well? Does it recognize them? This is a big debate between manufacturers who favor natural ingredients and those who only favor synthetic substances.

The advantage of synthetic vitamins is primarily one: they offer a higher concentration at a lower price - and with a higher profit margin for those who sell them.
The advantage of natural vitamins, however, is all for the consumer: they are natural, just as nature provides them, and therefore more recognizable by our body, even though, almost always, they have a lower concentration compared to synthetic ones. This is also one of the reasons why you might find daily dosages requiring a relatively high number of capsules compared to synthetic industrial vitamins.

But returning to the reason why we should take supplements, the definitive answer does not exist. It is a choice made freely.
Undoubtedly, there are situations linked to nutritional deficiencies where vitamin supplementation is recommended. There are vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that - we’ve discovered through science - we need in greater quantities than we could consume with even a healthy and complete diet. And there are situations where a higher intake of a specific nutrient is required, perhaps to address temporary or systemic deficiencies.

What truly matters is not saving on supplements or cutting corners when examining the ingredients. These are substances we consume, we eat, and choosing the best is the wisest and most beneficial choice for our own well-being.

Supplementation is sometimes an answer, a new lifestyle, a way to feel better every day, a routine of benefit with multiple functionalities. But it is also a practice that, as time goes on, can become really necessary for some – for example, to counteract physiological degenerative processes.

Isn’t the search for well-being one of the goals that humanity pursues?
Today, the role of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, fatty acids - to name a few - is clearly and indisputably recognized by the scientific community. Just think that the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) continuously approves new health claims related to dietary supplements and their main ingredients. This means that scientifically proven efficacy exists, and it’s beyond doubt.

One could say: so they work! Indeed, it seems to be the case. However, a clarification should be made: supplements are not medicines, they do not cure diseases, but are better considered as a preventive act, an act of care for one’s well-being. And also: unlike medicines, supplements should be taken for much longer periods and with daily consistency, choosing, where possible, the best in terms of ingredients and food safety.

Finally, this is nothing but a reflection, maybe even too general. But it’s also a thought-provoking starting point, to understand why we should or shouldn’t supplement. It’s a cue to reflect on the quality of what we consume, to focus longer on reading supplement labels, without limiting ourselves to the aesthetics of the packaging or what marketing dictates. As with everything, there are those who make supplements out of passion, those who do it by imitation, and those who do it for profit.

Health is our responsibility, it’s an intimate matter. So, returning to the initial question, "Why should I take dietary supplements?"
Sometimes, it’s a bit - paraphrasing - like Pascal’s wager* about the existence of God: if I believe and it really exists, then it's all gain. If it doesn’t exist, I haven’t lost anything...


*Who was Blaise Pascal? Read the biography on Wikipedia