Irish Daily Mirror

The vitamins you CAN mix with your meds...

- BY NATASHA HOLT

NATURAL supplement­s and prescripti­on medicines can be a deadly combinatio­n and are generally best avoided. However, in some cases they complement one another perfectly to fight off illness and improve health. Just be sure to speak to your GP before taking any new supplement­s… Research has shown that omega-3 acids have anti-inflammato­ry properties and so can help ease the pain caused by certain types of arthritis.

Omega-3s can be taken safely alongside disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) – even the stronger ones like methotrexa­te.

You can increase the amount of omega-3 in your diet by eating two portions of oily fish each week, taking a supplement or combining the two.

However, it’s vital you don’t confuse fish body oils with fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil. That’s because fish liver oils also contain vitamin A and when taken in the high quantities recommende­d for arthritis, they can lead to an overdose of vitamin A. This is particular­ly dangerous for pregnant women as it can harm an unborn baby. thought that vitamin B can help boost dementia medication. sickness and bloating. Taking a vitamin C supplement won’t stop your contracept­ive pill from working. with moderate forms of fish oils for six months, and the results showed a significan­t reduction in these fats. Diuretics are often used to treat high blood pressure, certain heart conditions and some liver and kidney problems, but because they make you urinate more often, this can also result in a loss of magnesium.

Magnesium plays a vital role in supporting the nervous system, regulating blood pressure and strengthen­ing bones. A magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, sleep problems, anxiety and irritabili­ty. You may also experience restless leg syndrome or muscle spasms.

In serious cases, you can develop an irregular heartbeat, hypotensio­n and seizures.

If you have been prescribed either loop or thiazide diuretics, speak to your GP who may prescribe an additional magnesium supplement. Make sure you also include plenty of magnesium-rich foods in your diet – for example, dark, leafy vegetables and wholegrain­s.

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