Supplements can often be a good way to reach your health goals. Whether you’re seeking a better night’s sleep, a slimmer waistline, or a healthier brain, there’s probably a supplement on the market that’s targeted to meet your needs. However, it’s always important to remember that, just as with anything else you’re putting into your body, supplements could lead to adverse effects. Each one comes with a range of risks. This is even true of antioxidant supplements.
Although antioxidants certainly come with many benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers, taking an antioxidant supplement could result in dangerous effects for some individuals. To discover a few of the most common risks, we spoke to nutritionist Krutika Nanavati. She told us that these supplements could interfere with your natural antioxidant balance, interact with certain medications, and even damage your heart and lungs. Read on for more insight on each of these downsides.
1. Interference with natural antioxidant balance
Here's the thing: while it's always great to consume more antioxidants (especially if they come from whole foods), it's important to remember that your body has its own natural balance of these important compounds. Taking doses of antioxidant supplements that are too high could throw this balance off track.
"Antioxidants neutralize harmful free radicals, maintaining the body's balance," Nanavati explains. "However, high-dose antioxidant supplements may lead to complications."
2. Interactions with other medications
One common downside of many supplements is the fact that they could result in dangerous interactions with other medications and supplements you're taking. Antioxidants, in particular, could interfere negatively with medications for heart conditions.
"Vitamin E supplements can enhance blood-thinning drugs, increasing bleeding risk. High doses of vitamin C can reduce the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs," Nanavati warns. This is just one reason it's always important to do your research and speak to your doctor before adding a new supplement to your regimen.
4. Heart issues
Speaking of heart health, although antioxidants could benefit your cardiovascular system, Nanavati says that taking too many of these supplements could have the opposite effect and put your heart at risk.
"High doses of antioxidant supplements may harm heart health. Studies show excessive beta-carotene and vitamin E may raise the risk of heart disease and failure in those with existing heart issues," she tells us. That's why it's crucial to consider your history of cardiovascular conditions before taking antioxidant supplements.
5. Lung issues
In addition to posing a risk to your heart, high-dose antioxidant supplements could also lead to lung complications. As Nanavati tells us, "Antioxidant supplements may harm lung health, especially for smokers or those at risk of COPD. High doses of beta-carotene supplements could increase lung cancer risk in smokers and asbestos-exposed individuals." Yikes! It may be best to leave these supplements on the shelf if you have a history of lung issues or are a smoker.
The bottom line
In many cases, antioxidants are perfectly safe for individuals to take. In fact, they could offer great benefits to your body. However, no supplement comes without risks, which is why it's important to educate yourself and speak to a healthcare professional before trying out something new. If you have a history of heart or lung issues or take certain medications, it may be best to skip antioxidant supplements and get your antioxidants directly from the food you eat, instead.
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