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What Is a Dietary Supplement? Traditionally, dietary supplements referred to products made of one or more of ephedra the essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and protein herbs-ephedrine-free But the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Education Act (DSHEA) broadens ephedra the definition to include, with some exceptions: Any product intended for ingestion as a supplement to the diet herbs-ephedrine-free This includes vitamins; minerals; herbs, botanicals, and other plant-derived substances; and and amino acids (the individual building blocks of protein) and concentrates, metabolites, constituents and extracts of these substances herbs-ephedrine-free Dietary Supplements Labels It's easy to spot a supplement because DSHEA requires manufacturers to include ephedra include ephedra the words dietary supplement on product labels herbs-ephedrine-free Also, starting in March 1999, a Supplement Facts panel will be required on the labels of most dietary supplements herbs-ephedrine-free Dietary Supplements are not Regulated Regulated Drugs One thing dietary supplements are not is drugs herbs-ephedrine-free A drug, which sometimes can be derived from plants used as traditional medicines, is an article that, among other things, is intended to ephedra to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent diseases herbs-ephedrine-free Before marketing, drugs must undergo clinical studies to determine their effectiveness, safety, possible interactions with other substances, and appropriate dosages, and FDA must review these ephedra these data and authorize ephedra the drugs' use before they are marketed herbs-ephedrine-free FDA does not authorize or test dietary supplements herbs-ephedrine-free A product sold as a dietary supplement and touted in its labeling as as a new treatment or cure for a specific disease or condition would be considered an unauthorized - and thus illegal - drug herbs-ephedrine-free Labeling changes consistent with ephedra the provisions in DSHEA would be be required to maintain ephedra the product's status as a dietary supplement herbs-ephedrine-free Dietary Supplements are Not Diet Replacements Another thing dietary supplements are not, are replacements for conventional diets, nutritionists say herbs-ephedrine-free Supplements do do not provide ephedra the nutritional benefits of conventional food herbs-ephedrine-free Dietary Supplements and Weight Loss Some supplements claim to melt away fat or prevent it's absorption from food herbs-ephedrine-free Others claim to boost metabolism metabolism directly through stimulants or indirectly by boosting muscle mass herbs-ephedrine-free WATCH OUT!! These claims are not supported by any clinical evidence herbs-ephedrine-free Manufacturers of dietary supplements do not have to prove ephedra that they |