The majority of Americans take some type of dietary supplement to improve their health. Do you take supplements?
You see, as a nation we spend an absurd amount of money on supplements, to the tune of billions per year.
Unfortunately, a lot of what is sold to the public is under the umbrella of deceptive advertising. We are talking about fake pictures and ridiculous testimonials. Even worse, some supplements are extremely unhealthy.
So here are common misconceptions you need to know about dietary supplements:
1. They don\’t have side effects: Look, just because the supplement companies market their products as natural does NOT mean there are 100% safe. In fact, there are many \”natural\” substances that are lethal. Also, remember that a lot of supplements are super concentrated concoctions of different ingredients. Thus, at this level, the naturalness tends to fade.
2. Dietary supplements are backed by peer reviewed research: Very few supplements actually undergo the rigors of peer reviewed research. In fact, the majority of research you see in the advertisements are fly-by-night studies performed by the companies themselves.
3. Supplement manufacturers are acting in our best interest: The bottom line is that millions and millions of dollars are spent on advertising to get you to buy. And the reality is that when so much money is involved, things can get a little out of control. Ephedra is a perfect example here. So please do not be swayed by the sexy advertising.
4. The placebo effect doesn\’t exist: The placebo effect is real, very real. So just because someone you know swears by a supplement, doesn\’t mean that it\’s safe. Simply taking a sugar pill can make 40% of a group feel an improvement. Now 40% is a huge number. This makes sense, however, since our minds have such great control over our bodies.
I recommend staying on the safe side here. And the best way to do this is to only take supplements that have undergone peer reviewed research. You see, peer reviewed research is the closest we can get to the truth. And with the truth you will be better informed as to what decisions are right for your health.
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