Many brands claim to have life-changing formulas – but that
may not always be the case. In fact, recent studies suggest certain supplements
may cause more harm than good.
Beware of Misleading Claims and scams
Over the past couple of years, Dr. Oz has had a major issue
with dietary supplement brands using his likeness and alleged “stamp of
approval” to sell their products. In fact, he has an entire team dedicated to
cracking down on these frauds. However, that doesn’t stop many brands from
continuing to use his likeness to mislead customers.
But it’s not just a problem with fraudulent product
endorsements. Many of the brands behind leading supplements fail to disclose
important information or disguise health risks with confusing language. Others
flat out lie and make up research studies or press releases.
A recent study conducted by Dr. Tim Byers of the University
of Colorado Cancer Center found that many supplements actually make a person
more likely to develop certain types of cancer during their life, as opposed to
decreasing their risk. His study took place over two decades with 12 trials and
more than 300,000 people. “I think it’s time to step back and say there’s
probably a safety issue,” .
The Importance of Researching Supplements
Many supplements are healthy and effective, so it’s a shame
that some brands prey upon unsuspecting customers and compromise their health
or steal their money. However, that’s the world we live in. Until better industry
practices and safeguards are established, you need to research well before buying any supplement.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Ask your doctor. The best thing is to ask your doctor any time you’re unsure of whether a supplement is okay to take. If your doctor won’t support it, neither should you.
- Use Google. However, sometimes a doctor won’t be familiar with a certain supplement. It’s always a good idea to conduct your own research. Google is your best tool, as a simple keyword search will bring up relevant results regarding side effects, news stories, legal claims, and other information. Any time you see legal questions surrounding a supplement, it’s best to find another option.
- Learn the language. The third tip is to learn the language of supplement manufacturers. Familiarize yourself with various ingredients, which ones are natural, which are artificial, and which have to be disclosed on the bottle.
Make Smart Purchase Decisions
Your best safeguard against purchasing and using faulty or
dangerous supplements is yourself. At this point in time, you can’t take any
claims seriously without conducting research to verify the information you
find. Using these tips, you should be able to improve your decision making and
avoid misleading marketing claims.
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