Supplementation - less is definitely more
Here is a newsletter I wrote to my clients on the topic of supplementation:
Row upon row of supplements promise high energy, longevity and more.
Many people concede that they are probably just creating expensive urine...
However, could popping supplements possibly have even more of a detrimental effect than you realise?
Without a doubt! If one considers how nutrients can antagonise the levels of other nutrients, the consequences of prolonged or excessive supplementation can be hazardous to your health.
Consider the following:
Vitamin B Complex
Iron
Omega 3
There are many more examples that I can list, but I am sure that the above goes a long way to convince you that we need to be very cautious about taking supplements.
So what is the solution?
Focus on food first. Let food be your medicine.
Be cautious around all the marketing hype regarding supplements.
No vitamin, mineral or herb can substitute the powerful, protective effects of an eating and lifestyle plan that is well designed in order to address your present needs.
Row upon row of supplements promise high energy, longevity and more.
Many people concede that they are probably just creating expensive urine...
However, could popping supplements possibly have even more of a detrimental effect than you realise?
Without a doubt! If one considers how nutrients can antagonise the levels of other nutrients, the consequences of prolonged or excessive supplementation can be hazardous to your health.
Consider the following:
Vitamin B Complex
- it is true that Vitamin Bs can help to mitigate the effects of stress
- however, Vitamin B Complex formulations are mostly too high in Folic Acid and Vitamin B6 which in turn can lead to a deficiency of Vitamin B2
- Vitamin B2 is needed to activate Folic Acid and Vitamin B6; it is also needed to activate Vitamin K, to make Vitamin B3 and to metabolise Iron
- symptoms of a Vitamin B2 deficiency can include
- lack of energy
- anaemia
- oestrogen dominance/hormonal imbalance (also in men)
- slow metabolism
- dry, gritty or watery eyes
- declining eyesight and cataracts
- skin inflammation/redness especially on the face, around the nose
- read more about the role of Vitamin B2 here http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/riboflavin
Iron
- scientific data clearly shows that Iron is a dangerous nutrient to have at too high levels in the body
- "Iron is a potentially toxic heavy metal. In excess, it can cause cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses" (http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/iron-dangers.shtml)
- this article writes about the link between high Iron and Alzheimer's disease
- one should therefore be cautious before supplementing Iron, even when energy or serum Iron levels are low
- many people take multivitamin and mineral supplements that contain high levels of Iron and regularly eat Iron rich foods such as red meat, spinach or fortified cereals; this could result in an increased risk of high Iron levels in the body
- it is important to note that the body is finely tuned to remove Iron out of the blood if it is fighting an infection since bacteria feed and proliferate on Iron
- the body will then dump it elsewhere, e.g. in the liver and pancreas
- so low serum Iron is not always a sign of deficiency and your health practitioner should always dig deeper before recommending Iron supplementation
- you can request a full Iron panel blood test from your doctor; the results can be useful to gain a better understanding of Iron status
- high Iron levels will also lower Copper and Manganese with amongst others these possible side-effects
- thinning and greying hair
- "age spots" on the skin
- poor skin elasticity
- cardiovascular disease
- joint pain and arthritis
- hypoglycaemia and/or blood sugar issues
Omega 3
- nowadays ubiquitously recommended and prescribed, even by mainstream medical doctors, there is evidence that shows that excess Omega 3 fatty acids can block thyroid function and lower metabolism and immunity
- research published in Cancer Research 2010 showed that feeding mice large amounts of Omega 3 increased the risk of colon cancer and immune dysfunction
- "what looked like a slam dunk a few years ago may not be as clear cut as we thought," says Norman Hord, associate Professor at Oregon State University and a co-author of a paper that appeared in the journalProstaglandins, Leukotrienes & Essential Fatty Acids in 2013
- the authors, including Hord, reviewed the literature and discussed the potential adverse health outcomes that could results from excessive consumption of Omega 3
- read more here http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2013/oct/excess-omega-3-fatty-acids-could-lead-negative-health-effects
- "In declaring EPA and DHA to be safe, the FDA neglected to evaluate their antithyroid, immunosuppressive, lipid peroxidative (Song et al, 2000), light sensitizing and antimitochondrial effects, their depression of glucose oxidation (Delarue et al, 2003), and their contribution to metastatic cancer (Kliveri, et al, 2000), lipofuscinosis and liver damage, among other problems."
- read more here http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/fishoil.shtml
There are many more examples that I can list, but I am sure that the above goes a long way to convince you that we need to be very cautious about taking supplements.
So what is the solution?
Focus on food first. Let food be your medicine.
Be cautious around all the marketing hype regarding supplements.
No vitamin, mineral or herb can substitute the powerful, protective effects of an eating and lifestyle plan that is well designed in order to address your present needs.