supplements : good or bad?

tuesday morning

6/8/2010

8:10am

current weight: 113.4

as my diet and food intake steadily decreases, i'm plagued by the constant worry of inadequate consumption of much needed nutrients and vitamins, hence, that's where the idea of consuming supplements came about.

fiber.

calcium.


iron.


multivitamin.


all very much needed in your daily diet but found lacking in more than 50% in all americans, therefore we resort to nutrients in the form of a pill.


here's some research i did:

Why take iron supplements?

- Lack of iron leads to unusual tiredness, shortness of breath, decrease in physical performance
- Leading cause of Anemia
- Constant tiredness/fatigue

Iron Supplement Cons
- Gastrointestinal Problems [abdominal pain, nausea + constipation are common side effects]
- Dark Stool
- Excess iron could lead to cardiac diseases
- Rashes and Hives
- Bluish colored nails + lips
- Tingling/numbness in hands/feet
- Overdose could cause double vision + weakness
- Seizures, clammy skin, shallow breaths, weak/fast heartbeats

Fiber Supplement PROS:
- Decrease the risk of colon cancer by increasing the speed of elimination
- Increases the feeling of fullness without additional calories
- Provides treatment to common diseases: gastrointestinal diseases, heart diseases, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc.

Fiber Supplement CONS:
- Cramping
- Diarrhea
- Intestinal Gas
- Bloating

Calcium Supplement PROS:
- Prevent osteoporosis
- Essential for normal function of nerves, cells, muscle + bone

Calcium Supplement CONS:
- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, stomach pain, extreme thirst, dry mouth + increased urination
- MUST consult medical professional when taking other pills/supplements
- Avoid consuming large amounts of bran and whole grain cereals and bread
- Avoid consuming large amounts of caffeine, alcohol or smoking tobacco

Multivitamin PROS:
- Combat vitamin deficiencies

Multivitamin CONS:
- DO NOT take multivitamin with another supplement without the approval from doctor
- Serious side effects including: tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, muscle weakness + fatigue
- Overdose symptoms may include: stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, peeling skin, tingly feeling in or around your mouth, changes in menstrual periods, severe headache, weight loss, muscle or joint pain, severe back pain, blood in your urine, pale skin, and easy bruising or bleeding.
- Cannot take calcium and multivitamins together, the calcium makes it hard to absorb the multivitamin properties

Not looking too attractive eh? maybe i'll just stick to the natural way...