Facts About Dietary Supplements That Would Surprise You

You might just be committing suicide by taking dietary supplements. According to a new study, certain dietary supplements can make you sick or even kill you.

A study from Consumer Reports found out that 15 ingredients in some dietary supplements can lead to cancer, organ damage, cardiac arrest and other health complications. According to Stgist, the effects on the person would depend on the amount of dangerous ingredients in the supplements taken and the length of time he/she has been exposed to them.

As per Morning Ticker, dietary supplements do not receive the same level of regulation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as what medications are subjected to. Supplements are categorized as food and their manufacturers don't have to prove their safety and effectivity. 

Here is the the list of fifteen ingredients you must avoid from Consumer Reports. Note again that supplements with these ingredients must not be taken to avoid risks of cancer, organ failure and heart complications.

1. Aconite
Aconite is an ingredient of dietary supplements that claims to reduce inflammation, joint pain and gout. In reality, it may cause nausea, vomiting, weakness, paralysis, breathing, heart problems and even death.

2. Caffeine Powder
This ingredient, also called 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine is said to improve attention, enhance athletic performance and help in weight loss. The risks though that takers would pay is the possibility of seizure, heart arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and death when mixed with other stimulants.

3. Chaparral
This is another ingredient that promises to aid weight loss, reduce inflammation, cure colds, infections, skin rashes and cancer. It can actually be the cause of kidney problems, liver damage and eventually, death.

4. Coltsfoot
Coltsfoot is deemed as a cough, sore throat, laryngitis, bronchitis, and asthma reliever. However, intake of supplements with these ingredients may result to liver damage or carcinogen.

5. Comfrey
This also relieves cough, regulates heavy menstrual periods, alleviates stomach and chest pain and cures cancer. Like the other ingredients, it may damage the liver and cause cancer to develop.

6. Germander
A supplement with this ingredient is taken to lose weight, get rid of fever, arthritis, gout and stomach pain. In truth, it can increase the risk of hepatitis and death.

7. Greater Celandine
Like germander, supplements with this ingredient is for stomachache. Unfortunately, it causes the stomach to be in pain more because it damages the liver.

8. Green Tea Extract Powder
Known to help in weight loss, this green tea extract powder have a lot of side effects. The user might experience dizziness, hear ringing in the ears, reduce absorption of iron, excerbates anemia and glaucoma, increases blood pressure and heart rate, cause liver damage and lead to death.

9. Kava
Kava, also known as ava pepper, kava kava, piper methysticum, is an ingredient in dietary suplements that improves insomnia and reduces anxiety. It can possibly lead to Parkinson's, depression, and death.

10. Lobelia
One of the known benefits of this dietary supplement ingredient is that it improves overall respiratory heath and helps in quitting smoking. On the contrary, it may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea tremors, rapid heartbeat, confusion, seizures, hypothermia and coma.

11. Methylsynephrine
This ingredient in a dietary supplement aids in weight loss as well as acting as an energy booster that helps improve athletic performance. However, it can actually lead to heart complications especially when consumed with other stimulants.

12. Pennyroyal Oil
The claimed benefits of pennyroyal oil is to improve breathing and treat digestive disorders. It does the opposite, according to Consumer Reports, because it may lead to liver and kidney failure, nerve damage, convulsions and death.

13. Red Yeast Rice
Red Yeast rice is supposedly for lowering bad cholesterol level and preventing a heart disease to develop. The side effects include kidney and muscle problems, liver problems, and hair loss among others.

14. Usnic Acid
Aside from being taken for weight loss, usnic acid is also used as a pain reliever. Little do takers know that usnic acid causes liver problems. 

15. Yohimbe
Yohimbe is a dietary supplement ingredeients that treats low libido and erectile dysfunction. While it sounds promising, it may also lead to depression and obesity. Scaringly, yohimbe raisesd blood pressure that caused rapid heart rate, headaches, seizuews, liver and kidney problems, heart complications, panic attacks and death.

Watch the video below to know more about dietary supplements. Comment your thoughts below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.