Honestly, it’s difficult to tell fact from fiction when it comes to supplements because there’s so much hype about their advantages. While vitamins and minerals are vital for good health, taking them in pill, capsule, or powder form — especially in huge dosages is definitely not risk-free.
People fail to realize that nutritional supplements, like over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications, can sometimes interact with one another. Furthermore, unlike medicines, the FDA is not authorized to examine dietary supplements for safety and efficacy before they are sold. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that their products are free of contaminants and impurities, are properly labeled, and contain exactly what they represent.
Plus, you could be taking a collagen supplement because you read about collagen benefits for men without realizing whether or not it suits your body. To avoid this and to minimize risks, we bring you a list of popular supplements and their potential dangers:
1: Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and helps protect bones by preventing disorders like osteoporosis. Taking vitamin D supplements is common because it’s impossible to get all of it from food.
Taking large doses is not a good idea thought. Vitamin D blood levels greater than 100 ng/mL in healthy persons can cause excessive calcium absorption, which can result in muscle soreness, kidney stones, mental issues, and abdominal pain. It may also increase your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
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2: Calcium
Too much calcium can be your enemy. Excessive calcium can result in plaque accumulation in the aorta and other arteries. Doctors recommend taking calcium through diet instead of supplements.
Plus, if you can, get calcium from your diet this calcium is better absorbed from food than from supplements. Doctors normally performed a blood test to see if you are calcium deficient and prescribe a supplement accordingly.
3: Fish Oil Supplements
Fish oil, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids, has been long promoted for preventing heart disease. However, evidence suggests that fish oil supplements may not have cardiovascular advantages. In fact, as per a study, Omega-3 fatty acid supplements did not lower heart attacks, strokes, or deaths from heart disease in middle-aged and older men and women.
In the United States, omega-3 deficiency is “very rare.” Despite this, many people do not consume enough omega-3s on a regular basis to maintain good health. Instead of taking supplements, it’s recommended to fulfill your body’s need for omega 3 by consuming fortified foods, nuts, seeds, fish, and other seafood.
4: Soy Isolate
Protein, fiber, and a variety of minerals can all be found in soy isolates like tofu, tempeh, and soy milk. Some women have been taking soy supplements because the plant contains isoflavones, which are estrogen-like chemicals that may help reduce menopause symptoms. However, there have been concerns that the isoflavones present in soy supplements may increase the risk of breast cancer.
Fortunately, not enough study has been done on soy protein isolate (SPI), which is a powder made by separating the protein from the rest of the plant. SPI is commonly found in veggie burgers, and soups, sauces, smoothies, and cereals, and can be found in supplement forms.
Don’t consume too much soy isolate thinking that it will boost the estrogen levels in your body.
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6: Multivitamins and Multiminerals
If you believe that living a healthy lifestyle means taking a daily multivitamin-multimineral supplement in addition to healthy food, sleep, and exercise, then you might be shocked after learning what I will tell next.
In a study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers and discovered that women who took supplements had a higher chance of dying than those who didn’t. Multivitamins also had little or no effect in preventing diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, or death.
If you have a health condition in which the body does not absorb vitamins and minerals effectively, your doctor may prescribe multivitamins. Other, a supplement can never be a substitute for a nutritious diet among healthy people.
With that being said, you don’t really need supplements for optimal health. There is no better way of consuming pure and high-quality minerals and vitamins than by consuming food. Unless your body needs it, don’t take supplements. They could react with other medication you are already on. Eat your fruits and veggies instead of ingesting supplements.
