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.
The amount of guar gum added to foods is considered safe, but over-the-counter supplements can cause side effects, from temporary gut problems to the more serious risk of blocking the throat or intestine. Talk to your doctor before taking guar gum if you’re diabetic or use prescription medications.
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Protein powders and amino acid supplements deliver different results. Protein powders boost your total protein and contribute calories, so they support muscle building and can fill in gaps in your diet. Amino acids target very specific and diverse areas of your metabolism.
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Your body produces diindolylmethane, or DIM, from substances naturally found in cruciferous vegetables. But this does not mean that DIM is always safe in supplemental form. Although it’s not associated with serious side effects, it interacts with hormones and affects genes involved in cancer.
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N-acetylcysteine -- a form of the amino acid cysteine -- has powerful health benefits. It may even support weight loss. But since studies so far have only used lab rats, more research is needed to prove it can help people drop pounds.
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Lecithin supplements are safe for most people, but they can cause side effects, and pregnant women shouldn’t take them unless their doctor gives the go-ahead. Lecithin alone shouldn't cause allergic reactions, but supplements contain lecithin extracted from allergy-causing foods.
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