US Woman's Turmeric Supplements Caused Liver Damage and She Was Left with a Bill of $1,275 Out of Pocket.
A Florida resident was taking turmeric as part of her morning smoothie to boost immunity during COVID-19. Her white blood cell count showed a significant drop and an enlarged liver was discovered via ultrasound. Driven by health anxiety, she continued regular check-ups until she stumbled upon a blog post that challenged the popular belief about turmeric's safety.
The article highlighted that some of the benefits claimed by turmeric are based on discredited studies, and taking it can be toxic to certain people, particularly those with compromised liver function. Despite her doctor advising against taking supplements again, Thompson stopped using turmeric after six months, which turned out to be a normal white blood cell count at the next check-up.
Herbal supplements pose an overwhelming risk due to their ability to overwhelm the liver's detoxification functions and immune system. Dr Alisa Likhitsup states that supplement-related liver injuries have become increasingly severe and are now more common than previously thought, with some cases even resulting in liver transplant.
These risks extend beyond turmeric to other supplements such as ashwagandha and green tea extract. The Council for Responsible Nutrition estimates 74% of Americans take dietary supplements, most of which are advertised through social media influencers. However, Dr Robert Fontana notes that there are over 100,000 herbal supplements available with no regulation or testing.
Experts warn that relying on supplements can lead to health issues and unscientific thinking about achieving a healthier life. Dr Qianzhi Jiang suggests proper nutrition is the best way forward rather than depending on unnecessary supplementation.
Dr Fontana attributes unpredictable adverse reactions from supplements primarily to genetics, known as "idiosyncratic" liver injuries. The severity of these reactions varies greatly between individuals due to their unique genetic makeup.
A Florida resident was taking turmeric as part of her morning smoothie to boost immunity during COVID-19. Her white blood cell count showed a significant drop and an enlarged liver was discovered via ultrasound. Driven by health anxiety, she continued regular check-ups until she stumbled upon a blog post that challenged the popular belief about turmeric's safety.
The article highlighted that some of the benefits claimed by turmeric are based on discredited studies, and taking it can be toxic to certain people, particularly those with compromised liver function. Despite her doctor advising against taking supplements again, Thompson stopped using turmeric after six months, which turned out to be a normal white blood cell count at the next check-up.
Herbal supplements pose an overwhelming risk due to their ability to overwhelm the liver's detoxification functions and immune system. Dr Alisa Likhitsup states that supplement-related liver injuries have become increasingly severe and are now more common than previously thought, with some cases even resulting in liver transplant.
These risks extend beyond turmeric to other supplements such as ashwagandha and green tea extract. The Council for Responsible Nutrition estimates 74% of Americans take dietary supplements, most of which are advertised through social media influencers. However, Dr Robert Fontana notes that there are over 100,000 herbal supplements available with no regulation or testing.
Experts warn that relying on supplements can lead to health issues and unscientific thinking about achieving a healthier life. Dr Qianzhi Jiang suggests proper nutrition is the best way forward rather than depending on unnecessary supplementation.
Dr Fontana attributes unpredictable adverse reactions from supplements primarily to genetics, known as "idiosyncratic" liver injuries. The severity of these reactions varies greatly between individuals due to their unique genetic makeup.
this is so scary 
taking supplements can be super toxic 
especially if u got a compromised liver 
my aunt once took some herbal stuff and ended up with bad stomach issues 
she stopped but u never know 
gotta be careful about dis 
so many options out there and none of them r regulated 
it's like tryna find a needle in a haystack 
at least people are talking about it now 
we need more research on this topic 
my fave doc says eat a balanced diet instead 
gotta listen to the experts 
I mean, we got this lady taking turmeric for immunity and next thing you know she's got liver damage and a huge bill to pay out of pocket. It just goes to show that supplements aren't as safe as everyone thinks they are. 
It's time for some real accountability and transparency in the supplement industry.
. It's all about being smart and taking care of yourself, not relying on random pills or powders to fix everything 
.
. Now I know why they say be careful with supplements 
. Don't rely on them, eat real food instead 
and it was a total bummer 
. My doc said no more supplements for me 
. Let's focus on actual nutrition, not just taking pills 
. Don't gamble with your health, invest in yourself 
.
And it's not just turmeric, other supplements like ashwagandha and green tea extract can also cause major issues too... ugh! 
At least ppl are finally waking up and recognizing that supplements aren't a magic solution for achieving optimal health 
Let's get back to eating real food, folks! 
I mean, think about it - we're all just winging it when it comes to our health and wellbeing, right? No one really knows what's safe and what's not until something goes wrong. And even then, the science is always like "it depends"... 
Shouldn't we be looking at stricter laws and regulations instead of just relying on individual experts like Dr. Fontana?