The dietician warns: Risks with plant-based food supplements

There are many people who take dietary supplements in the belief that they improve health, and often do so in the form of herbal supplements.
But it may turn out that some substances are harmful.
Right now, twelve different substances in plant-based dietary supplements are being investigated, to see if they should be banned or regulated.

It is the Heads Of Food Safety Agencies, an organization within the EU, which investigates whether certain substances in plant-based food supplements should be banned or regulated. Malin Björklund, who is a registered dietitian, believes that the investigation is done to protect the consumer.

– Because these are more concentrated substances than what we find in traditional foods, some can have harmful effects, she says in Efter fem.

“Then there are potential risks”

In some of the plant-based food supplements, substances have been found that can be harmful to the liver. Johanna Björklund tells us that you also don’t always know exactly what effect the plant-based dietary supplements have on the body.

– There are other effects that dietary supplements can have, which we do not know what they are in the long term. Often it can be the case that you take these dietary supplements for a longer period and then there are potential risks with that.

If you take herbal food supplements and take other medications at the same time, you are asked to consult a doctor.

– It can increase or decrease the drug’s effect. If you are taking a medicine, you should also talk to your doctor about whether it is appropriate to take the herbal dietary supplement at the same time.

Dietitian: Most people do not need to take supplements

Although it is common to turn to nutritional supplements to improve health, Malin Björklund believes that most people do not need nutritional supplements. She also thinks that you should be critical of the source before spending money on it.

– There is no physiological need for it. At the same time, I think that most dietary supplements are not life-threatening. I think you should ask yourself why you actually take the supplement.