The Side Effects of Antioxidants

Most people are aware these days of the benefits of a diet high in antioxidants. They can help to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease and even slow the signs of aging. The Acai Berry in particular has gained a lot of fame recently due to its high levels of antioxidants and the health benefits associated with its consumption.

However, what are less talked about are the possible side effects that are related to excessive consumption of vitamins and antioxidants. Most people are misled into believing that the more, the better, but there is a limit as some antioxidants can become harmful if consumed in too large quantities.

Vitamin C overdose for example, is actually quite common, due to the high quantity of it that is present in so many fruits and vegetables (while some processed foods are also fortified with it). Stomach problems are one of the most noticeable side effects of excessive vitamin C, yet most people won’t actually isolate the vitamin as the cause of the problems. Regular consumption of high amounts of vitamin C has also been linked to the development of kidney stones.

Over-consumption of vitamin’s A and D can also cause serious problems. Hypervitaminosis A (vitamin A overdose) can result in headaches, hair loss, bone fragility, vomiting and dry peeling skin. Hypervitaminosis D can cause headaches, vomiting, lethargy, confusion and in severe cases, coma. It’s worth noting however, that occurrences of both conditions are rare, and generally appear in those who are being treated for a condition where these vitamins are part of the therapy (such as vitamin D for scurvy patients). Therefore, these conditions are not usually a concern associated with an average, healthy diet, and can certainly not be considered as Acai Berry side effects.

Vitamin E is also known to cause a multitude of side effects in large doses, and it is inconclusive how much most people can consume before they are likely to experience negative effects. Side effects that may occur include nausea, intestinal cramping, weakness, headache, blurred vision and gastrointestinal bleeding. Most worrying is the fact that it can increase the risk of a stroke.

While most of this might seem quite dramatic and serious, it is important to remember that Acai Berry side effects, and side effects associated with other high antioxidant fruits and vegetables, only become apparent when excessive quantities of the foods are consumed. The Acai Berry has no known side effects when consumed in recommended doses (such as when taking supplements), and so is perfectly safe to consume along with a healthy diet that incorporates a mixture of fruits and vegetables. Certainly, it would be much more detrimental to our health to avoid fruits and vegetables for a fear they may make us ill, than it would to consume them on a daily basis as part of a healthy lifestyle.