Nutritional supplements are comprised of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants, or other substances which are naturally found in our bodies, but in a more concentrated form than that provided by diet alone.
Recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) were first established in 1943 by the Food and Nutrition Board and define the amount of an individual nutrient required by an individual on a daily basis such that they do not develop signs of nutrient deficiency.
However, it is now being recognized that optimal health and wellness is most likely to be achieved if these nutrients consumed in amounts somewhat greater than the RDAs. In cases where an individual has developed a condition or certain symptoms have become evident, supplements are useful in providing the body with the nutrients it needs while undergoing the healing process.