What happens when you take too many vitamins?
It is a true fact that a healthy diet, exercise and vitamins, are all essential to optimal health and longevity. The food and beverage industry have gone through lengthy measures to fortify our foods with extra nutrients to keep up with the health-conscious movement. The supplement industry has taken off exponentially over the past decade to support the surge of a healthy lifestyle as well. Everybody wants to be healthy but is there such thing as taking too many vitamins? Is there some sort of limit and is an overdose on vitamins even possible? In this article we will discuss what happens when you take too many vitamins and the effects it can impose.
Can you take too much vitamins?
Let’s start off by saying that vitamins are naturally occurring substances in the body that our cells need in order to sustain our lives. If we are experiencing a severe vitamin deficiency in iron for example, then taking iron over and above its recommended daily intake would prove beneficial. Discontinue use until the deficiency balances out, and consult a healthcare practitioner for supervision throughout the process. If we continue mega dosing on iron on our own, we could begin experiencing toxicity symptoms like joint and abdominal pain, or even hair loss and impotence.
An overdose of vitamin C can cause diarrhea, while excessive calcium strains the kidneys, leading to dehydration and mood swings.
The quick answer to this multi layered question is yes, we can take too many vitamins and overdosing can have some serious side effects.
Balance is key in all things, but how do we know when enough is enough for the day?
Know your Limits
It’s highly unlikely that we will overdose on fortified foods and beverages, so no need to worry about that. If taking a multivitamin, the minimal nutrient content per dose reduces the chances of overdose, although it’s still possible. Check the label on vitamins to understand your intake needs based on gender, age, and diet. Noo-tropics multivitamins cater to specific genders, reducing guesswork and the necessity for extra supplementation.
Understanding the Vitamin
There are two different types of vitamins, water and fat soluble. Although both will have mega dose symptoms, fat soluble vitamins are the ones you need to be more mindful of. Fat soluble vitamins include vitamin A, D. E and K. Water-soluble vitamins, not excreted like water, stay in the body longer, unlike water-soluble vitamins that pass through urine. They nestle in the liver and fatty tissue, resisting elimination and accumulating in the body more readily.
If the recommended daily intake of vitamin A is exceeded for example, it can cause headache, nausea, dizziness and even death in serious cases of a mega overdose.
The body expels excess water-soluble vitamins through urine, reducing the likelihood of extreme detrimental effects compared to fat-soluble vitamins. With that being said, mega doses can still pose some uncomfortable symptoms. Excess intake of minerals, akin to fat-soluble vitamins, leads to toxicity reactions when stored amounts exceed the body’s requirements.
Can you overdose on Gummy Vitamins?
It’s easy to get carried away with gummy vitamins because they taste just like gummy candy. The makers likely knew this, as gummy vitamins have the lowest nutrient content per piece, reducing the risk of overdose. This knowledge is reassuring, as it makes overdosing difficult for children with kids gummies, especially under adult supervision. Adult gummies contain few vitamins per dose compared to capsules or soft gels, making overdose unlikely and uncommon.
All in all, there is such a thing as having too many vitamins. Remember, balance is key; consult a health practitioner for guidance on the right vitamin dosage for you. At Noo-tropics, we balance our multivitamins to offer noticeable health benefits without requiring additional supplements. Take care of your health with a healthy balance of whole foods, exercise, water and vitamins.
Also read our blog on 8 Ways Ginseng Works for Memory and Brain Health
