Bades: myths and real harm to health

What are dietary supplements and how do they work?

Biologically active additives (dietary supplements) are substances designed to supplement the diet with useful components: vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, amino acids and other compounds.

They are not medicines and therefore do not undergo clinical trials as strictly as pharmaceuticals.

Dad manufacturers position them as a safe means to improve health, strengthen immunity, losing weight, increase energy and other body functions. However, their effectiveness and safety are not always confirmed by scientific research.

Myth No. 1: Dietary dietary supplements are absolutely safe

Many believe that additives cannot harm, because they consist of natural ingredients. However, this is a misconception: some plant extracts, vitamins and minerals in high doses are toxic.

Examples of dietary supplements:

• Hepatotoxicity: Green tea additives, combined fat burners can cause liver damage.
• Hypervitaminosis: an excess of vitamins A, D, E leads to poisoning.
• Dangerous stimulants: Some additives contain hidden substances close to narcotic (for example, sibuturine in weight loss products).

Myth No. 2: Dietary dietary supplements can replace medicines

Some consumers abandon medical treatment in favor of dietary supplements, thinking that they act the same way. However, additives:

• Do not treat diseases: Their influence is not comparable to the effect of drugs.
• They can mask the symptomsleading to late diagnosis of serious diseases.
• Quality control is not undergoing As hard as medicines.

Myth No. 3: All dietary supplements are useful and effective

The effectiveness of most dietary supplements is not confirmed by clinical trials. Often their effect on the body is the result of the placebo effect.

Examples of ineffective dietary supplements:

• Fat burners (with the exception of some pharmacy drugs under the supervision of a doctor).
• Muscle growth additivescontaining the declared «anabolics», which are actually useless.
• Bad for memory and brain work without confirmed nootropic action.

Real harm to health dietary supplements

1. Toxic effects on the organs

Some additives contain heavy metals (mercury, lead), pesticides or toxic plant alkaloids.

Examples:

• Kava-kava (intoxicating pepper) Causes the liver.
• Aristolochic acid (included in some additives for weight loss) provokes kidney cancer.
• Ephedrine -like substances lead to heart attacks and strokes.

2. Interaction with drugs

Bades can enhance or weaken the effect of drugs, which is dangerous for chronic diseases.

Dangerous combinations:

• St. John’s wort reduces the effectiveness of antidepressants, contraceptive, antiretroviral drugs.
• Ginkgo biloba Increases the risk of bleeding when taking anticoagulants (aspirin, warfarin).

3. Falsification and fakes

Due to weak control, additives may contain not indicated on the packaging Components:

• Anabolic steroid In sports nutrition.
• SibutramineForbidden in most countries due to the risk of heart attacks.
• Synthetic drugs In «natural» energy.

How to protect yourself from the harm of dietary supplements?

1. Consult a doctor Before taking any additives.
2. Check registration Bada in the register of Rospotrebnadzor (or an analogue in your country).
3. Give preference to trusted manufacturers With clinical research.
4. Avoid «miraculous» meanspromising an instant effect.
5. Do not replace the medicine Dads without medical control.

Conclusions on the topic

Despite marketing promises, dietary supplements are far from always safe. They can:

• Contain hazardous substances.
• Interact with medicines.
• Cause severe side effects.

Chronic diseases, pregnant women, children and elderly people should be especially careful. Before taking additives, it is important to study their composition and consult a doctor.