The Toxic Reality Behind Vitamin Supplements – Part I

In the recent past, sales of health pills have skyrocketed. It is an ever-expanding market which makers have uncovered and are ready to shell out millions promoting their products.

Since health pills are manufactured from innate constituents or imitate those created by the body hence many individuals presume that they are not detrimental to health.

Since the health supplement business is not regulated hence it is not compulsory for makers to list likely side effects and such products also do not pass through rigorous expensive scientific trials.

With a couple of exemptions like folic acid is advisable for females attempting conception and comes under the category food. However increasing the dosage of folic acid from 400mcg for strengthening conception chances to five milligrams for anemics and other health problems then turns it to a drug necessitating permit. In other cases there is no checking necessary for protecting end users which is a worrisome trend.

Health pills carry potential ill-effects like having lethal outcomes in case used with some drugs or in elevated amounts. Also health supplements recommended by physicians are not totally devoid of risk – for instance reports of calcium supplement intake mostly advised for osteoporosis can augment likelihood of suffering heart attack by thirty percent.

Not merely the key constituent but other components of the pill like its casing or binding agents could cause problems.

Outlined herewith are a number of health supplements carrying potentially harmful side-effects that one may not locate on the package listing.

Glucosamine

A health supplement derived from the shell of lobsters and crabs (contraindicated for those allergic to sea food) is mostly used for allaying niggling symptoms among arthritic patients.

Likely Side-effects

Tummy upsets, feeling constipated, loose bowels, headaches, rashes and the supplement could additionally have an adverse reaction with diabetes therapies and increase levels of blood glucose. Glucosamine has also been found to negatively interact with blood-thinners like warfarin and people with clotting disorders must not take the duo concurrently. The health pill could additionally lead to bloating as it draws water.

Kelp

A health supplement derived from sea-weed – a lushly developing aquatic algal form growing to 2 feet in a single day and widespread in the N. Californian coastline. It is high in many mineral and trace element forms inclusive of iodine – whose deficit in the body could lead to thyroid malfunctioning. Kelp is promoted as a therapy for tackling imbalanced thyroid either due to excessive or under production of the thyroid gland.

Likely Side-effects

Research has associated kelp to an augmented likelihood of thyroid conditions. Since it additionally thins blood hence must not be coalesced with aspirin or hypertension drugs. Also kelp harvesting is being done from contaminated waters and a 2007 trial by Univ. of California scientists noted elevated amounts of arsenic in 8 from 9 kelp supplements. Arsenic has been associated with headache, hair fall, bafflement and sleepiness.

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