The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee Supplements Exposed: What's Healthy and What's Harmful | Dr. Gemma Newman
Oct 28, 2025
Dr. Gemma Newman, known as the Plant Power Doctor, dives into the multifaceted world of supplements, exposing the myths and marketing ploys of the industry. She highlights that multivitamins often do more harm than good and emphasizes how a whole-food, plant-based diet can provide essential nutrients. Newman discusses the importance of personalized supplementation, especially vitamin B12 and vitamin D, and introduces her SMART framework for making safe supplement choices. She also warns against the risks of high doses of herbal supplements and how to spot fake supplement ads.
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Multivitamins Aren't A Universal Panacea
- Multivitamins do not extend lifespan and can sometimes cause harm.
- Personalized supplementation is better than blanket multivitamin use.
Turmeric Mega‑Dose Caused Liver Injury
- Gemma described an NBC News case of severe liver injury from high-dose turmeric supplements.
- The supplement recommended over 2,000 mg daily, far above amounts from cooking, and caused liver enzymes to spike.
Avoid Mega Doses And Fat-Soluble Overload
- Avoid megadoses of herbal supplements like turmeric; follow safe dosing and consult sources.
- Remember fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) can accumulate and cause toxicity.