We all know about the importance of taking good care of our health, including eating a balanced diet, exercising, and making sure that our bodies receive the ultimate balance of vitamins and minerals. With regards to the latter, it can sometimes be tricky to get the correct quantity, quality, and amount from our food, and this is where supplements can be your new best friend.
While these may seem like a magical solution, there are downsides and ill-effects which are less widely publicized. Before you pop a pill, read on to make sure you are fully informed—these are some of the risks you may encounter.
Some ‘Vitamins’ May Actually Be Prescription Drugs
While many vitamins are marketed as being natural and healthy, many of them may be potentially harmful prescription drugs. This is a particularly common issue when it comes to dietary supplements, which can be spiked with prescription drugs to deliver the promised effects. The most common categories affected tend to be for bodybuilding, sexual enhancement, and weight loss, and the side effects along with a combination of these drugs can have severe consequences on your health. For best results, use a healthy diet and exercise regime to achieve the results you want; try not to resort to pills.
You Can Overdose On Vitamins
We see vitamins as beneficial to our health rather than dangerous, but it is perfectly possible to have too much of a good thing. The recommended daily intakes for most vitamins are likely to be lower than you may think, and taking excess can do you more harm than good. Too much of vitamins such as A, D, E, and K can cause damage to your organs and create adverse and unwanted side effects such as producing too much calcium or iron within the body. It is also highly likely that you are underestimating the amount of minerals you are getting from your diet and may supplement unnecessarily.
They Are Not Miracle Cures
If you know where to look on the internet, it is possible to discover all sorts of ‘wonder cures’ for a range of diseases and illnesses and many more to prevent you from catching infections or promising to boost your immunity to certain conditions. Unless this is an FDA-approved drug which is coming directly from a licensed, qualified medical practitioner, it is highly likely that this is a fraudulent claim. In fact, rather than boosting and helping your body, these ‘vitamins’ can have unwanted and unexpected side effects which could cause harm. Instead of relying on these substances, it is best to stick to real, whole food which can be traced and validated.
They Are Not All That Natural
Many vitamins are also likely to contain a range of synthetic ingredients. Not only is this a contradiction to a seemingly healthy lifestyle, but it can also cause unexpected reactions, especially if you are taking other medications. It is a good idea to double check any ingredients list to reduce the risk of adverse effects.
