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Key Takeaways
St. Johns wort.
That was more than 20 years ago.
Photo:Design elements: Abbey Littlejohn and Getty Images. EatingWell design.
Today, the science of supplements has been more carefully examined.
Fortunately, not everyone can relate to the extent of my experience.
And while most people arent taking 20 supplements daily, I wouldn’t be surprised if some come close.
We are inundated with talk of dietary supplements daily.
Or perhaps family or friends bring up the supposed latest and greatest supplement during dinner.
The idea that healthy eating isnt enough is everywhere.
And what does science say are the real dangers of taking too many supplements?
Understanding Supplements and Their Role
What exactly qualifies as a dietary supplement?
In essence, its anything you ingest that isnt food or medication.
Their name says it all.
The reasons that people take supplements are as varied as our bodies themselves.
Its common to take vitamin C orechinaceawith the expectation of supporting immunity during cold and flu season.
Others might turn tovitamin B12with the hope that it will boost energy levels or help improve workouts.
Even more so, anyone could sell a supplement without proving its effectiveness.
And thesupplements that can be toxicwhen you take too much of them arent just obscure ingredients.
Downs says that they include the basics.
For example, a high dose ofvitamin Acould cause liver damage or increased pressure on the brain.
Vitamin A and vitamin D are both fat-soluble.
Another example is green tea.
In my years of over-supplementing, I often couldnt keep food down.
Czerwony suggests that this might have been a symptom of my excessive consumption.
Most often, its going to be things like nausea or vomiting, she explains.
It takes a little bit more time to accumulate in your system.
And what if you take prescription medications?
Our experts all agreed that there can be potentially catastrophic interactions.
Some symptoms of serotonin syndrome (or serotonin toxicity) include agitation, tachycardia and hallucinations.
How to Safely Take Supplements
Is there such a thing as safe supplement use?
Yes, but it should take place under a doctors care.
Supplementation should never replace a healthy diet; its just to enhance it, says Czerwony.
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