Supplements are a daily wellness habit for many Americans – but experts warn more isn’t always better.
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more → warn → Americans
Some common nutritional supplements include zinc for immune function, ashwaganda for stress relief, fish oil for improving heart health and magnesium for better sleep, among others that have gained popularity on social media.
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that → include → media
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist and metabolic medicine expert based in Texas, said that supplements should be balanced with other medications and medical conditions.
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supplements → base → medications
"I've never met a supplement I didn't like under the right circumstances," he said.
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he → meet → circumstances
"There's some evidence around what it's doing in the body."
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it → be → body
While supplementing certain nutrients can be beneficial, the health expert warned that overdoing it can be "problematic."
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overdoing → supplement → it
"A lot of people take one of everything and then stack peptides on top of it – and then they're going and doing 18 different things," he said.
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he → take → things
It's important to first assess what the body needs from an individualized approach, according to LaValle.
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body → assess → LaValle
For example, low magnesium has been associated with the development of metabolic syndrome.
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magnesium → associate → syndrome
In that case, he said, taking a magnesium supplement could help to balance out levels.
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taking → say → levels
"We assume that if you eat healthy, you're going to get those nutrients.
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you → assume → nutrients
But are the foods we're selecting actually rich in those nutrients?" he questioned.
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he → select → nutrients
LaValle recommends using supplements to address specific needs, starting with a blood test to pinpoint any deficiencies, rather than blindly treating symptoms.
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LaValle → recommend → symptoms
Low iron and ferritin are common among people complaining of fatigue, LaValle said, yet some may instead turn to supplements like ashwagandha or rhodiola in an effort to boost their energy.
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some → complain → energy
"They’re buying some kind of stimulant adaptogen to try to get their energy up," he said.
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he → buy → energy
"That’s pretty basic — you’re low in iron, and you never got a blood test."
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you → ’ → test
"A lot of people take one of everything and then stack peptides on top of it."
LaValle noted that the number of biomarkers measured is less important than how well the results are interpreted.
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results → take → biomarkers
After appropriate blood testing, the results can be used to identify "functional highs and lows" and help establish specific health goals, he said.
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he → use → goals
"If you're somebody who has a goal to get out there and get after it and do a Hyrox or an LT Games or a Tough Mudder, there could be supplements that would help improve your performance [or] reduce your risk of injury," LaValle said.
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LaValle → have → injury
"It doesn't mean you [have to] take them all the time."
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you → mean → them
The expert reiterated that it’s easy to "overdo it," particularly with the influence of online health and wellness advice.
"
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it → reiterate → advice
When people are getting barraged with marketing between social media and friends telling them, 'I did this and it worked,' they'll lean in and go, 'Hey, if two is good, four is better, and why not do 10?'
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four → barrage → 10
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In one example, having low levels of certain nutrients, such as zinc, can disrupt key functions in the body, as zinc plays an important role in immune health, cell growth and metabolism.
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zinc → have → health
But supplementing with too much zinc can cause digestive distress and even copper deficiency, which can lead to anemia and other neurological problems, according to the NIH.
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which → supplement → NIH
"So having low zinc is not good, but you can overdo zinc," LaValle said.
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LaValle → have → zinc
"You can overdo vitamin A.
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You → overdo → ?
You can overdo vitamin D easily, and that could be potentially toxic if you're taking too much of it."
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you → overdo → it
People should talk with a doctor or pharmacist before starting or combining supplements, particularly if they take prescription medications or have underlying health conditions.
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they → talk → conditions
Blood testing may also be appropriate before supplementing certain nutrients, experts advise.
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experts → supplement → nutrients
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