Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Do you take a multi-vitamin? Do you eat store-bought bread or drink milk? Do you go for the flavored vitamin water rather than filling your glass at the tap?
If you answered yes to these questions, you may be getting more vitamins than your body needs. “If you take a multi-vitamin daily and consume fortified foods and naturally vitamin-rich foods, you’re likely meeting or maybe even exceeding the daily limits,” says SIU registered dietitian Sara Lopinski.
This excess of vitamins can be potentially dangerous, which is why many experts are warning consumers to opt for plain water instead of the vitamin waters that are so prevalent in the convenience store coolers. The vitamins in the water are often two to three times more than the average person needs in a single day. Many of these waters also contain antioxidants, which are needed to help fight infections, but too much of a good thing can throw the body off kilter. The excess of some vitamins, like B and C, can be excreted in the urine; however, others like A, D, E and K stay in the body. This can cause potential health problems, such as poor liver function.
Lopinski suggests paying attention to your diet and learning what’s in the foods you eat on a daily basis. “For most people, if they eat healthy, they shouldn’t need all the added supplements,” she says. Pregnant women, the elderly and those with health conditions should speak with their physicians to find out if they are getting the proper amount of nutrients.
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