Can You Take Too Many Supplements?

Certain supplements are recommended on The Kaufmann Diet, but can you take too many supplements? 

Some people equate taking supplements with taking good care of one’s health. Vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, fish oil, and other types of supplements can be very beneficial for health when taken in the right setting, but this paints an incomplete picture about the role these products can and should play in health. And, like most things, when it comes to supplements, more is not always better. 

When deciding to take a supplement, you should always consider a few things. The first thing to consider is, why am I taking this supplement? In other words, what am I hoping it will do? Am I taking it to get enough vitamins? Is it to boost a certain function in the body, or kill a pathogen like yeast? If you don’t have a good answer to that question, you probably should forgo the supplement in question.

The next question is one of dosing; do you know how much you need, or how much you should take for it to be effective? When should you take it? With food? On an empty stomach? Does it need to be taken in the day, or at night, or with other supplements to be effective? To this end, your naturopath or doctor can assist you in answering these questions. You should always read the labels too, which can give you a good idea about dosing. (Always talk to your doctor before beginning a supplement because some can interfere with medicines or affect certain health problems negatively.) 

If you do not know what dose you should be taking, you may be taking too much of a supplement. 

It is entirely possible to take too much of a supplement. Taking too much of certain supplements can make you sick or even be dangerous, although by and large many of them are safe. You may just excrete the excess in the form of urine. You simply can have too much of a good thing. The idea is to get enough of what you need, not too much. Furthermore, it is good to determine specifically what you need to supplement with, otherwise you can spend a lot of money on unnecessary supplements. 

On The Kaufmann Diet, you are initially advised to give up all but the most necessary supplements (i.e., if your doctor has you on a specific supplement, you should continue taking it). The exception is supplementing with a natural anti-fungal, like oil of oregano, caprylic acid, or olive leaf extract. After a few weeks on the program, it is entirely ok––and perhaps beneficial––to put together a sensible supplement program. This certainly includes a good probiotic, but it may also include a good multivitamin, fish oil, and perhaps an immune-supporting supplement like beta glucan. Natural anti-fungals should be rotated regularly. 

Remember too that supplements are supplemental for a reason; the main thrust of your quest for good health always comes from diet and exercise. Supplements are there to fill in the gaps. While you can experience success on The Kaufmann Diet just by going on the diet and exercising, it is unlikely you will achieve success through supplementation alone.

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