Supplements can have so many benefits, as they’re known to fill in the gaps that our daily diet and nutrition can’t cover. However, when you take too much of one supplement, you can actually be putting your brain at risk.
Dr. Bing, MD MPH, a Mayo Clinic-trained neurologist and content creator, recently made a video about three common supplements that “you need to be careful about taking,” given that some of them are so popular these days. In his caption, he writes that having too much of these vitamins and minerals in your system can “be toxic to your brain and nervous system.” Our brains are very delicate organs, and we need to do what we can on a daily basis to take care of them. Read more about what Dr. Bing had to say below.
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1. Zinc
Zinc supplements are very popular, as zinc is well known for helping you get over colds or prevent a cold. However, you need to be on the lookout for how much you take.
"Now zinc is essential for our bodies and can be found in multiple food sources," says Dr. Bing.
"But the problem is when people take supplements daily for months, they can easily go over the safe limit. Too much zinc would interfere with copper absorption, and copper is essential for your nervous system."
According to Dr. Bing, low copper levels can cause "myeloneuropathy, which is damage to the spinal cord and your peripheral nerves."
2. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is another trendy supplement, as it has a reputation for improving your skin health, immunity, and more. What's unique about vitamin A is that it's "fat soluble," which, according to Dr. Bing, "stores in your liver and it can accumulate over time."
"Too much of this can lead to a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri, which is increased pressure in the brain that mimics a brain tumor causing headaches, blurred vision, and even permanent vision loss," he continues.
3. Vitamin D
Also known as the 'sunshine vitamin,' vitamin D is often taken to improve bone health and boost immunity. Dr. Bing points out that vitamin D supplements are usually taken by infants or people over 50 who can use some assistance to keep their bones strong.
"However, taking too high doses of vitamin D can cause calcium to build up in your blood, which can affect the brain, leading to things like confusion, fatigue, depression, and sometimes, even psychosis," he continues.
At the end of his video, Dr. Bing reminds his audience that "while these vitamins and minerals are essential for our bodies to function, moderation is key."
"Like almost everything else in life," he adds. "More is not always better."
If you're worried about taking too much or too little of a supplement, be sure to speak with your doctor.
