We have learned that excess intake of fats is harmful to the body. What about other nutrients? Would it be harmful to the body to take too much protein or vitamins in the diet? Read about diet-related problems to find answers to these questions and have a class discussion on this topic.
Excess to anything is poisonous to the body.
The nutrients should be consumed in the required amounts based on age. The body usually stores extra protein as fat, while extra amino acids are passed out of the body. Over time, this can make you gain weight, especially if you eat too many calories while trying to eat more protein.
The body can't use extra protein well, and it may put a metabolic strain on the bones, kidneys, and liver. Also, high-protein, high-meat diets may be linked to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, cancer, or both because they contain a lot of saturated fat and cholesterol.
If you take too much of any one vitamin, you can have serious health problems. This is called hypervitaminosis, or vitamin toxicity. With some diets, it's also possible to get too many vitamins on a regular basis.
Vitamin A toxicity is more likely to happen if you eat too much liver, fish oil, or other animal foods, as well as supplements with a lot of preformed vitamin A. Vitamin A poisoning usually causes the skin to turn red, itch, and peel in patches.
An excessive proportion of a few vitamins and minerals can also cause side effects, such as excess Vitamin C and Zinc can lead to nausea, diarrhea, and stomachaches. Excess selenium can lead to fatigue, hair loss, gastric trouble, and even nerve damage.
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