Are Dietary Supplements dangerous?

 A common way for people to lose weight or build muscle is to use dietary supplements, but just how dangerous are they? Dietary supplements include anything from vitamins, minerals, herbals, etc. Supplements should not be meal substitutes but should be used to help your body get adequate amounts of essential nutrients. Like many things, supplements do involve some risks. They contain ingredients have extreme effects in the body which can complicate your health or even be life-threatening.  The government does not regulate safety and effectiveness of these when it comes to dietary supplements, and when new ingredients are added to supplements the FDA doesn’t have to approve the ingredient they just have to review it. The idea of putting a harmful substance into your body is beyond me.  These over the counter and easy to purchase supplements are found in grocery stores, pharmacies, online, and even health food stores. These supplements cause everyone’s bodies to react differently. The main cause of these drugs getting removed from the market is the risk of liver damage since these supplements pass through the liver for processing and end up being toxic. These aren’t the only side effects, there are many more and it just proves that dietary supplements are more harmful than helpful for your health.

Catherine N R

http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYOu/Consumers/ucm109760.htm