Vitamins Are Essential

Vitamins Are Essential
by Jeff Lakie

doubling your vitamin intake? The simple answer is: no!

Depending on the vitamin, it can actually be dangerous to have too many of these
chemicals in your body. While they do exist in nature and your body does need them,
your body functions best in a balanced moderation, rather than taking in too much of
one thing.

Two of the most dangerous of vitamins that you can take too much of are vitamin A
and vitamin D. Believe it or not, too much of either one of these vitamins can actually
lead to vitamin poisoning!

Excessive amounts of vitamin A can lead to weak bones and even osteoporosis, birth
defects, hair loss, and excessively dry skin.

Excessive amounts of vitamin D can lead to higher than normal amounts of calcium in
the blood, which can damage bones and kidneys and even lead to kidney stones.

It is not easy to be poisoned through vitamins, but it is not unheard of either. You can
experience vitamin A. poisoning by eating too much liver (which might not be a
problem for very many people!) And you can experience vitamin D poisoning usually
through having too many vitamin D. supplements (since most foods do not carry a
large amount of vitamin D). Also, these poisonings take place over time, and rarely
happen immediately from an overdose.

So how do you know if you are accidentally poisoning yourself? Again, our bodies
work best in moderation so when something is "out of whack" with the way it's
supposed to be, our bodies have a way of alerting us. If you experience inexplicable
headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, dehydration, constipation, or blurred vision,
you should talk to your doctor about the possibility of vitamin poisoning.

So how can you avoid vitamin poisoning? First, you need to recognize that a little bit
of extra vitamins in your diet is okay, since your body will often excrete the excess.
So by eating a balanced diet, and by supplementing it with a multivitamin, you are
likely in range for healthy eating. However, if you find yourself eating specific foods
and taking a lot of specific vitamins, you may be at greater risk. The best thing to do,
is make sure that you are following the directions on the bottle.

About The Author

Jeff Lakie is the founder of and
websites providing information on Vitamins.

There's no question that vitamins
are essential to live a healthy and
disease-free lifestyle. And eating
a balanced diet is the best way
to get vitamins. However
supplements may be necessary
to round out your vitamin intake,
just in case you may not be able
to take in all the necessary
vitamins due to a dietary
restriction or a food allergy or a
small appetite.

But if some vitamins are good,
are more vitamins better? Is it
possible to get even healthier by

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The content on
this website is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician before using natural
remedies and before making any drastic changes to your diet or exercise program.