It is a fact that most of us are deficient in certain minerals and vitamins. It is extremely important to fulfill the needs of the body by taking these in the form of supplements. Doctors often prescribe many vitamins and minerals according to the requirement of your body. Some vitamins and supplements can be taken together. They not only cause you benefits but also reinforce the effects of each other. However, not every supplement can be taken with another. Some combos of certain vitamins and supplements prove detrimental to your health. Following is the list of some of the vitamins, medications, and supplements that should be avoided taken together:

Calcium and Magnesium

Magnesium and calcium are necessary for taking together. Calcium and magnesium are major nutrients required in larger amounts than trace minerals. For Calcium, the average requirement for men and women aged 50-70 years is 1000mg and 1200mg respectively (per day). Considering the same age, 420mg magnesium is required by men and women need 320mg daily.

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Magnesium represses the parathyroid hormone and helps activate calcitonin to deposit calcium into the bones. It also decreases the chances of osteoporosis. If you do not take magnesium, it will result in calcium toxicity i.e. the calcium will deposit in the soft tissues instead of the bones resulting in arthritis. But, you cannot take these two together because it can reduce the absorption of calcium. Take an interval of almost 2 hours between calcium and magnesium.

Zinc and Copper

Zinc and copper play a significant role in maintaining immune health and healing. They improve resistance and elasticity. If taken together, copper can reduce the absorption of zinc. Similarly, high doses of zinc (50mg or more per day) for longer periods can cause a copper deficiency in the body which leads to anemia, hypopigmentation, hypercholesterolemia, connective tissue disorders, osteoporosis, other bone defects, abnormal lipid metabolism, ataxia, and a higher risk of infection.

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Iron and Green Tea

Iron is an important mineral that builds hemoglobin and helps bind oxygen to get into the cells of the body. Green tea is not a supplement but is a toothsome beverage with anti-oxidant properties. People enjoy having green tea in the morning but taking it with an iron supplement is unsuitable. Iron reduces the effects of green tea. Green tea, on the other hand, causes iron deficiency according to research. You can avoid this issue by cutting green tea on days when you are having iron supplements. You can simply take these supplements along with Vitamin C.

Fish Oil and Gingko Biloba

Omega-3 fish oil helps reduce inflammation, body weight, fat, risk of vision loss, neurocognitive injury, and makes your mood better. Gingko Biloba plays role in cognitive impairment. Intake of these supplements with herbs such as garlic and Gingko Biloba can decrease the thickening of the blood and increases the risk of excessive bleeding. Garlic is a natural blood thinner so if you are taking even the baby aspirin on daily basis, it will exhibit its negative effects. Furthermore, ginger, feverfew, vitamin E, and white willow bark are also included in the list. It is recommended to take these supplements with a gap of at least 2 hours.

MultiVitamins

Multivitamins react with each other as other nutrients do. If taken together, multivitamins can show synergic as well as antagonistic effects. According to research, magnesium improves levels of Vitamin D whereas Vitamin A does the opposite job. For this reason, the daily value (DV) percentage% of Vitamin D is higher than that of Vitamin A on nutritional labels of most of the Multivitamins. If you are lacking Vitamin A, taking Multivitamins would not help because the excess of fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin A, E, and K obtained from different sources (foods and supplements) can deposit in your body causing severe health issues. The same is the case for Vitamin K.

Another example includes Vitamin C and Vitamin B12. Vitamin C if taken with Vitmanib B12, breaks it down in the digestive tract and hinders its ability to get absorbed in the body. Resultantly, you have to face the deficiency of Vitamin B12 that causes impaired nervous system and compromised red blood cells production.

Melatonin and St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort Extracts have been used for hundreds of years as an analgesic, sedative agent, and treating symptoms related to early/late menopause, stress, anxiety, depression, etc. It also improves the sedative and therapeutic properties of other supplements. On the other hand, Melatonin is a powerful agent that helps with insomnia. It is suggested to avoid using both of these together for no serious complications.

Furthermore, a combination of St. John’s Wort and other anti-depressants can stimulate the excessive release of Serotonin causing serotonin syndrome. It often results in the rigidity of the muscles and building cramps. Valerian, ashwagandha, kava, etc also have the same effect for St. Johns’s Wort as melatonin.

Iron and Antibiotics

Antibiotics such as metronidazole, daptomycin, tigecycline, erythromycin especially tetracycline get ineffective if you take an iron supplement with it. Use antibiotics prior to or after at least 3-4 hours of iron.

Red Yeast Rice and Niacin

An American can understand the importance of Red Yeast Rice and Niacin as these are the beneficial natural supplements used in lowering their high cholesterol levels. Taking both of these together does not cause more benefit rather it is injurious to the liver. Make sure to have information about all the possible side effects of mixing up these supplements used for lowering cholesterol levels before use.

Potassium and calcium

As for other minerals, potassium and calcium also have tough competition inside the body to get absorbed. Consequently, none of them show 100% result and you are deprived of each of its benefits. According to surveys, People doing exercises in humid environments or with gastrointestinal issues are often deficient in potassium hence if you need to take both (calcium and potassium) together, give a break of few hours between them.

CoQ10 and Diabetes Medications

According to experts, using CoQ10 along with other medicines for diabetes is damaging to the body because both of them play role in lowering the raised level of blood sugar. Similarly, intake of CoQ10 and blood pressure managing medication can lower blood pressure below the normal level that will be harmful to the body. Moreover, using CoQ10 for 6 to 8 weeks long can even cause a risk of fall and head injury in some cases.

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Conclusion

Vitamins, minerals, supplements, and certain foods are important for your health but the combinations of these can be harmful. Even a blend of different vitamins proves injurious to the health. Natural foods are also at risk of causing you harm if taken with certain supplements. Doubling up of anything does not benefit always. Mentioned above are the combos to avoid whether they are Vitamins or Supplements of great use.