Knowledge of human nutrition is essential to the health of college students. Instead, some college students try to enhance their diet by taking nutritional supplements. Supplements are synthetic or natural substances which can be purchased as pills, tablets, capsules, wafers, powders or liquids.
Some students mistakenly believe that taking supplements ensures a healthy diet.
RDA lists the daily amount of essential nutrients to meet the nutritional needs of most healthy individuals. Dietary supplements, which include vitamins and minerals, are not always beneficial and may be a health risk in some cases. Supplements are not regulated by the FDA so the purity and safety of the supplement may be unknown. Studies have not been done on long term effects of many supplements, so consuming them now may cause health problems later in life. Misconceptions and Myths Adequate vitamins and minerals are needed for efficient body function, but extra vitamins and minerals cannot improve your health.