Aunt Wang's name is Wang Xiufen, a retired teacher, who is 65 years old this year. Although the years have left marks on her face, she is still in good spirits. Recently, Aunt Wang felt a little weak in her legs and feet when she walked, and thought that maybe her body needed to add something.
On this day, Aunt Wang walked into a health care store near the community. The shelves of the store were filled with all kinds of nutritional products, and she was dazzled by them. The clerk greeted him warmly, selling various products: "Auntie, this calcium tablet can supplement calcium, and that vitamin can enhance immunity......" Aunt Wang listened, but muttered a little in her heart: What do I need to supplement?
She thought of her neighbor Lao Li Tou, who had always been physically strong and often shared health tips with her. Aunt Wang thought to herself, why don't you go to Lao Li Tou and ask first. She turned around and walked out of the health care store, thinking to herself: "Which of these nutritional and health products should be supplemented by the elderly? I have to understand it before I buy it, so that I won't suffer a loss." ”
01
In today's society, there is a growing concern about health, and the use of vitamin supplements is becoming more and more common. However, more is not a "more is better", and an overdose of vitamins can cause unexpected damage to our bodies.
First of all, we need to understand that vitamins are essential micronutrients for the human body, and they are involved in various biochemical reactions and physiological functions of the body.
Vitamin deficiencies do lead to various diseases, but that doesn't mean that excessive vitamin intake makes us healthier. Conversely, excessive intake of vitamins can lead to a range of health problems.
Taking vitamin A as an example, a moderate amount of vitamin A is essential for vision and the immune system, but long-term excessive intake of vitamin A can cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, dry and scaly skin, and in severe cases, liver damage and affect normal bone growth.
Similarly, excess vitamin D may cause hypercalcemia, which manifests as frequent urination, vomiting, and renal impairment. Long-term high vitamin D supplementation may also lead to calcium deposits in blood vessels and other soft tissues, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
We should be aware that vitamin supplements are not a panacea. When supplementing vitamins, you should do it according to your actual needs and the advice of your doctor, and avoid blind overdose. Proper diet and balanced nutrition are the keys to maintaining good health.
02
Among the many vitamins, there are four vitamins that need special attention and should not be supplemented at will:
Vitamin A: Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is not easily excreted in the urine after excessive intake and is easy to accumulate in the body.
Long-term overdose of vitamin A can cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, loss of appetite, dry and scaly skin, and in severe cases, liver damage and normal bone growth.
Therefore, it is recommended to consume vitamin A through foods such as animal liver, cod liver oil, carrots, spinach, etc., and avoid taking large amounts of vitamin A supplements for a long time.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone health, but excessive vitamin D supplementation can cause hypercalcemia, leading to symptoms such as frequent urination, vomiting, and kidney damage.
Long-term supplementation in large amounts may also lead to calcium deposits in blood vessels and other soft tissues, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation should not be taken at will unless recommended by a doctor.
In daily life, moderate sun exposure is a natural way to obtain vitamin D, and dietary oily fish, egg yolks, and fortified dairy products are also good sources of vitamin D.
Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is involved in a variety of metabolic reactions and plays an important role in the nervous system and immune system. However, excessive vitamin B6 supplementation may lead to neurotoxicity, manifested by symptoms such as numbness in the hands and feet, difficulty walking, etc.
Therefore, it is advisable to get vitamin B6 from foods such as whole grains, nuts, meat, fish, etc., and avoid taking vitamin B6 supplements in large amounts for a long time.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, but supplementation in excess may affect the body's absorption of other fat-soluble vitamins, especially vitamin K, which can increase the risk of bleeding.
In addition, high doses of vitamin E may increase the risk of death in certain populations. Therefore, it is recommended to consume vitamin E through foods such as nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, etc., and avoid taking large amounts of vitamin E supplements for a long time.