Tuesday, August 28, 2018

@NLCAmerican.org#NLCA

Can you OD on Supplements
www.nlcamerican.org



Taking too much of a vitamin or mineral can have serious health effects. Your body doesn't just get rid of what it doesn't need. Many vitamins and minerals that accumulate in the body cause both long and short turn damage. Below are a few of the common vitamins and minerals to be especially careful of consuming too much.

Vitamin A- listed as retinyl palmitate, retinol, or retinoic acid, too much of it can lead to a condition called hypervitaminosis A. This occurs when there's a build up of vitamin A in the body over a long period of time. Symptoms include changes in vision and skin, bone pain, liver damage, and increased pressure on the brain. In some cases vitamin A toxicity can even be caused by topical skincare treatments - another reason to add to why we stay clear of in in our skincare formulas.

Vitamin B3- Most likely listed as niacin, it doesn't accumulate in the body, however high doses of the vitamin can cause digestion problems, muscle loss, and muscle pain.

Vitamin E- or tocopheryl acetate, it can accumulate in the body and can be especially dangerous for people talking blood thinners or even aspirin as it can reduce your body's ability to clot blood. 

Iron- A mineral that lives in your blood and prevents anemia. It can build up and put you at increased risk for heart disease and cancer. Only premenopausal women really need to take iron supplements and only when a doctor advises to do so.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FDA
Just like in the cosmetic industry, supplements are regulated by the FDA which has very lax regulations on both industries. Most are self regulated and claims are never verified by the FDA unless they are specifically stated to be so. 

THE DOCTOR AND MOTHER NATURE
The best thing to do when it comes to supplements and making sure that you aren't doing more harm than good is to alway consult with a doctor before starting anything new. And try getting your vitamins and minerals from plant sources rather than supplements. Many minerals and vitamins are best consumed with the addition of the phytonutrients found in fruits and veggies. Plus, there hasn't been a reported case of kale overdose- well, not yet.


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