Nutritionist warns of harmful effects of taking daily vitamins
A nutritionist has warned that taking vitamin supplements could come with some harmful effects along with the health benefits they're supposed to provide.
Lots of people aren't getting quite enough of what they need when it comes to all the vitamins and nutrients that are supposed to be provided through diet and lifestyle.
This is where supplements come in - they've become quite the lucrative market for the health afficionados among you, though the scientific evidence on taking all of these extra vitamins is mixed.
Some studies suggest that they don't really do much of anything to help your body while others have even found possible downsides.
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As such, nutritionist Dr Carol Granger told the Express that when it came to taking your daily vitamins some supplements were good but others were downright bad for you.
"People think supplements are healthy, and while some can be, others can be as detrimental to health as ultra-processed foods when taken regularly in large amounts," the doctor explained.
It really is a mixed bag, as nutritionist Aimee Benbow added that capsules are less processed and more natural than tablets, and advised people to 'dig deeper and ask questions' about what's going into the supplements.
She added that you should watch out for white tablets in particular as they 'often use titanium dioxide', which is something you'll most often find in toothpaste for whitening.
The European Food Safety Authority banned titanium dioxide as they can't consider it safe but it's still allowed in the UK.
One of the other problems besides what's potentially harmful in there is that you can have too much of a good thing as the BBC reports that some supplements pushed by influencers contain up to five or 10 times as much as the recommended daily allowance of what they're offering.
People can end up in hospital from the dangers of 'mega-dosing' vitamins, as getting far too much Vitamin D can result in seizures or put you in a coma.
In the worst of scenarios it could even kill you, while too much Vitamin A can result in body pain, a coma and death.
You'd need to take A LOT to be experiencing these harmful effects, but it's still something to be conscious of.
Getting your vitamins is important and the best way to do that is through your diet and lifestyle.
There are studies which have found benefits to daily vitamins.
Superdrug pharmacy superintendent Niamh McMillan explained to the Express there were 'a variety of reasons' why supplements contain extra ingredients.
She added: "These are not harmful and have undergone rigorous safety testing before they can be used in the manufacture of supplements."
McMillan further pointed out that the Department of Health and Social Care recommends everyone should take a Vitamin D supplement during autumn and winter.
Topics: Health, Science, Food And Drink, Lifestyle
Joe Harker