Vitamins and minerals are important to maintaining health, but there’s a reason that experts set daily recommended values for them. Supplements, especially those taken daily, would not only be a waste of money but could also prove dangerous when taken in excess, too.
With recommended daily allowances measured in the thousandths of milligrams, it’s all too easy to overdose on supplements. As always, a doctor’s advice is the best guide for those looking to take them, especially crucial for women planning to get pregnant, people on a restricted diet or those with pre-existing conditions.
Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene already exists in food items common in a healthy diet, especially carrots, spinach and dark leafy greens.
For the majority of healthy adults, vitamin A is the common source of beta-carotene, as Reader’s Digest, via Business Insider, pointed out. 3,000 IU is plenty for males, while adult females benefit little from beyond 2,130 IU. To put that into perspective, 15 milligrams of beta-carotene already provides 25,000 IU.
Some people believe high levels of beta-carotene helps prevent cancer, but studies show that high levels actually increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. There is no final word on beta-carotene preventing other cancers, too, so to be safe, one should ask a doctor.
Folic acid
There’s already plenty of folic acid in fortified bread, asparagus, legumes and cereals.
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