【Disclaimer】The content of the article is for reference only, the storyline is purely fictional, intended to popularize health knowledge, if you feel unwell, please seek medical treatment offline.
On a sunny weekend morning, Li Fang sat leisurely on the balcony, sipping fragrant coffee while flipping through the latest issue of a health magazine. Suddenly, the title of an article caught her attention: "Vitamins also hurt the liver? It's best not to eat these 4 vitamins as supplements." Li Fang frowned and thought to herself, "How is this possible?" I always thought that eating more vitamins was good for my body. "
With doubts, Li Fang began to read the article carefully. The article mentions that while vitamins are essential for human health, excessive intake of certain vitamins may cause damage to the liver. This view surprised and worried Li Fang, as she had recently started taking some vitamin supplements in hopes of boosting her immunity.
Li Fang decided to dig deeper into the issue, and she reached out to her friend Dr. Zhang. Dr. Teo is an experienced nutritionist with a strong research background in this field.
Dr Cheung explains, "Vitamins are indeed essential nutrients, but not all vitamins are suitable for high intake. Some vitamins, if consumed in excess, can have a negative impact on the body, especially the liver. "
He further noted that there are four vitamins that need special attention: vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K. These vitamins are fat-soluble vitamins that can accumulate in the body when consumed in excess, which can cause the liver to be overloaded.
Dr Zhang cites a study by the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, which found that long-term high doses of vitamin A may increase the risk of liver damage. Studies have shown that excess vitamin A can lead to hepatocyte steatosis, which in turn can lead to abnormal liver function.
Hearing this, Li Fang couldn't help but think of her neighbor, Aunt Wang. Aunt Wang has always believed that "the more vitamins, the better", and often takes a large number of various vitamin supplements. Recently, Aunt Wang complained that she was always tired and had mild symptoms of jaundice. Li Fang began to wonder if this was related to Aunt Wang's excessive vitamin intake.
Dr. Cheung went on to explain that although vitamin D is very important for bone health, excessive intake can also cause hypercalcemia, which in turn affects liver function. He referred to a study published by the Endocrinology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, which pointed out that vitamin D toxicity could lead to abnormal liver function and kidney damage.
As for vitamin E, Dr Teo emphasises that it is a powerful antioxidant and is beneficial to the body when consumed in moderation. However, he cited a review published in the Chinese Journal of Hepatology, which pointed out that long-term high-dose consumption of vitamin E may increase the burden on the liver and even affect blood clotting function.
Finally, Dr. Zhang talked about vitamin K. He explained that while vitamin K is essential for blood clotting, excessive intake may interfere with the effects of certain anticoagulant medications, indirectly affecting liver health. He cited a study published by the Chinese Pharmacological Society that highlighted the interaction between vitamin K and anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin.
After listening to Dr. Zhang's explanation, Li Fang was both shocked and happy. She realized that she had misconceptions about vitamins, but fortunately learned the truth in time. She decided to adjust her diet and stop blindly taking vitamin supplements.
Li Fang began to re-examine her daily diet. She found that with a balanced diet, the body's needs for most vitamins could be fully met. Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats are all good sources of vitamins.
In order to take better care of her health, Li Fang began to pay attention to the diversity of food. She buys vegetables and fruits of various colours at the wet market and tries different cooking methods to make the diet healthy and fun. She also developed the habit of getting in the sun every day and naturally supplementing with vitamin D.
Over time, Li Fang felt the benefits of change. She has more energy and her skin condition has improved. What's more, she no longer worries about harming her liver health from excessive vitamin intake.
Li Fang's experience has made us realize that science and moderation are very important in the pursuit of health. The blind pursuit of so-called "health supplements" can be counterproductive. We should learn to listen to the advice of professionals, pay attention to authoritative medical research, and also learn to listen to our own bodies.
This story teaches us that health is not achieved by simply stacking up nutrients. Rather, it requires us to take a comprehensive, scientific understanding of our body's needs and take a balanced approach to meeting those needs. Vitamins are important, but moderate intake is key. Let us cherish every day and take care of our precious health with a scientific attitude and methods.
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(The story in the article is purely fictional, if there is any similarity is purely coincidental, if the body is not well, seek medical help in time)