Enter any drugstore or health store, and you will find all sorts of body supplements. They are even sold in online marketplaces. Supplements are promoted as quick solutions to:
- Energy
- Immunity
- More sleep
- Radiant skin, etc.
You can easily assume that they are harmless since they are usually branded as natural.
However, the fact that something sells over the counter does not imply you should take it without instructions. Indeed, purchasing supplements without a doctor’s prescription is riskier than you may think. Here’s how:
Risk of overdosing
Supplements usually include higher concentrations of nutrients, unlike food. Excess may be detrimental to your body instead of beneficial. For instance:
- Vitamin A in large amounts may harm your liver
- Iron sulphur in large amounts may cause stomach upsets and damage to organs
- Excess vitamin D may cause kidney troubles.
Without professional advice, it is easy to think that more is better. But the wrong dosage may cause more harm than good.
Interactions with medications
When you are already taking prescription medications, supplements can get in the way of their action. For example:
- St. John’s Wort is a common herbal mood enhancer. It is known to interfere with the action of some medications. This includes birth control pills, antidepressants, and even some cancer drugs.
- Vitamin K in high amounts may diminish the usefulness of blood thinners.
Such interactions are not always that clear, but may result in severe or even lethal consequences when omitted.
False sense of safety
The other risk that comes with self-prescribing health supplements is the development of a false sense of safety. You may be dependent on medications to mask bad life habits. Some people believe that a vitamin pill will fill in gaps like:
- Sleep
- An unhealthy diet
- Stress.
Some people end up using supplements as a crutch instead of dealing with the underlying causes of their health problems.Supplements should not substitute a healthy lifestyle.
Quality and safety concerns
Not every supplement is legitimate. The industry is not as strictly regulated as prescription medication, so the quality differs between brands. Some products might have:
- Contaminants
- Concealed ingredients
- Falsified labeling.
Do not purchase supplements through unknown sellers. You might not be able to differentiate between genuine and fake or toxic ones. A medical practitioner can suggest reliable brands. They can also assist you in avoiding unsafe brands.
Spending money on unnecessary products
Marketing typically preys upon your fears and insecurities. It makes you believe that you require various supplements to be healthy. You may end up wasting a lot of money on useless products that do not actually help with your health.The truth is that not all individuals require supplements. When your diet is balanced, you can do without them.
A key takeaway
Supplements can support your health. However, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. The unseen risks of purchasing them without a doctor’s consultation are many. They include overdoses, dangerous interactions, low-quality products, and spending money on unnecessary items.
Talk to a doctor before taking a new supplement. It is the safest way. So, seek expert advice on health supplements!
