What Advantages Do Health Supplements Have Compared to Medicines?

Medicines, whether Western medicine or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), are mostly derived from chemical synthesis or plant extraction. Their main function is to control disease symptoms, such as relieving pain, sterilizing, and reducing inflammation.

Health food products consist of raw materials in various forms, with traditional Chinese herbal medicines emerging as a common source in recent years. Containing a certain amount of functional ingredients, health foods can regulate human physiological functions, possess specific efficacy, and are suitable for specific groups of people. They cannot be directly used to treat diseases; instead, they act as regulators of human physiological functions and nutritional supplements.

In terms of promoting human health, the efficacy of health supplements can be summarized in the following six categories:

1. Vitamin-based Health Supplements

Vitamins are organic substances essential for the normal growth and development of the human body. Common vitamin-based supplements include vitamin C, vitamin E, and B-complex vitamins. Their main functions include boosting immunity, promoting metabolism, providing antioxidant effects, and improving skin quality.

2. Mineral-based Health Supplements

Minerals are inorganic substances necessary for forming human bones, endocrine substances, etc. Common mineral-based supplements include calcium, iron, and zinc. Their main functions include maintaining bone health, promoting blood circulation, and participating in enzymatic reactions.

3. Protein-based Health Supplements

Protein is the basic unit of human cells and is crucial for maintaining bodily functions and repairing tissue damage. Common protein-based supplements include whey protein and soy protein. Their main functions include promoting muscle growth, increasing metabolic rate, and enhancing bone strength.

4. Probiotic Health Supplements

Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms for the human body that can maintain intestinal balance, boost immunity, and aid digestion. Common probiotic supplements include lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.

5. Fish Oil Health Supplements

Fish oil is rich in various unsaturated fatty acids. Common fish oil supplements mainly function to lower blood lipids, promote brain development, and protect cardiovascular health.

6. Herbal Health Supplements

Herbal health supplements are extracted from natural plants, with common examples including grape seed extract, curcumin, and invigorating teas. They offer multiple benefits such as anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant properties, and stress relief.

Translation Notes (Adapting to Health Product Export Scenarios)