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If you’re keen on keeping fit, you’ve probably read a bunch of health articles that tell you to cut certain foods out of your diet, and consume more of others that do you a lot of good.
But is it possible to have too much of a good thing?
As a general rule, most of us are deficient in certain nutrients, and we do need more of them. But an overzealous person could consume so much of something in a short period of time that it ultimately ends up doing more harm than good.
Here are three things that could cause you a lot of trouble if you have too much of it.
#1 Water
Living in Malaysia, we’re encouraged to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. But what about the opposite effect – overhydration?
It’s rare, but it is possible to drink too much water. In extreme cases, this could lead to an imbalance of minerals in your body, causing swelling and potentially death.
#2 Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins and minerals are necessary for us to maintain certain bodily functions. In general, overdosing on vitamins and minerals is relatively harmless, as the excess is usually excreted.
However, certain vitamins and minerals can cause severe problems if you consistently overdose on them. Excessive levels of vitamin D, for example, could lead to heart problems.
#3 Dietary fibre
There’s no doubt that fibre is a necessary part of our diets – it helps keep our bowel movements smooth. Since most of it doesn’t stay too long, it shouldn’t be too dangerous – right?
Well, therein lies the problem. If you eat too much fibre too quickly, it could lead to diarrhea when the body tries to get rid of it. Too much fibre could also clog up your intestines, leading to constipation.
As you ponder the points above, please bear in mind that all of these incidents are (thankfully) quite rare, as we don’t usually consume enough of these things to cause problems. That being said, always remember that moderation is the key – enough over a period of time is better than too much at once!