•Taking more supplements than you need raise your risk of side effects

Supplements do exactly what their name implies; they supplement i.e. add to. They DO NOT replace medication that your health professional started you on to control your blood pressure or blood sugar. They supplement what our food gives us to keep us healthy. They DO NOT replace our food.

Supplements seem to enjoy few restrictions or regulation in life and for the majority of them one does not need special training to dispense and that is extremely dangerous. I have met people who take so many supplements that any hunger pangs they may be experiencing can be quenched by the sheer volumes of the supplements. Do not harm your health and neither should you drain your wallets with pills and drinks that quite often we cannot even explain the benefits to our body.

If you belong to the school that thinks that “too much supplement” does not exist, then kindly rethink that. Even too much of a good thing may be BAD.

I think we are all extremely busy and want instant results in every area of our lives; we would rather pop a few pills rather than get the appropriate food with vegetables and fruits. The argument remains that fruits and vegetables may be contaminated BUT what about the supplements? Why spend time in the sun when we can grab some Vitamin Ds?

I love clients who will carry their supplements to the clinic to discuss with their doctor before engaging in the shortcut to “fabulous” health. Quite often we realise that many of them are supposed to have similar components and do not need to be taken at the same time.

“Taking more than you need costs more and might also raise your risk of side effects. For example, too much vitamin A can cause headaches and liver damage, reduce bone strength, and cause birth defects. Excess iron causes nausea and vomiting and may damage the liver and other organs.3 Sept 2020” – NIH.Gov

I am not against supplements but I believe that many of us take more than we need. It may be a good idea to discuss supplements with your doctor or dietitian so that you can make the right decisions together.

I believe food, sunlight and nature come first but a large number of us may benefit from:

1. A good probiotic (now there is increasing talk of a prebiotic. Hmmm, you see why you need the help of a professional). This optimises gut health and we are now certain that our guts play an extremely important role in our well-being.
2. A single multivitamin that contains a respectable range of micronutrients, fish oil and others.
3. Maybe magnesium if your blood pressure is difficult to control or you have muscle and sleep challenges.
4. A good superfood such as cocoa best drank in the pure form with no additives (what we refer to here as “bitter cocoa”)
   1. It is amazing the number of micronutrients cocoa harbours
5. Vitamin D, only when you do not have access to the sun (or a deficiency is diagnosed).

There is no need to be hooked onto high dose of Vitamin C and Zinc and immediately go into withdrawal mode once there is a discussion on the need to take a break or stop taking them and instead work on a more long-term sustainable and beneficial plan.

Finally, yes supplements do play a role in our quest for great health but do not abuse them, get help from a health professional to make the right choices. In some conditions such as cancers, supplements can be life-saving.

When someone introduces a supplement to you, do not rush to pop the pills. Instead; STOP. THINK ABOUT IT. DO YOU REALLY NEED THIS? When in doubt speak to a professional. Do not get greedy with supplements, you may end up eroding all your gains.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

By Dr Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials Ltd/ Mobissel

(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)

*Dr Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’

Thought for the week – “Ever wondered how to get the best daily exercises and tips on health & wellness in the comfort of your home or workplace? Send an email to info@healthessentialsgh.com”