The Daily Dose

They’re the latest tool in your health arsenal and they’re seeing a rise in popularity. We’ve got your need-to-know guide to supplements

- Julia Bray Brook

Back in the day, taking a multivitamin was the peak of the health and wellness scene. But these days, all manner of supplements are reigning supreme, with everything from adrenal health support, to vitamin D and prebiotics – all designed to help you top up vital vitamins and minerals that you may not be  getting otherwise. So what’s behind the  rise of dietary supplements – and should you be taking one?

Currently the global supplement industry is worth some serious money, around NZD$111 billion. Fuelled by our burgeoning interest in health and wellness, it’s set to be worth almost $118 billion by 2022. A survey by British market research firm Mintel found that in the past year, 65% of adults took some form of vitamins or supplements either daily or occasionally. Previous research has also found those who take supplements are more likely to report very good or excellent health and exercise more frequently than those who don’t take supplements.

Raul Seballos, vice chair of preventative medicine at Cleveland Clinic in the US, says the research indicates healthy people are taking a more active role in their health.

EVERYDAY HEALTH

But it could be time for a shift. Marketing executive Vicky Sawyer says she believes usage is “going to sway away from being exclusive to gym-goers and health fanatics to being an everyday part of people’s routines as they become more aware of what they need to be able to help their bodies function well in their busy lives.”

She adds, “It’s become difficult for people to be able to prepare healthy meals full of vitamins every day, and that’s where supplementation comes in.”