How many vitamins are too many

Are the vitamins diet pills, herbs, or synthetic? Taking supplements can have a placebo effect where a person feels as though the product works when the health benefits are slim to none.

Factor in the cost of the supplements and the vitamins become an expensive quest. The sheer amount of supplements taken, paired with the ineffectiveness, can lead to issues. Buy supplements from trusted sources. Fortified foods come in the form of cereals, milk, protein bars, bread, and fruit juices. Orange juice might contain calcium or vitamin D. Even granola might have a dash of probiotics or added vitamins. Fortified foods offer additional nutritional benefits and micronutrients to fill nutritional gaps.

The question boils down to whether a person eats only the fortified foods or if the foods are part of a more extensive, more enriched diet. Yes, fortified foods can be beneficial, and yes, people can eat too much-enriched food.

They circulate around your body, are used as needed, and eventually passed in your urine. A few water-soluble vitamins can cause significant health issues. These include:. Cross-reference that number against the quantity provided by your supplement, and then track the amounts in your food. Fred Decker is a trained chef, former restaurateur and prolific freelance writer. A self-described "food-science geek," he reads academic papers for entertainment. Scientists know that people who eat lots of vitamin- and mineral-rich foods tend to live longer and healthier lives.

For example, a major study found that taking dietary supplements does not appear to reduce the risk of cancer. Several studies, including one published last month in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology , have also found that regular supplement use has no net effect on heart health or risk of early death.

Kitchin takes a daily multivitamin herself, but she actually only takes half a dose one pill rather than a serving size of two. He also stresses that his recent study only looked at cardiovascular problems and early death, and that supplements may still have benefits in other areas.

Combining multiple supplements or taking higher-than-recommended doses can increase the risk that they can actually cause harm, says Kitchin. Consequently, it takes a significant amount of time for the body to recycle these nutrients. Glenn H Englander from GastroGroup can attest to the dangers a large amount of synthetic vitamin A can have on the body. Thirty years ago when he was a young gastroenterologist in New York a patient passed from liver disease caused by excess vitamin A.

But, unfortunately, anyone can make and sell a vitamin. While not all cases are going to go be that extreme, it is always beneficial to check in with your healthcare provider before adding any vitamins or supplements to your diet. The perfect pair to your healthy intake of vitamins is a great workout routine.

Try these dietitian-approved foods the next time a late-night craving strikes. Welcome to the guidebook to your healthiest life. Aaptiv delivers the highest quality fitness and health information from personal trainers and industry experts.

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