The supplement industry is booming, but so are serious health issues linked to taking these pills and powders. Experts warn that more than half of adults in the US take supplements for nearly every ailment, often without proper knowledge or guidance.
Certain ingredients have been linked to liver failure, including green tea extract, bodybuilding supplements tainted with anabolic steroids, and multi-ingredient nutritional supplements. In 2024, researchers found that 15 million Americans take compounds known to be toxic to the liver.
Mislabeling and adulteration are rampant in the industry, making it difficult to pinpoint side effects. Users often mix and match supplements with multiple bioactive ingredients, taking them at super-high doses or with other drugs. Bigger doses aren’t better for you; high levels of vitamins can interfere with your body’s normal processes.
To choose a safer supplement, consult with your doctor, source products from reputable providers with third-party testing, avoid megadosing, and check for potential drug interactions or contaminations. Supplements cannot substitute for a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle factors like exercise, sleep, and stress management.
Experts emphasize that the key to improving health is a healthy diet of minimally-processed foods, plenty of exercise, sleep, low stress, avoidance of drugs, and meaning in life.
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/excess-dietary-supplements-health-risks