04 November 2023 , 10:02
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You might be overdosing on some very common food, drink or medicine without even knowing it.
Many of these items are considered good for you, as long as you consume them in a quantity that's considered safe. But we may be overdoing it without thinking, and some health experts fear we might be slipping into overdose territory.
While we usually might not think twice when it comes to getting as many 'healthy' foods and supplements into our bodies each day, there are some hidden concerns - and too much of a good thing can be bad for your health. Here are seven common items you may want to be mindful about.
Coffee
Coffee is a must-have for many people every day (Getty Images/iStockphoto)An unskippable morning ritual for most people, it's good to be mindful of your coffee consumption as you may be overdoing it.
A cup of coffee contains an average of 80-120g of caffeine, with adults advised not to exceed more than about 500mg a day. That means if you enjoy three coffees a day - plus tea, energy drinks or Coke - you could be exceeding the recommended limit.
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Too much caffeine can cause insomnia, stomach cramps, heart palpitations and muscle tremors - and even death in very extreme cases. American bakery chain Panera Bread recently had to issue a warning about how much caffeine is in its 'Charged Lemonade' after a 21-year-old student with a heart condition died after drinking a lethal dose.
Vitamin C
While vitamin C is crucial for the immune system, maintaining good skin and bone health and warding off scurvy, there can be too much of a good thing.
Adults need 40mg of the vitamin a day, according to the NHS, and because it naturally occurs in many fruits and vegetables you should be able to get all you need through diet alone. However many people are taking too much of it in the form of supplements and this can cause a range of nasty symptoms like nausea, cramps and diarrhoea.
Sugar
This is a big one. Most Brits are eating far too much sugar a day when we should aim to consume no more than 30g - that includes both naturally occuring sugars as well as "free sugars" that have been added to food or drink.
A single can of cola may contain more than your entire day's allowance. Excess sugar consumption has been linked to a range of health problems from cardiovascular disease to diabetes to high blood pressure. It's also linked to weight gain and obesity, which cause their own health complications.
Diet Coke
Diet Coke is not without its drawbacks (Getty Images)While many of us opt for the sugar-free version of the famous drink in an attempt to be healthier, Diet Coke has its own drawbacks if you consume too much.
Earlier this year the World Health Organisation classified the artificial sweetener aspartame - a key ingredient in Diet Coke and many other low-calorie beverages - as a possible carcinogen. The group said aspartame is safe to consume within a daily limit of 40mg per kilogram of body weight. That means an adult weighing 60kg would have to drink more than eight cans a day to exceed the limit - which some cola addicts have admitted to doing.
Tuna
Tinned tuna is a cheap source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids - but eating too much has a downside.
The fish can contain high levels of methylmercury - an environmental pollutant and toxin that can cause serious health problems. These include developmental delays in children, vision problems, lack of coordination and impaired hearing and speech.
The upper safety limit of methylmercury for humans is 0.1 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, so a child weighing 25kg could only safely eat one 75 g serving of canned, white tuna every 19 days. Any more than this would exceed the recommended upper limit
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Pregnant women and children are advised to limit their intake of seafood containing mercury to no more than two times per week.
Paracetamol
Too much Paracetamol could pose a problem (Getty Images/iStockphoto)When you're feeling under the weather, it's surprisingly easy to overdose on paracetamol as the pain relief drug is present in many different medications.
“Overdosing on paracetamol can occur when individuals take multiple medications that contain it simultaneously, often without realising they are exceeding the recommended dose,” Dr Johannes Uys from Broadgate General Practice told The Sun. “Some cold and flu remedies, for instance, may contain paracetamol along with other ingredients which can soon take you over the limit.”
Paracetamol overdose can cause serious liver damage and, in severe cases, can lead to liver failure which would need urgent medical attention.
Peanut butter
The Brits love peanut butter and while it itself isn't inherently dangerous, too much can cause issues.
Dr Uys said: “Overconsumption can lead to excessive calorie intake and potential weight gain if not managed as part of a balanced diet, In large quantities, aflatoxin toxicity can result in nausea, abdominal pain, convulsions, vomiting, and other signs of acute liver injury." He went on to explain that it can more vulnerable to contamination from a mould called Aspergillus flavus which can produce a toxin called aflatoxin.