Why Supplements With Too Many Active Ingredients Can Be Bad for You
Real health doesn't come with a filter and what works in real life isn’t always trending
These days, it feels like every second health product is being endorsed by a celebrity or athlete. The marketing is slick, the promises are bold, and the message is clear: if you take this supplement, you’ll be as fit, lean, or radiant as the person on the label. But that’s not how health works.
Many of these brands position their supplements as a silver bullet, a one-capsule solution to everything from fatigue and weight gain to skin glow and longevity. The problem? Most of these “all-in-one” formulas contain a laundry list of active ingredients that can actually do more harm than good.
Let me share with you my thoughts.
1. Your body can’t absorb everything at once
I spent years studying nutrients at the molecular level. Nutrients and active compounds don’t exist in isolation inside your body. They interact. Some enhance each other, but many compete for absorption. For example, calcium blocks magnesium and iron absorption. Zinc competes with copper. When you take a mega-multivitamin that contains all of these together, you're likely wasting your money and your body ends up absorbing less of everything.
Real life example: Someone taking a multivitamin with high calcium and iron in the same dose might think they’re supporting their bones and energy, but in reality, they may not be absorbing either properly.
2. You don’t know what’s working or what’s not
If you're taking a cocktail of ingredients and feel better (or worse), you have no idea which compound is responsible. That makes it nearly impossible to personalise your supplement routine. Let’s say you're taking a capsule that contains turmeric, ashwagandha, green tea extract, ginseng, and CoQ10, if you suddenly get headaches or sleep disturbances, how do you know which ingredient is causing it?
Real life example: I had a client who felt jittery and anxious after starting a new “energy blend.” We discovered it had ginseng, caffeine, and green tea extract, all of which are stimulants. He had no idea.
3. Hidden interactions can harm your health
Some ingredients don’t play well together. Others interact with common medications. The more complex the formula, the higher the risk. St John’s Wort, for example, is known to interfere with antidepressants, birth control, and blood thinners; yet it's often thrown into “mood boosting” blends without a warning.
Real life example: A woman taking a popular hormonal balance supplement started experiencing spotting. The blend contained licorice root and vitex, which can affect estrogen levels and interfere with oral contraceptives.
4. It puts unnecessary strain on your system
Your liver and kidneys are your body’s detox organs. They process everything you ingest. When you overload them with a long list of compounds daily, you're forcing them to work overtime. This can lead to fatigue, sluggish digestion, or worse, chronic inflammation.
Real life example: Someone taking multiple high-dose herbal blends for immunity, gut health, and sleep (all in one day) may unknowingly be taxing their liver, especially if they also drink alcohol or take prescription medications.
5. More actives = more fillers, more risk
To pack so many actives into one capsule or powder, manufacturers often add fillers, binders, flavouring agents, or preservatives. These “extras” can lead to allergies, gut irritation, or long-term inflammation.
Real life example: I’ve seen clients with bloating or IBS symptoms that disappeared once they stopped taking a protein powder loaded with artificial sweeteners, gums, and “superfood” extracts all blended together.
My advice? Keep it simple.
I always recommend supplements that do one thing well or that they address the root cause of the issues, such as inflammation. They must be backed by real science, safe for long-term use, and gentle on the body. The goal is not to flood your system, but to support it with exactly what it needs and nothing more.
When in doubt, talk to your healthcare professional, read the label, and don’t get sucked into celebrity-backed hype. In health, simplicity and quality will always beat complexity and confusion.