Do health foods have side effects?

Do health foods have side effects?

Side effects refer to irrelevant effects that occur when taken at regular doses and in accordance with recommended methods. Generally mild discomfort, they are associated with local direct stimulation or the multiple effects of health foods. Unlike toxic effects — which are harmful to organs and tissues, often caused by excessive doses or poor individual tolerance — side effects are less severe.

Before being submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval, health foods must undergo toxicological safety evaluations and health function assessments conducted by designated laboratories. These evaluations confirm that the products are safe for human consumption and do not cause any acute or chronic hazards, so toxic effects should not occur. However, due to individual differences, some people may have varying tolerance to doses. For example, excessive intake may lead to toxic or side effects, indicating that "toxicity" and "non-toxicity" are relative concepts.

Notably, some health foods have multiple functions, especially those extracted from plants or animals. If their purity is insufficient, the "effects of impurities" cannot be ignored. For instance, fatty acids in deep-sea fish oil often contain EPA in addition to DHA. While this is not a problem for adults — and even beneficial for the elderly or individuals with high blood viscosity — excessive EPA is unfavorable for children, particularly those with impaired blood clotting mechanisms.

Some health foods mainly contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients essential to the human body and are generally safe. However, excessive doses may cause issues or even harm.

Health foods may also pose risks if improperly handled during raw material selection, processing, transportation, storage, or consumption (e.g., non-compliance with hygiene standards). Recently, for example, health inspectors detected high levels of heavy metals in certain health food products.

In summary, health foods approved in accordance with national health food regulations and inspection procedures should be safe and harmless to the human body. When taken as directed in the instructions (or on the label), they generally do not cause acute or chronic hazards. Therefore, when purchasing health foods, it is crucial to check for the Ministry of Health’s approved health food logo, carefully read the instructions, and take the products as recommended — these steps are effective in reducing the risk of side effects.