These days, more and more people are pushing supplements, and there are so many to choose from on the market.
While many people are beginning to take supplements containing basic nutrients and vitamins, making up for any gaps in their diets, it’s still important to be mindful of exactly what you’re taking and how much you should be taking, as you can end up taking in a bad mixture. We used information from health experts to reveal two supplements you should avoid taking at the same time to avoid bad absorption and side effects like inflammation.
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The Two Supplements You Should Avoid Taking Together
Because health experts and the wellness community encourage people and consumers to take supplements, it can be hard to imagine any of them being 'bad' or 'dangerous' for you. However, they actually can be, and oftentimes it's because they're being taken in doses that are too high or taken in combination with other supplements that can end up causing adverse effects.
Nowadays, many health influencers are pushing green tea supplements for weight loss, as the compounds in green tea are notorious for helping to speed up people's metabolism and lowering inflammation. While green tea supplements can be beneficial, it's important to keep track of what you take them in addition to. Health experts and research have shown that green tea supplements, or green tea extract tablets, when taken with iron supplements, can take a turn for the worse if not done properly.
"Green tea has many health benefits—but it can also interact with certain supplements, potentially reducing their effectiveness or increasing the risk of side effects," stated Matam Vijay-Kumar, assistant professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State.
One of the supplements green tea can interact with is iron supplements, another popular item on the supplement market, as many people fear iron deficiencies or already have one.
What To Do If You Take These Supplements
Before you panic, if you take both of these supplements, you won't get hurt or die, but you might want to reconsider the way in which you take them. According to nutritionist Elizabeth Shaw in her article for Eating Well, "research suggests that green tea interferes with iron absorption—especially non-heme iron, the form found in plant-based foods that's already poorly absorbed by the body."
"This is largely due to compounds found in green tea such as tannins, phytates, calcium, and certain polyphenols," she continued.
Other studies have found that those who drink more than one cup of green tea a day are more likely to have iron deficiencies or anemia, as the EGCG compounds can be iron-binding, making any iron supplements much less effective. While this might not sound like great news, it is still possible to keep these two supplements in your routine. First, it's always a good idea to consult your doctor or nutritionist, double-checking that you actually need iron supplements as part of your routine, and ensuring neither iron nor green tea extract would interfere with any existing health conditions or medications.
Additionally, health experts suggest waiting a few hours after taking iron supplements to take green tea extract or consume green tea to allow your body more time to absorb it.
