What will happen if I take in too many nutrients?

Ingesting too much of a good thing can be unproductive and possibly destructive. If you over consume vitamin C, your system's protective mechanism expels the excess through urine, and ingesting too many vitamin supplements can have many potentially toxic effects. For instance, an overload of carotene (the type of vitamin A found in carrots) literally causes skin to turn orange and can lead to liver problems. Consider herbal and vitamin supplements to be drugs, and treat them with the same kind of cautious respect. It's wise to check with your doctor before embarking on any kind of supplementation program, and it's a good idea to check the USDA Recommended Dietary Allowance to see how much is too much. Keep in mind that the body absorbs and utilizes vitamins in food more effectively and efficiently than it digests supplements. Coming back to the body's amazing protective mechanism, it takes in only about 15 percent of the nutrient in a supplement if you don't have a deficiency, and the rest is excreted in urine.