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I was scrolling through Twitter the other day when I came across a post about a Nigerian woman who had lost her kidneys due to a vitamin C overdose. She was not intentionally overdosing on it for a medical reason or anything.
So she was taking more than 2000mg per day, when the body's maximum intake is 300 mg per day. That is more than 8 times the maximum dosage over an extended period of time.
Again, this was not for a medical condition, but for a supposedly glowing skin and attractive appearance. However, even after her kidneys failed, she continued to take the high dose of vitamins, and the new kidneys began to have issues as well.
You would think that being in a life-threatening situation where she could have died would have made her tone down her desire to be extra beautiful. In her defense, she most likely had no idea she was killing herself with the overdose; after all, something that could make you glow should not have any side effects, right? But it does.
Nothing goes for nothing
There's always a trade with the devil
That vitamin causes kidney stones to form, which can harm the kidneys; however, she would have had to take it for a long time for them (the kidneys) to be completely destroyed.
Consequences awareness is bad for business
Many beauticians encourage people to experiment with medications in order to grow biceps, get bigger bums, flat bellies, or achieve beautiful skin.
However, most of these people are not properly educating their clients about the potential side effects of the medications they are injecting or taking orally.
In a functional country, they are probably obligated to do so, but if they tell their clients about the potential trade-off for their beauty tips, they will be out of business, right?
It is exactly how burger restaurants and other establishments will go to extremes to provide unhealthy food to the public without informing them of the dangers to their health.
In reality, the need for extra beauty or mortification makes no sense, but people are drawn to them because of psychology and sentimentality. It is why people go to places where they can get what they want rather than what they really need.
For example, a person may undergo nose or buttock surgery simply because society does not think they are attractive enough, or because they are body shamed.
I am not underestimating the impact of body shaming; all I am saying is that sacrificing a potential health trade-off in order to make changes that appeal to the general public or the opposite sex still does not seem reasonable.
It makes no sense for a perfectly healthy person to modify themselves with pills or surgery that may have serious health consequences. I live in a society in which women strive to be beautiful at all costs.
Sometimes I wonder if this quest for beauty is motivated by social media validation, appealing to the opposite sex, or impressing their peers.
For example, I have not seen a job that requires beauty to get hired, with the exception of insurance companies, television stations, and advertising agencies. So, while money is an important consideration, does it outweigh the risk of a potential health complication?
Beauty is good business
However, I began to think about it this way. Rich men want beautiful women; in fact, the wealthiest people seek the ideal woman.
Politicians in Nigeria are known for having the most beautiful women, and they go to great lengths to select these women from various backgrounds. So, maybe being beautiful is serious business?
I cannot really say
Perhaps it is more than that and is a psychological issue. Perhaps a psychological advantage that opens up difficult opportunities?
Maybe, yes.
People are visually drawn to what they see before what they hear, smell, or feel. I will not deny that being beautiful is advantageous. Genetics influences our appearance, and unfortunately, we cannot all look the same. I will confess that I have a lot of disadvantages for looking the way I am.
I have lost job opportunities for being slim, however it's not due to genetics, but the health conditions I have.
However, I will not seek a cure because I was rejected for a job; rather, I will do so because the condition poses a threat to my quality of life. Maybe it is because I have never been shamed for being ugly; perhaps this shame is greater than discrimination for being sick. Perhaps I do not know until I feel it.
Conclusion
Nevertheless I have been around people who refer to both men or women as "ugly." I have heard them body shame others for not having a pretty face, a big backside, or light or flawless skin. I believe it is normal for people to do this on a regular basis, and it can push people to their limits.
Perhaps I am used to being bullied or perceived differently, and we should not judge others for having thick skins against things like shaming.
However, I prefer to stick to something simpler: people make these changes for external appeal.
In reality, education is important because ignorance disregards consequences. We probably need to consider the implications of what we do for beauty. There is no trade-off worth losing organs or even one's life.
Interested in some more of my works
Is it Easy To Make Money?
Nigeria: A Unique Business Market & Industry
Virtual Bank Apps In Nigeria: An Experience Of Gamification
How To Find The Next "BIG" Meme Coin
Personal Finance: Achieving Intentional "Saving" Goals
Playing The Survival Game: Human Nature In Introspection
"Un-PAYING" The Debt You Owe
Interested in some more of my works
Is it Easy To Make Money?
Nigeria: A Unique Business Market & Industry
Virtual Bank Apps In Nigeria: An Experience Of Gamification
How To Find The Next "BIG" Meme Coin
Personal Finance: Achieving Intentional "Saving" Goals
Playing The Survival Game: Human Nature In Introspection
"Un-PAYING" The Debt You Owe
Vanity is still the root of most of our problems. In one way or another.
Most of them wouldn't even think it's vanity, but it just baffles me how someone would choose such things that endangers the health
Beauty will always be a big business, it was in the time of ancient Egypt until today. Only now there are more options than ever. Sad to hear about the lady destroying here kidneys, you can get massive kidney stones from vitamin c, they can only process so much at a time!
In the end it all comes down the old adage, sex sells...
It's saddening though. Having an actual healthy kidney and then destroying it by oneself. I want to think she was ignorant and hence didn't know the health complications of taking 2k mg of the pills per day.
Oh my goodness 🤭🤭🤭, my gender wouldn't seize to surprise me always with their actions all in the name of beauty
Not at all oo my brother
You know most people don't bother to consider the potential health risk involved before diving into a project...it's unfortunate but the earlier we prioritize our health over one nonsense beauty, the better
Btw, I should be careful with the way my kids lick this orange vit c always
If they take up to 300mg per day and drink 2 to 3 liters of water per day then they should be fine. A lot of people don't know that overdose vitamin C can destroy vital organs. However, using it for beauty and glowing skin is really wrong. I guess my post is an awareness for women on Hive who might also be doing that lol.
I am not surprised. I have heard so many stories of females pursuing beauty, and I guess they won't change. It makes me wonder why they are so obsessed with it.
Someone commented and said beauty is big business, so many that's the reason for the endless chase for beauty, who truly knows.
!hiqvote
!discovery 30
Thanks a million
How long did she take high-dose vitamin C before her kidneys failed?
The post didn't say how long. But 2000mg a day for quite a while.
2000mg is high, but 1000mg a day for a month or two during winter can prevent colds or make them shorter (boosts immunity). Must hydrate very well though, to prevent kidney stones. Or even better - liquid vitamin C.
Regardless, I'll be going to the doctor to run tests if I take 1000mg for a month. That's over x3 of the proper dose. So, I think it's better to be safe than sorry.
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