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.

Doctor With Patient During Health Check

Magnesium & Vitamin E for Hot Flashes

Hot flashes typically occur in women beginning to go through menopause as their hormone levels change, with approximately 85 percent of women experiencing these unpleasant symptoms at some point.

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Supplements

Vitamins to Increase the Appetite

Getting the right amount of certain vitamins in your diet can help you regulate your appetite. In some cases, getting too much or too little of a vitamin can cause you to lose your appetite or experience an increased appetite. Generally, vitamins aren't likely to greatly affect your appetite either way.

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standing on scales

How Does Isagenix Work?

Isagenix markets a cleansing and fat-burning system you can purchase in a nine- or 30-day supply. Check with your doctor before starting this system because it isn't safe for everyone and hasn't been proven effective.

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Vitamin E Pill

Vitamin E for Ear Infections

There isn't enough evidence to recommend vitamin E for preventing or treating ear infections, which are one of the most common infections in young children.

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Woman drinking milk

Does Taking CLA Help You Lose Belly Fat?

Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat in animals, according to a meta-analysis published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in May 2007. But the research results from studies using people aren't conclusive.

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Salmon Oil and Evening Primrose Softgel Capsule

Can You Overdose on Fish Oil?

Fish oil pills containing one gram of fish oil typically contain 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA. Doses of up to 15 milligrams are safe, but may cause side effects.

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Woman on scale

Side Effects of Glucomannan

Glucomannan, a type of water-soluble fiber that comes mainly from the dried root of the konjac plant, is used by the food industry as a thickener. However, glucomannan supplements are also used for other purposes.

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Can You Overdose on Zinc?

Zinc is one of the essential nutrients for your body. However, you don't need very much of it, and you can easily get these amounts if you eat foods that contain zinc and take a multivitamin and mineral supplement. Care is needed when taking zinc supplements, since it is possible to overdose on zinc.

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Grilled meat and vegetables

L-Glutamine and Weight Loss

Your body can make the amino acid L-glutamine, often simply called glutamine, and you also get it from many of the protein-rich foods in your diet. Healthy people don't typically need glutamine supplements, but some people take them in hope of improving their weight-loss results.

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Woman measuring waist

Psyllium Husk and Weight Loss

Psyllium husk is a type of soluble fiber that's sometimes used in laxatives and for treating high blood sugar, constipation, diarrhea and high cholesterol. It absorbs water, which makes it bulkier and may help you feel fuller.

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raw organic royal jelly in a small bottle

What Is Best Way to Take Royal Jelly?

Royal jelly is substance produced by honeybees to serve as food for the queen bee, helping to make her larger and longer-lived than other bees. Whether consuming royal jelly benefits humans is still undetermined, as there haven't been sufficient clinical studies to prove health benefits.

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Close-up of a young woman drinking from a bottle

Uses of Magnesium Carbonate

Generally regarded as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, magnesium carbonate can be used in both foods and medicines. It's a form of magnesium, which you need in small amounts for good health.

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Close-up of various fruits and vegetables

Top Weight-Loss Supplements for Men

Almost 20 percent of men who've tried to lose weight have tried weight-loss supplements, according to a study published in Obesity in April 2008.

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Brown flax seeds  and flaxseed oil

Omega 3: Fish Oil vs. Flaxseed Oil

You need to get omega-3 fats from your diet, since your body can't make these essential polyunsaturated fats. Among the main sources for these fats are fish and fish oil, and flaxseeds and their oil. Fish oil and flaxseed oil contain different types of omega-3 fats and thus have different effects on the body.

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High angle view of a group of teenagers eating pizza in a restaurant

The Best Multivitamins for Teens

Teenagers are one group at risk for not getting enough of certain nutrients. They tend to eat a higher proportion of their food away from home, including fast food and not a lot of vegetables, fruits and low-fat milk, and they also skip meals.

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Double egg deluxe

What Does Vitamin E Do for the Body?

Vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble vitamin found in eggs, liver, nuts and seeds, some types of vegetable oil, and also in some fruits and vegetables, and it fulfills a number of important functions in the body.

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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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close-up of oysters served on crushed ice

Which Form of Zinc Is Best?

Your body needs zinc to fight bacteria and viruses. An essential mineral, zinc also heals wounds, makes DNA and proteins, clots blood and is needed for growth. Without zinc, you can't see, smell or taste properly; your thyroid won't work well; and insulin will prove ineffective.

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Fresh Glass of Milk

Can Too Much Calcium Carbonate Have Side Effects?

You need calcium for proper nerve and muscle function and for forming strong bones. People worried that they aren't getting enough calcium from their diet sometimes take calcium supplements, most often in the form of calcium carbonate.

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