Supplements that should not be used arbitrarily
Mr. Suyash Bhandari, a functional nutritionist and Director at iThrive Essentials (a healthcare provider in India), said that supplements (functional foods) can be good for health if used properly and must suit the needs of each person.
When you use supplements that are not suitable for your body needs and do not consult or listen to the instructions of a doctor or nutritionist, it will harm your health or not be suitable for your body, nutritionist Suyash Bhandari notes and lists some supplements that you should not take on your own:
Iron: Supplementing iron without monitoring iron levels in the body can lead to excess iron, causing damage to internal organs.
Calcium: Taking functional foods containing calcium without checking the levels of vitamin D and magnesium in the body can lead to soft tissue calcemia, causing calcium stones to settle in joints or internal organs.
Vitamin E: Drinking high doses of vitamin E (over 400 IU) can increase oxidative stress instead of reducing it, leading to increased inflammation.
Vitamin A: Long-term use of vitamin A in excess of 10,000 IU can cause vitamin A toxicity, negatively affect health and can reduce life expectancy.
Important notes
According to nutritionist Suyash Bhandari, it is important to ensure that the supplements you use do not contain additives, complements, preservatives, artificial colors, sweeteners or even pollutants such as heavy metals.
In addition, dosage is also a factor to note. Bhandari emphasized: Even supplements aimed at improving longevity such as glutathione or NAD+ can become toxic if used incorrectly.
In addition, supplements cannot replace a diet full of nutrients from natural foods such as vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, and grains.
A balanced and varied diet is still the most important factor in maintaining good health. Each human body is different, and the only way to maximize the effectiveness of any supplement is when you have a good understanding of your body condition, including diet, lifestyle, stress levels and factors inside the body.
