The Danger of Dietary Supplements
 Remember
just because it is on the store shelf doesn't mean it is healthy. What looks
like an amazing answer to weight loss or an easy way to fight off weariness may
actually be dangerous to your health, if not fatal. It is even possible for
the product to be banned in another country and still be allowed in yours.
In the United States, medications must be proven to be safe before they can be
sold to the public. Yet, dietary supplements have to be proven unsafe and are
often on the shelves for a great deal longer than they ever should have been.
It may take hundreds of deaths or thousands of serious health problems before
something is pulled off the market. And furthermore, companies that produce
supplements are not required by law to report any known complaints or adverse
effects, much less test their products prior to distribution.
Most likely you have heard of ephedra, marketed as a quick weight loss and
energy supplement. While it was being sold legally, people who took it were
suffering from hypertension, strokes, seizures, heart attacks, cardiac
arrhythmias and even death. These incidents were known for over a decade before
something was actually done to take it off the market.
Among some of the more "popular" unsafe supplements are ephedra, aristolochia
(linked to cancer and kidney failure), yohimbe (heart and respiratory
complications), bitter orange (hypertension, strokes, seizures and death),
chaparral, germander, comfrey and kava (all known for liver failure).
When shopping in the supplement aisle, also steer clear of anything made of
animal organs or glandular extracts. Some of these include animal brain,
adrenal excretions and placenta. Lobelia can cause breathing and cardiac
problems, yew tree will cause seizures while pennyroyal and skullcap can harm
the kidneys and liver. Yohimbe may cause
blood pressure, respiratory distress and death.
Any product labeled "dietary supplement" should be looked at with a careful
eye. These products can cause cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, heart
problems and death. Remember that a lot of the companies selling these
supplements work hard to disguise the real names of the ingredients. Take
special note of what the product claims to do. If it lists several uses for one
product, take this as a warning sign and walk away.
The word "natural" is quite alluring to a consumer. Seeing that a product is
"all natural" may fool even the wisest of shoppers. The name alone makes one
feel the product is safe. But remember, natural does not mean safe. After all,
poisonous mushrooms and arsenic are both considered natural.
Even if a supplement is not life-threatening in itself, it may interact with
prescription medication. This can reduce the effectiveness of the prescription
or become a dangerous mixture that indeed is life-threatening. So if you find
yourself wandering through the supplement aisle and something catches your eye,
write down the name and ingredients of the product and leave the bottle behind.
Then call your doctor to find out if the supplement will be beneficial,
ineffective or worse, dangerous.
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