With all the diets, health concerns and lack of knowledge about food in general these days, it's no surprise that people have turned to other ways to obtain nutrients. One of the main ways to obtain these nutrients is through dietary supplements. Dietary supplements are described by the FDA website as a product taken orally and must contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, or other substances used to facilitate nutrition. These are called dietary ingredients and can come in the form of tablets, capsules, powders, energy bars and liquids (Np). With this definition of supplements, it is not surprising to learn that the Nutrition Business Journal reported that $28 billion was spent on supplements in 2010. (Np) Dietary supplements are a part of most people's daily lives. people, but are they too integrated or necessary part of life. Dietary supplements underwent a rebuild in 1994, when the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was passed by the U.S. Congress. Dr. William Soller explained that DSHEA created a framework in which the FDA was authorized to establish a regulatory system for dietary supplements. The DHSEA also clarified that dietary supplements refer to a part of food, while dietary ingredients are not “food additives.” DSHEA required manufacturers of novel food ingredients (NDIs) to submit documentation to the FDA so that the FDA could declare that the ingredients were safe to consume. Today, with subsequent amendments added to the DHSEA, the FDA can more easily regulate dietary supplements and can use enforcement against mislabeled and unsafe products. (Np). As nice as it sounds, it doesn't mean that before a product hits the market it is approved by the FDA, basically the FDA can...... middle of paper .. ....ation of 500 stories. Plos Medicine 5.5: n. page. PLoS Medicine. Internet. April 1, 2012. .Soller, Wiiliam R, Holly J Bayne and Christopher Shaheen. “The Regulated Dietary Supplement Industry: Myths of an Unregulated Industry Dispelled.” HerbalGram 93:42-57. AltHealthWatch. Internet. April 1, 2012.JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=awh&AN=72364965>.Tweed, Vera. “Supplements and Medications”. Incredible Well-Being Fall 2011: 58-62. Consumer health completed. Internet. March 29, 2012. detail?sid=7e3aa3ce-39dc-493b-86ac-eff77baaf36e%40sessionmgr10&vid=11&hid=115&bdata= JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=c9h&AN=66865242>.