Taking supplements can improve health, but taking them incorrectly may lead to unexpected health risks. A pharmacist, Medizade, has shared some key safety tips on social media about common supplement mistakes people often make. Here’s a summary of her advice to help you take supplements safely.
Supplements to Use with Caution
Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2
- Warning: Don’t take Vitamin D3 by itself.
- Reason: Vitamin D3 alone can lead to calcium being stored in arteries instead of bones, causing potential artery calcification.
- Better Combination: Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K2
- Benefits: This combination promotes calcium absorption in bones, reducing risks to arteries.
- Expert Opinion: BetterYou supports this, noting that Vitamin K2 not only helps bone health but also aids in blood clotting and muscle function.
St. John's Wort
- Purpose: Often used for depression, anxiety, and menopausal symptoms.
- Risks: It may interact negatively with other medications.
- Side Effects:
- Can interfere with oral contraceptives, leading to issues like "breakthrough bleeding."
- May cause the body to metabolize other drugs faster, potentially reducing their effectiveness.
- Examples of Medications Affected:
- Oral contraceptives, antidepressants, and some anti-seizure medications.
Zinc and Magnesium
- Recommendation: Avoid taking these minerals together.
- Reason: Zinc and magnesium compete for absorption, meaning one can block the other.
- Alternative: Space out your doses of zinc and magnesium to allow each to absorb properly.
- Note on Zinc: High doses of zinc can also reduce copper absorption, which could lead to a copper deficiency over time.
Final Thoughts
Medizade’s tips have helped many realize common supplement mistakes. As one social media user shared, understanding these interactions could have even impacted past health decisions.
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Foods & Diets