The Dangers Of Taking Supplements Essay

The Dangers of Taking Supplements Americans spend billions of dollars every year on vitamin and dietary supplements. Over 60 percent of Americans buy and take supplements for all sorts of reasons such as preventing illnesses, depression, weight loss, and even curing cancer (Hurley). They have also been used as an alternative to receive the nutrients that some people are unable to get. However, controversies over the harmful uses of supplements have surfaced. Some say that major risks can negatively affect the overall well-being, while others still believe benefits still warrant their use. Although vitamin and dietary supplements are popular because of their convenience and practicality, they do more harm than what they are intended to do. Vitamins are organic compounds that people need to maintain proper body functions. They are usually found in living entities such as plants and animals. All kinds of elements, such as vitamin A, B, C, D, E, and K, are essential for several functions such as maintaining metabolism, growth, defense, and maintaining an overall well-being. Without vitamins, people would still contract diseases, such as scurvy and rickets. Vitamin and dietary supplements have become popular in the past couple of years. …show more content…
Many times supplements are beneficial, but at other time no reasons exist for taking them in the first place. Gisela Telis, a writer for the Washington Post, writes about whether or not children need to take supplement. She concludes that no huge difference appear on whether or not children should take vitamin supplements, stating that the data regarding the benefits of taking vitamin supplements for children is weak and “pretty much nonexistent” (Berlatsky 111). If barely any evidence on the benefits of taking these vitamins and supplements exist, therefore, no reasons occur to take the effort of trying