Health Supplements and Side Effects

If there’s one thing that everyone agrees is important, it’s good health. People are spending more and more of their time and money pursuing a healthier, and hopefully happier, lifestyle. There are thousands of health supplements advertised online – but which ones are safe, and which ones are likely to have side effects that far outweigh their benefits?

The Acai berry is a food that has received a lot of attention for its health benefits recently, and there are many supplements based on it. Most people report that they do not experience any Acai berry side effects. Considering that the Acai berry itself is just a berry – not a drug, this should come as no surprise.

Other weight loss supplements and health supplements, however, are not quite as “natural” in their effects. While there are usually no discernable Acai Berry side effects, if you were to take a weight loss supplement that works by acting as a stimulant (caffeine, for example, or ephedrine), then you may experience some unpleasant side effects – such as dizziness, difficulty concentrating, shakiness, and other minor problems

Everything Has Side Effects if Taken to Extremes

While most people are fine taking a normal serving of Acai berry, and experience no real Acai berry side effects, it’s important to note that everything has side effects if you take too much of it. Even something relatively innocuous, such as Vitamin C, can cause kidney stones in extreme doses. Popular herbal supplements, such as St John’s Wort, have been linked to increased blood pressure in some people.

Don’t be deterred by reports of side effects in cases of extreme doses. As long as you stay within the recommended daily allowance of most supplements, you should not experience any problems.

When it comes to health foods and supplements, it’s important to remember that supplements are not drugs, and they should not be used as the first line of treatment against a new medical condition. If you are healthy, and are using supplements as a way to stay that way, then that’s one thing, but if you start experiencing health issues, your first port of call shot be your doctor.

Once you are receiving treatment for a condition, and have it under control, ask your doctor about introducing supplements. It may be that your doctor believes that you could benefit from taking a multi-vitamin, some Evening Primrose Oil, or an Acai berry supplement, and that you should not experience any Acai berry side effects. However, it could also be the case that one of the “active ingredients” in the supplement could adversely affect your medication. Do you want to take that risk?

For most people, supplements are a great form of preventative medicine, and they offer many more benefits than they do undesirable side effects. However, if there is a pressing health concern, and the choice is between medical treatment or supplementation and/or alternative medicine, the wise choice would be to seek professional medical advice.

This post was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of Which Acai Berry. Amy is interested in health and nutrition and enjoys writing on these subjects.