Food that we eat is so adulterated that it lacks all the essential nutrients that one should generally get after eating it. So how do we make up for the lack of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that a body requires to function optimally? Well, these days everybody is turning towards the world of supplements. It would surprise you that nearly 50% of people in America take one or more supplements on a regular basis. The market of supplements has grown and evolved like anything in the past decade. Several studies have been conducted to understand how harmful can these multivitamins be which are made of ingredients that are harmful to us. A particular study was very interesting and it made headlines because its findings through light that multivitamin use was directly linked to telomere length — a sign that slows down cellular aging. However, there are several researches conducted on multivitamins that indicate overall certain substantial benefits such as reducing the chances of cardiovascular events, premature death, or cancer. When a study is conducted on multivitamin, the multivitamin is examined to understand the effects of the mix of various nutrients which could be a reason why certain studies have been ruled out as neutral or inconsistent whenever it has indicated that multivitamins are harmful for health. I love her, the results that came out from clinical trials and several other researches on individual ingredients used in multivitamins Are worthy considering, read on to know more.
These nutrients found in multivitamins could be very harmful
Take note of the seven supplemental nutrients and if they are found in your multivitamins, then you should definitely become concerned.
Vitamin E
Supplementation of this particular vitamin, vitamin E has directly been linked to a risk of heart failure. Several trials were conducted and one particular trial that was published in the year 2000 showed how it included nearly thousands of older people who had a history of cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. These subjects were assigned randomly to either administer 400 IUs placebo or vitamin E. The results that showcased showed that there was a higher risk of heart failure among those who took the vitamin E supplement.
A study that was published in the year 2005 in a nutrition journal notes how when the 2000 trial was conducted it included a huge range of demographics but it did not report the dietary intake of the subjects. And that’s why the authors concluded that much more research needs to be done in order to determine whether or not vitamin D supplementation is linked with an increase in contracting cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, another analysis published in the American Journal also found that there was an increased risk of dying among subjects who were made to consume 400 to 800 IUS vitamin E every single day. But this particular research again did not determine that if 12 to lower doses of vitamin E, safer example 200 IUS, did they also force any risk of developing a cardiovascular disease?
And always remember that vitamin E is found abundantly in raw seeds and nuts, therefore there is no requirement of exposing ourselves to potential harm by taking vitamin E dietary supplements.
Vitamin A
Recommended limit of daily allowance RDA for vitamin a 700 µg for women, 900 µg for men, and 300-600 µg for children – and it all depends upon sex and age. Higher doses of vitamin A and less result in toxicity in the body. Vitamin E over supplementation can weaken bones and also pose risk of fractures. It reduces the bone density and increases fracture problems especially the risk of hip fracture.
Selenium
If you consume multivitamins that contain selenium, overdose of the same can lead to elevated cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, diabetes, ALS, impaired thyroid function, impediment systems and much more. The best way to include selenium in your food is by eating nutrient dense food such as seeds and nuts.
Iron
Iron supplements need to be taken only if there is a deficiency or a defined need. Iron is found in many animal products and plant foods and supplements as well. If we store a lot of iron into a body it increases the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, and also neurodegenerative diseases.
Beta carotene
This supplementation is also linked with an increased risk of contracting cancer problems. Supplementing beta-carotene might interfere with the absorption of other vital carotenoids in the food that we eat.
Folic acid
It is a synthetic form of vitamin B for late. Supplementing folic acid may disrupt normal actions of food folate and it is also connected with increased risk of prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers. It is very essential for growing ourselves and dividing the scenes and also preventing neural tube defects when fetuses are developed. By consuming green vegetables and beans, folic acid is supplemented naturally.
Why considering nutrients through whole foods is the best option for us?
Although every day it cannot be perfect, no supplement or multivitamin can be perfect either and definitely cannot make up for the amount of nutrients and vitamins our body can absorb from a nutrient dense whole foods or diet. If you want to live a longer, healthier life, then we need to follow a well-balanced diet made of natural and whole foods. Natural foods are considered to be rich in nutrients and they supply a body with all the required minerals and vitamins.