| It seems every year a new study is released | | | | exceptions: |
| that finds some essential vitamin or mineral to be | | | | +Vitamin A & D: Synthetic and animal |
| poisonous. No matter how obscure the study or | | | | derived Vitamin A and D can be harmful if taken |
| how unsubstantial the data, the health press whips | | | | in large doses (over 1000% and up). However, |
| a touch of scientific research into a thick mess of | | | | most American sources of A & D are |
| sensationalist headlines. Suddenly millions of | | | | naturally plant derived sources and are safe even |
| parents stop giving their kids Flintstones' | | | | at high levels. There was an A and D scare a few |
| chewables because "D causes Cancer!" or because | | | | years ago because of some synthetic A that was |
| "B6 will Kill Your Baby! To Death!" How dare the | | | | coming out of China, so it's always a good idea to |
| Flintstones poison our children. | | | | check the source of your vitamins, but most likely |
| So, is it true? Does D cause cancer? Or A? Does | | | | it's fine to take. |
| too much C burn a hole in your stomach? The | | | | +Acidic Vitamin C: Too much acidic vitamin C isn't |
| simple answer is no. | | | | harmful for the body in the long run, but it can |
| A typical scare study usually comes from | | | | cause upset stomachs for people sensitive to C. |
| cancerous mice. A sample group will be given | | | | +Niacin: Again, not harmful in large doses, but it |
| outrageously high amounts of a synthetic form of | | | | can cause a "niacin flush" which causes your face |
| a specific vitamin (sometimes over 50,000% of | | | | to blush and possibly tingle. There's actually |
| the daily value), and this test group will show a | | | | enough niacin in beer to cause this in some people. |
| slightly higher cancer rate. Conclusions are hastily | | | | +Carotenoids: We're just talking carrots here. In |
| drawn, and you know the rest. | | | | extreme amounts they actually can turn your skin |
| So, the real question is, is it possible for a human | | | | orange, it's not just an old wives' tale. For |
| to take to many vitamins? The short answer is | | | | evidence, watch a few late night fitness |
| no, you can't have too much of a good thing. But | | | | infomercials and you'll always see one or two |
| better explained... | | | | models who've been slamming four glasses of |
| In terms of absorbing vitamins and nutrients, in | | | | carrot juices a day. There's no harm to the body, |
| most cases your body will eventually hit a | | | | just a slightly odd skin color. |
| saturation point at which ingesting more won't | | | | The bottom line is, there's nothing wrong with |
| necessarily increase the benefits your body is | | | | taking a reputable brand multivitamin. A more |
| receiving. In other words, taking 400mg of | | | | important question would be: Are there better |
| Vitamin C instead of 200mg makes a major | | | | forms of certain vitamins and nutrients? Definitely. |
| difference, but taking 20,000mg instead of | | | | For instance, Vitamin E is actually made up of four |
| 10,000mg won't make as much of a difference | | | | tocopherols and four tocotrienols. A generic |
| because your body is already receiving about as | | | | multivitamin will only contain the D-Alpha form of |
| much as it can use. But taking more certainly isn't | | | | E, which doesn't absorb into the body as readily |
| harmful or toxic. In regards to the RDA | | | | as other forms. For a more thorough explanation |
| (recommended daily allowance), these amounts | | | | of the differences in quality of various vitamins, I |
| are the bare minimum required in order to not | | | | suggest reading this better supplement forms |
| have a deficiency. In most cases, the body can | | | | article. |
| benefit from much higher doses. There are a few | | | | |