When you eat healthy food, moderation is key. It sounds counterintuitive, right? But, even if you are making healthy choices about your nutrition, it’s possible to overdo it and eat too much of a good thing. The results can be harmful to your health if you take in too large of a quantify even if it is considered a ‘healthy’ food. But, how do you know enough is enough and not too much?
Be mindful when eating the foods below:
1. Foods high in omega-3. Yes, you need your daily intake of omega-3 and fish oils. After all, omega-3 fatty acids fight inflammation in your body, help with brain development and reduce your risk of having heart disease. However, too much omega-3 can be harmful. Typical recommended dosages of omega-3 are 1-6 grams per day. But, if you take between 13-14 grams per day, it can cause your blood to thin, even if you are healthy. If you are prone to bleeding or taking medications for blood-thinning, this increases your risk. Another side effect is excessive amounts of vitamin A which can cause vitamin A toxicity. For children or if a woman is pregnant, this is an even greater concern.
2. Coffee. A cup of coffee can be good for your health (thanks to its antioxidants), but too much coffee can cause your nervous system functions to operate improperly. A daily dose of 400 mg of caffeine is considered safe. However, if you consume more than 500 – 600 mg of caffeine per day, this can be excessive and depending on the individual, can cause symptoms like insomnia, irritability, stomach cramps, muscle tremors, heart palpitations and nervousness.
3. Cruciferous vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage and collard greens have many health benefits and are shown to reduce your risk for cancer and heart disease. However, eating too much of them can cause some other health-related issues. There are compounds present in these vegetables called thiocyanates which can affect your body’s ability to absorb iodine. This can lead to a condition called hypothyroidism, which occurs when your thyroid gland becomes underactive. Some immediate symptoms include weight gain, constipation, dry skin, low energy levels and an enlarged thyroid gland. While these veggies are healthy, adding too high of an amount to smoothies or green juices can throw your body off-balance with thiocyanates. If you are prone to having thyroid issues, consume moderate versus large amounts of these type of vegetables.
7 Good Foods That Are Bad If You Eat Too Much was originally published on blackdoctor.org
