Supplements Guide: Side Effects & Best Multivitamins

Vitamins and supplements like melatonin and fish oil offer health benefits but can cause side effects if misused. Learn about the impact of saw palmetto on blood pressure and find the best multivitamins for young women and adults over 50.

Nurse adjusting drip

What Can Sodium Lactate Do to Your Body?

Respiratory and metabolic disorders occur when the body’s acid-base is out of balance. One of the treatments for an acid-base imbalance involves intravenously injecting the alkalizing agent sodium lactate to restore acid balance and electrolytes to the body.

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Brain Cells

Does Sodium Affect the Brain?

Sodium is important for the function of all of the cells in the body because it is an electrolyte. Nerve cells are particularly sensitive to the amount of sodium in the blood because they need electrolytes to function properly.

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Can I Drink Protein Shakes While Nursing?

Breastfeeding provides many benefits to your baby as it helps develop the bond between you and your child and also boosts your child's immune system. However, the substances that you ingest can affect your breast milk.

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Fish oil capsules for healthy

Does Fish Oil Help Increase Collagen and Elastin?

Your tissues rely on structural proteins to help support your cells and maintain the structure of the tissues. Collagen and elastin are two such structural proteins, found in several tissues throughout your body.

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Fish oils Omega 3 capsules

How to Make Your Own Liquid Gel Capsules

Making your own liquid gel capsules gives you the opportunity to fill the capsules with your choice of liquid herbs or vitamins and know exactly what you’re including in your dosage. Traditionally gel capsules are made from bovine skin and bones, but gel capsule are available for the vegetarian.

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Woman blowing nose with tissue paper at park

Zinc Dosage for a Cold

Although zinc is a mineral found in relatively small amounts in your body, it may have applications in reducing the severity and duration of the common cold.

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body odor

Can Supplements Cause Body Odors?

Even people with good personal hygiene may have a problem with body odor, which is caused by bacteria that feed on sweat. The more you sweat, the more likely you are to develop embarrassing body odor. Some supplements can make you more or less likely to experience body odor.

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Magnesium and Throat Spasms

Spasms in your throat may stem from contractions in the neck muscles, but this sensation may also occur from a spasm in your vocal cords. In either case, you may experience discomfort and have difficulty talking or breathing.

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High Sodium Levels & Constipation

If you follow a typical Western diet, you are probably consuming much more sodium than you should be. High sodium levels can pose numerous risks to your health, such as increasing your blood pressure.

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How to Burn Off Sodium

Sodium is a mineral essential to human life, but like most things in the diet, it requires a balance. Too much sodium, commonly thought of as table salt, may lead to high blood pressure, water retention and extra work for the kidneys and heart. Too little sodium may lead to confusion, muscle cramps and headaches.

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Iron Deficiency & Skin

Without iron your body is unable to produce red blood cells, which are the cells responsible with supplying your organs with oxygen. As an essential mineral, iron is typically obtained from your diet.

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glass of orange juice on wooden table

Is Edible Castor Oil for Constipation?

Castor oil is derived from seeds of the plant Ricinus communis. These seeds, commonly called beans, are poisonous, but castor oil labeled as edible or for internal use is safe to consume in small amounts, as long as you buy from reputable manufacturers.

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Young woman eating yogurt while sitting on kitchen counter

Does Stomach Acid Kill Probiotic Supplements?

Probiotics are microorganisms — typically bacteria — that are thought to be beneficial to digestion and in preventing certain illnesses. Sometimes called "good" or "friendly" bacteria, probiotics are available in supplement form and are added to foods such as yogurt.

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Pills with cod-liver oil

Can Too Much Vitamin E Cause Iron Deficiency?

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin found naturally in some foods and is also available as a supplement. It is an antioxidant and may help to prevent or delay certain diseases. Iron is an essential mineral that is important for a number of functions by the body. Vitamin E and iron may interact at high doses.

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black pepper on the board

Herbs Containing Sulfur and Iodine

Sulfur and iodine are essential natural elements for healthy cells. Sulfur is a component of many amino acids, proteins, vitamins and hormones. It’s important for healthy hair, skin and digestion. Iodine is necessary for your thyroid to function properly.

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Blueberries

The Side Effects of the Blueberry Extract Supplement

Blueberries owe their deep hue to anthocyanins, a class of powerful antioxidants that are blue-violet in color. Supplement manufacturers have started isolating these healthy components to produce blueberry extract, giving you the benefits without the berry.

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Fish oil pills spilled from container

Can Fish Oil Cause Abdominal Gas?

Fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, may provide a number of health benefits, including lowering your risk for heart disease, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, arthritis and cancer. Fish oil supplements may also help you lower you triglyceride levels.

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morning cocktail

Does Taking Probiotics Help to Reduce Weight?

You can add probiotics to your diet by taking supplements or eating fermented foods, such as yogurt with live active cultures, tempeh, soy drinks, miso, kimchi or sauerkraut. These beneficial bacteria may improve your immune functioning and digestive health, but they aren't guaranteed to help with weight loss.

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Apple diet

The Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic condition that involves inflammation in the joints. Arthritis forms because the cartilage between joints wears down, leaving bones to rub against other bones, causing inflammation and pain.

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