Five synthetic supplements that do more harm than good!
Not all supplements are created equal. You need the right ones for you.
If you have children, you probably want to have enough energy to run around with (and after) them, right? It’d also be great if you didn’t end up sick every time the kids bring home a new bug too! So how do you make sure your body is as healthy as possible?
While it can be tempting to take a supplement to give us more of a particular vitamin or mineral, many synthetic supplements can do more harm than good.
Synthetic supplements are “man-made”, i.e. they don’t come from whole foods. The following supplements are popular and often recommended by the masses, yet should be approached with caution.
1. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is popular because of its perceived importance for your immune system. It helps your body to build and maintain healthy bones and aids the absorption of calcium into the primary component of your bones.
However, vitamin D is widely misunderstood. Taking a synthetic vitamin D supplement is not recommended by the team at Supporting Balance. Synthetic vitamin D supplementation leads to renal potassium, retinol and magnesium loss, and elevated blood calcium levels, all of which can contribute to nausea, vomiting, constipation, anxiety, headaches/migraines and even contribute to dizziness.
2. Zinc
Zinc is involved in many important functions in your body. It is frequently taken for immune system support, even though copper plays a much more important role in the functioning of your immune system.
Taking non-food sources of zinc actually depletes bioavailable copper, which your body needs to manage almost all metabolic processes, including energy creation, digestion, hormone production, and iron movement, as well as supporting your immune system.
3. Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin C is a key vitamin for a healthy body. Often ascorbic acid is referred to as vitamin C, yet there is a key difference. Ascorbic acid only forms the outer shell of the whole food vitamin C complex.
Ascorbic acid provides only a fraction of the whole food vitamin C complex and doesn’t contain the copper-rich tyrosinase enzyme that your body needs to support core functions in its metabolic processes. That enzyme is essential for helping your body manage iron and melanin, amongst other things. Taking ascorbic acid in the form of supplements, especially multivitamins, robs the body of these important benefits and encourages iron absorption without the copper needed to manage it properly.
4. Iron
Iron is an important mineral as it helps to keep your blood healthy and contributes to bone strength. It’s a common supplement that women reach for when they’re feeling tired, but low iron is unlikely to be the cause of your tiredness. Common side effects of high doses of iron are nausea, constipation and menstrual/hormonal changes.
5. Calcium
Calcium is the primary component of your bones. It also plays an important role in other bodily functions, e.g. blood clotting. Having too much calcium in your blood can increase the risk of certain conditions, eg. plaque build-up in blood vessels, constipation and kidney stones. Supplemental calcium is detrimental for many of us.
Taking synthetic supplements without understanding how they impact your body can cause more harm than good. Knowing which vitamins and minerals your body actually needs is important for a healthy body.
If you’re ready to get tailored support for your body, then book a free 15 minute Zoom call with one of our team. We’ll discuss your situation and what you’d like to achieve, and then point you in the right direction for the next steps.