Food Supplements - Nutritional Supplements

More and more people take health supplements (food supplements) all over the world. A recent survey in Canada showed that some of the most used is immune supplements. Making efforts to support a healthy immune system is always a good way to keep fit, but it is particularly important in view of the next cold and flu season. The evening news seems to be constantly alerting to new, more firm strains of the virus, bird flu, pandemic flu that are just some of the names we hear from time to time.

Those who believe they have a healthy immune system are not concerned about these viruses. People with healthy immune systems are less likely to be infected with these viruses and are less likely to have complications from diseases. Natural products that maintain healthy immune system function are very popular because of a good reason; many of these immune system supplements have been the object of scientific studying. Herbs and botanicals may be at a lower risk of side effects than vaccines and antiviral drugs.

In a controlled study, people who take immune system supplements lost less work and develop infections less frequent than those who receive placebo. The same study concluded that those who took supplements are infected with influenza develop fewer complications and are not often to be hospitalized. The basis for the study of modern immune system supplements is the native or traditional medicine and folk remedies.

Plants traditionally used to cure influenza, common cold and other viral infections and their action have been studied on a healthy immune system. Scientists have found that some supplements are safer than others, some are more efficient than others and some are less likely to interact with prescription or over the counter medications that a person may be required. Famous ancient medicinal herb is andrographis paniculata (AP), herbaceous plant in the family Acanthaceae, native to India and Sri Lanka.  Scientific studies have shown that Andrographis paniculata not only helps maintain a healthy immune system, but can also help people who have weakened or unhealthy immune system. Andrographis paniculata has been reckoned up for side effects and security and has been found that even when very high doses were taken by animals there were no toxic effects on the organs of the body such as kidney, liver,  etc. Studies on the prolonged use of AP, showed no side effects, but herbalists warn that they must not be used by pregnant women or those who want to have a baby in near future.