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.

Sliced seaweed salad dressed with garlic

Kelp Overdose Symptoms

Kelp is an iodine-rich sea plant that is used as both a food and medicinal supplement. Taking more than 2,000 mcg of kelp per day may lead to the development of overdose signs and symptoms.

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Egg and bacon sandwiches with béarnaise sauce

Can People Have a Reaction to Sodium Nitrite?

Sodium nitrite is a food preservative that also gives cured and processed meats, such as ham and hot dogs, their characteristic pinkish color. Many vegetables, including spinach, celery, beets and cabbage, naturally contain large amounts of nitrite.

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Can You Take Zinc Supplement in Addition to Multivitamin?

With all the multivitamin and mineral supplements on the market, you might feel confused about which ones you should and shouldn't take. It is important for your health and growth that you get the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals from your diet.

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Orange juice in glass

What Are the Benefits of Mega Dosing Vitamin C?

Controversy has surrounded mega dosing with vitamin C since Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling advocated the practice in the 1950s. Over one-half century later, controversy continues to reign. In fact, it has expanded well beyond the usefulness of vitamin C in preventing or curing colds, which remains an unsettled issue.

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When You Should Stop Taking Probiotics

Probiotics are live, active bacteria that live naturally in your gut. In the stomach, they help maintain healthy flora that balances out bad bacteria present.

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Women running on athletic track

Is Creatine Bad for You?

Creatine supplements are popular among athletes to provide additional energy for high-intensity, short-term activities such as sprinting and weight lifting. (See Ref.3, p.284; Ref. 2, p.

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Red Seaweed on the Sand

Side Effects of Red Algae Supplements

Saltwater-dwelling red algae, a predominant type of seaweed used since 300 BC for its high-nutrient content and medicinal benefits, contains an abundance of vitamin K and calcium. Red algae supplements may help treat hypertension and provide strong antioxidant effects.

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How Much Iron Is in a Flintstone Vitamin?

Iron is a very important mineral for growing to children because it is essential for the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body. The World Health Organization reports that as high as 80 percent of the population may be iron deficient with 30 percent having iron-deficiency anemia.

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close up of a young adult female nurse in a mask as she holds up a syringe

B12 Injection Dosage

Vitamin B-12 is required for the transformation of protein and fat into energy. The metal cobalt is incorporated into vitamin B-12, which is the basis of the alternative name of this vitamin, cobalamin.

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Coconut Oil for Pink Eye

Pink eye is an eye infection also known as conjunctivitis, and the condition may result from bacteria, a virus or fungus. Symptoms include redness, itching, scratchiness and tearing. Some people may also have swollen eyelids and a thick discharge with the infection.

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Sitting with bare feet

B-12 Deficiency & Burning Feet

Vitamin B-12 plays a role in driving several important biochemical reactions in your body, including reactions required for the function of your nervous system. A deficiency in vitamin B-12 can cause several health problems, including permanent nerve damage.

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Brown female eye

Ascorbic Acid, Lysine & Proline

Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is needed to make collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, serving a variety of structural functions. It is a major component of your skin, cartilage, blood vessels and eyes. Collagen is also rich in the amino acids proline and lysine.

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Broccoli florets, close up

Diindolylmethane Benefits

Diindolylmethane, or DIM, is a compound that is formed in your body during the digestion of foods that contain the nutrient indole-3-carbinol. Indole-3-carbinol is found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Eating these foods, therefore, provides your body with DIM.

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Single purple coneflower, with lavender rays and orange discs, V

The Disadvantages of Echinacea

Echinacea is a medicinal herb first used by Native Americans to treat infections. Today, it is most often used to treat the common cold. It is unclear if echinacea works, as the research evidence is conflicting.

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Chronic Gastritis & B-12 Deficiency

Vitamin B-12 is a wate-soluble vitamin the body needs to make red blood cells and DNA. Without it, the body would be unable to adequately convert the nutrients from foods into energy. Vitamin B-12 can be found in animal foods, such as meats, eggs and dairy products.

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Blood Tests for Elderly

Can Cancer Cause an Iron Deficiency in Blood?

Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body has too little iron to make red blood cells. If you have an iron deficiency, it usually resulted from a bleed somewhere in your body. Women often become slightly anemic from a heavy menstrual flow.

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salad with strawberry

Which Calcium Supplement Is Best Absorbed in the Body?

You need calcium for strong bones and teeth, but also for proper function of your muscles and nerves and for blood clotting. Although getting your calcium from food is best, some people do not eat enough calcium-rich foods to meet their daily calcium needs.

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