This article alone should not be taken as health advice. Talk to your doctor for the best plan for your personal wellbeing.
Supplements can be one great way to improve your wellness by filling in nutritional gaps left by your diet. In many cases, they can improve your sleep, lower stress levels, or simply ensure you’re getting all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly. But supplements also come with risks—and if you don’t exercise caution, there are several mistakes that could be detrimental.
Luckily, experts online often share their insight on the matter, like TikTok creator (@pcos.thyroid.weight.loss), a doctor with over 460K followers on the app, who shared three common supplement mistakes he calls “extremely unhealthy.” Find his warnings below.
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1. Supplementing While Drinking Coffee
Yes, you read that right. Supplementing while sipping on coffee could interfere with the absorption or effectiveness of certain vitamins and minerals. Because coffee contains compounds like caffein and polyphenols, these can bind to some minerals, which reduces their absorption.
"Drinking coffee while taking certain supplements can decrease the absorption of essential minerals like iron, magnesium, zinc, and calcium. Coffee contains compounds that can bind to these minerals, making them harder for your body to absorb. To maximize the effectiveness of supplements, including calcium D-glucarate, it’s better to take them at a different time than when you drink coffee," he notes.
2. Ignoring How Supplements Interact
Certain vitamins, minerals, and nutrients actually work best when you take them together; this is why overlooking the synergy between supplements can be a mishap. On the other hand, some can interfere with each other, which can result in poor absorption, nutrient imbalances, and negative interactions.
"Supplements can interact with each other in beneficial ways, a concept known as synergy. For example, taking high doses of zinc over time can lead to a copper deficiency because zinc and copper compete for absorption in the body. It’s important to balance supplements properly," he notes.
3. Using Cheap Supplement Forms Like Calcium Carbonate
Calcium carbonate can be an affordable option, but its drawbacks could hurt you more than it can help. Some of the ways it may not be a smart option is that it’s an unhealthy choice compared to higher-quality supplements that offer greater absorption and fewer side effects.
"Many people opt for cheaper forms of calcium supplements, such as calcium carbonate. However, these forms may not be as easily absorbed by the body, meaning you might not get the full benefit. I recommend using calcium D-glucarate instead, as it is not only better absorbed but also offers additional benefits, such as supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes," he says.
