Are dietary supplements harmful to the body?

In fact, there is no absolute "harmful" or "harmless". It depends on the type and dosage you eat, as well as your own physical condition. Taking random supplements is much more risky than not taking supplements at all.

A while ago, I met a young man who has been working out for three years. I heard from a blogger that creatine plus a nitrogen pump can quickly break through bottlenecks. He had a problem with slightly high creatinine during his physical examination, and he deliberately increased his intake for two months. When he went for a checkup again, his creatinine was directly close to exceeding the standard line. The doctor ordered him to stop all sports supplements, and it took him almost two months to adjust to return to normal levels. This is a typical problem of overeating when the symptoms are not correct, and forcing supplements to cause problems.

There are also many researchers in the field of nutrition who believe that compliant dietary supplements are originally designed to make up for the gaps in daily diet. As long as they are consumed according to needs and within the recommended dosage, they are basically harmless and can even help many people avoid health risks - such as pregnancy preparation and early pregnancy. Folic acid supplementation for women has been recognized by the medical community as an effective way to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in fetuses. Office workers who stay in the office all year round and cannot get sunlight should take vitamin D supplements. Elderly people with joint discomfort should take some ammonia sugar and calcium supplements as prescribed by their doctors. These are all options where the benefits far outweigh the risks.

But the most controversial thing now is that many people regard supplements as a "health panacea" and take them all regardless of whether they are in need or not. A follow-up study published by the "British Medical Journal" last year also mentioned that long-term excessive supplementation of beta-carotene in healthy people who are not deficient will increase the risk of lung cancer. There is also a girl around me who takes 1,000 mg of high-dose vitamin C every day in order to brighten the day. Not to mention that many people stock up on Internet celebrity liver-protecting tablets. They take two tablets every time before drinking and staying up late, thinking that they are a "talisman" to make them. In fact, the active ingredients cannot offset the damage to the liver caused by alcohol and staying up late. Many people end up checking for abnormal liver function.

Speaking of dietary supplements, it is actually like when there is a small gap in the bowl when you are eating, just find the corresponding broken rice grains to fill it. If you fill the bowl to the full, but insist on stuffing things into it, in the end it will be scattered all over the table, and it may even overturn the bowl. Because I sit in an office all year round, the total time I spend in the sun is less than half an hour a day. Every year, I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency during physical examinations. I supplemented 400IU every day as the doctor said. After taking it for almost three years, there were no problems. There are also friends around me who take supplements as daily essentials. They take five or six kinds of whitening pills, anti-sugar pills, and multivitamins. Last month’s physical examination showed that transaminases were high. The doctor said that it is most likely that taking too many supplements has increased the metabolic burden on the liver.

If you come across an illegal supplement, it is likely to be harmful no matter what the situation. In the past few years, it was reported that many weight loss supplements sold by micro-businesses were added with the banned sibutramine. Many people suffered from panic and insomnia after taking it, and even caused cardiovascular problems. Let alone nutritional supplements, you would be lucky if you didn't cause serious problems.

Anyway, after looking at so many examples around me, supplements have never been a "standard health supplement" that must be taken. Before taking them, you should find out whether you are really deficient. When buying, choose regular and compliant products. The dosage should be according to the recommended amount. Don't be greedy for too much, and you will basically not step into any big pitfalls.