You must have heard the old saying that too much of anything is bad for you.
This statement is true even in the case of Vitamins.
We constantly think that we’re not getting enough nutrition from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Sometimes it is good to fill the deficit with supplements. Problems arise when you don’t know
where to stop. Going slightly overboard can have gruesome effects on your health.
In today's video let's discuss the side effects of too many vitamins. Does it cause hair
loss? What about increased risk of cancer and bleeding? We’re discussing all that and more…
1. Hair loss Hair care products can
enhance your hair health to a certain extent. Premature hair loss has a variety of reasons.
Doctors call it alopecia. It may start as small circular patches on the scalp that may overlap.
When you start seeing strands of hair on your pillow or blocking your drain it
often indicates weak hair. It’s kinda freaky and can even make you lose your confidence.
According to trichologists,(tri-co-logists) it’s normal to lose anywhere from 50 to 100 strands of
hair per day. You can also expect a temporary hair loss after you have delivered a baby or
are experiencing a lot of stress. Permanent hair loss can be due to heredity or hormonal imbalance.
In either case, you will need to nourish the hair from within. Your doctor will
often suggest a healthy diet and vitamins like biotin. It will not only slow down the hair
loss process but also promote hair growth. But when you start self medicating and try
all the supplements on the shelves, your hair health will go downhill fast.
Vitamins are basically grouped in two categories. Fat soluble and water soluble.
Vitamins like A, D, E and K are fat soluble and vitamins like B
and C are water soluble. This means that if you consume excess of Vitamin B and C they
can be easily drained from your body through sweat. But the fat soluble vitamins don’t
leave your body. Excess can have deleterious effects on your system. The recommended dose
of Vitamin A is 3000 International units or IU. Vitamin D is 4000 IU, vitamin E is
1000 mg and Vitamin K is 90 to 120 micrograms. Exceeding this limit can make things much worse.
But while selecting a blend of multivitamins we hardly watch our labels. Almost one-third
of Americans consume supplements every single day without noticing these finer details.
What vitamins do you take for hair loss? Sound off in the comments
below and start a conversation with our ever growing bestie community.
2. Increases your risk of Cancer
This may sound contradictory but supplements can actually push you into the claws of cancer.
Studies have shown that multivitamins particularly high in vitamin A or its
precursor beta carotene can have a deep interlinking with lung cancer.
Vitamin A is present in natural foods like pumpkins, bell peppers, carrots and tomatoes. They
all are generally red to orange in colour. Vitamin A deficiency arises when your gut cannot absorb
this nutrient. Symptoms revolve around serious infections, night blindness and diseased skin.
It has also been observed that excessive intake of Vitamin A can cause headaches,
liver damage, weak bones and birth defects. A study focused on smokers and former smokers
who wanted to improve their lung condition with vitamin A. It had the complete opposite effect.
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3. Kidney failure
Your body needs clean blood to function optimally. The kidneys act as the filtration plant of your
body. They help to maintain water balance. They also remove toxins from your blood.
Vitamin D is absorbed from direct sunlight. But
most of us do not get enough of it as we hardly step out in the sun. That's
why marketing companies use this to leverage their sale of Vitamin D.
They often associate vitamin D supplements (pills
and drops) with strong bones. But this is only a half truth.
Calcium cannot be absorbed completely without vitamin D. In the absence of Vitamin D,
excess calcium starts circulating in the kidneys. If there’s too much it increases
your chances of kidney stones because of the toxins and elevated level of calcium.
Ultimately, it can cause vomiting, weakness and kidney failure.
Kidney failure is the end stage of renal diseases. It is also called uremia and fills your body with
extra water and waste products. It may begin as swelling on hands and feet, tiredness and may
even cause death in extreme cases. Having vitamin D could literally be a matter of life or death.
4. Fertility issues
Everybody wants to give the best part of their genes to the next generation.
That is why couples who plan to have kids often consider multivitamins.
VItamin E is called the fertility hormone. It can increase your odds of conceiving. Also,
it increases the viscosity of the cervical mucus in women. This allows a favourable environment
for the sperm to travel to the egg. Your fertility expert will also prescribe some vitamin E pills in
addition to your fertility treatment. This is just to make your reproductive system strong.
But if you start having high doses of this supplement it can have quite the opposite
effect on your reproductive organs. Having lots of Vitamin E will stop you from having babies due to
infertility issues. There are already 6.7 million women in the US alone facing impaired fecundity.
Infertility may be due to male or female problems and affects 1 in every 8 couples.
But don’t be scared, male infertility can be treated easily. Before we go ahead,
watch 15 essential and natural male fertility miracles you need to know. It’s worth a watch.
Now coming back to those deadly vitamins…
5. Excessive bleeding Vitamin E is also a good
source of antioxidants. It helps reduce free radicals produced by pollutants,
irritants and toxins. It helps your system stop oxygenation of free radicals and keeps
your immunity in top condition. But all these benefits have a downside.
Vitamin E has a mild blood thinning action. It can interfere with current heart medications. Bruises,
tooth extraction and minor surgical procedures also can make you lose a
lot of blood. That’s why it is best to not consume these
supplements unless you have a reason that's validated by your doctor.
6. Abdominal cramps
You must have heard from your friends to have Vitamin C tablets in case of the common cold
and flu. Having indiscriminate Vitamin C does not shorten your disease time. It’ll likely
just have a psychological effect on you. It can also cause stomach upset, nausea and vomiting.
So don't wait until something goes wrong - stop dosing on vitamin C.
Studies have shown large doses of vitamin C can cause migraine and diarrhea.
Instead try vitamin C rich foods like guava, kiwi, broccoli, strawberries
and bell peppers in your diet. It's not just lemons and oranges that are filled
with Vitamin C. You have a whole variety of foods to choose from to avoid boredom.
7. Vision problems
Some are blessed with great eyesight, while some have to make an effort. There are kids
with nutritional deficiencies who need glasses due to poor vision,
yet there are senior citizens who can see crystal clear due to their perfect nutritional make up.
B3 or niacin is an extremely essential human nutrient. Although it is water soluble,
overdosing above 35 micrograms can have deleterious effects on your health.
When within the normal limits it helps convert food into energy. It also repairs DNA and has an
antioxidant-like effect. Many natural foods like milk, eggs, green vegetables, cereals,
whole grains, meat and fish have this vitamin. But facts have shown that too much can cause
liver damage accompanied by stomach pain, high blood pressure and vision problems.
8. Sensory and motor problems Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine makes you almost
invincible. It boosts your immunity and increases your endurance. You need to have 100 micrograms of
B6 to keep away some serious skin rashes, cracked tongue, tiredness and seizures. But if you consume
10 times the recommended dose you will be in for some heartburn, light sensitivity and skin
lesions. It may cause serious nerve problems and make you lose your sensory and motor abilities.
9. Weakens the immune system
Folate or vitamin B9 converts carbohydrates to glucose. This is a complex vitamin that
makes the most out of those fats and proteins as well. Folate deficiency can
cause anemia. Anemic people are always tired as the oxygen carrying capacity has been altered.
It is a must have supplement for pregnant women as it helps make more blood for the
fetus. It is also great for women experiencing heavy menstruation or who are going through
menopause. The daily recommended dose of folate is 1000 micrograms. But this vitamin
is just like a double edged sword. Excessive intake can reduce your stamina and energy,
make you prone to disease by weakening the immune system and cause neurological problems.
A strong immune system can safeguard your health. It can be done by a few
simple home remedies and natural foods too. Have I caught your interest?
Let's keep the conversation going with a couple of the more immunity related videos shall we?
Watch six home remedies for a stronger immune system or
7 ways to Naturally Boost Your immune system.
Go ahead, click one. Or better yet, watch both, and learn more about how to boost your immunity.
Do you know any other side effects of too many vitamins? Let us know in the comments below!