When it comes to supplements from brands like Pure Encapsulations in Supplement First, you’ve probably heard about all the hype surrounding the potential benefits, to the point it becomes difficult to separate fact from fiction. Yes, vitamins and minerals are crucial for our health, but it isn’t true that taking them in pill, powder, or capsule form is absolutely necessary or comes without risk.
For starters, supplements may interact with one another, along with prescription and over-the-counter medication. Moreover, unlike drugs, the US Food & Drug Administration isn’t authorized to review supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are available to the market.
It would be up to the manufacturers to ensure their products don’t contain any contaminants or impurities. Furthermore, they should also ensure that their supplements are properly labeled and contain what they claim. Meaning, supplement regulation is far less strict that OTC and prescription drugs.
But did you know that millions of Americans take supplements daily, with the market valued at a whopping $151.9 billion worldwide last year?
When used properly, supplements (like the ones from supplementfirst.com) can improve health. However, some are ineffective, and maybe even harmful. We share seven supplements that are known to be popular but still pose risk if you don’t take them properly.
- Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption in our bodies, and having enough is important for our health. It aids in bone protection and prevents bone diseases like osteoporosis. Some people take vitamin D supplements as it might be difficult to get enough of it from food and sun exposure.
However, taking high doses of vitamin D may trigger extra calcium absorption, leading to side effects like mood disorders, muscle pain, abdominal pain, and even kidney stones. It might also increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
- St. John’s Wort
This is a popular plant consumed as a tea or in capsule form, known for its benefits against mental health conditions like depression, ADHD, insomnia, OCD, and more. Small studies have shown this herb to be effective with mild depression, but the issue it comes with is medication interactions.
Taking St. John’s Wort may reduce the effectiveness of other medications like birth control pills, HIV/AIDS medication, chemotherapy, and medicine to prevent organ rejection after transplants.
- Calcium
Like vitamin D, calcium is necessary for strong bones. But too much of it can be harmful. That’s why it’s best to get calcium from your diet rather than in supplement form. Too much of it may increase the risk of hardened arteries or heart disease.
- Multivitamins
Multivitamins may not be as helpful as you think. There is mixed research on how multivitamins actually promote health, with many medical experts saying that these can never be a substitute for healthy diets.
It’s much better to speak with your doctor regarding the multivitamin you plan to take.
Wrapping It Up
Always speak with your doctor before taking any new medication, diet, or supplement for the sake of your health.