Don’t Fall For Fake: Know the Truth About Your Supplements
Pseudoscience dominates the supplement industry, but there are products that work
In some cases, supplements can be the boost your brain and body need to reach their maximum potential, but in others they can be a waste of money and a source of unnecessary ingredients being put into our bodies. The key to using supplements to your benefit is knowing what to trust and how to tell the difference between fact and fiction.
It’s important to know, supplements are not required to be approved by the FDA before they are on the market and being sold to customers. As such, certain supplements may not be ensured for safety and may be lying about the ingredients listed on the label. It’s always important to seek out supplements that have been clinically tested or third-party approved so you know you are getting a safe and effective product.
Another red flag to lookout for to combat being taken advantage of by pseudoscience are products that speak in absolutes. Anything that promises to be the cure-all, end-all for health and wellness is simply trying to sell a product. Any company that is truly devoted to health would know that wellness is a practice. While supplements can aid you in reaching your health and wellness goals, no one thing is going to solve everything. Supplements should be a helping hand in the journey to your best you.
Many products even make promises that are impossible to keep, claiming to provide a function that doesn’t even exist. For example, the claim some products make to “alkalize the body” isn’t something that can even be done. Consuming products with a certain pH, has no effect on the pH of your body. So before you believe what a product claims, do research. Sometimes, companies just want to make a sale – not make a difference.
When weeding through the supplement market, searching for something to help you achieve your goals, be sure to check the credentials of a product and ensure it has been tested. Take time to read and research ingredients. Any product with natural and researched ingredients is preferable. It’s sometimes believed that ingredients you can’t pronounce are not to be trusted, but that’s not necessarily true – dihydrogen monoxide is simply another term for water.
In a world where health and wellness are becoming central to our lives, supplements can indeed be the tool you need to make a change. The journey to your best self requires informed decisions and a critical eye for the products you use. By researching ingredients, looking for clinical testing or third-party approvals, and steering clear of exaggerated claims, you can find a product to help you on your path to betterment. Remember, wellness isn’t about quick fixes, it’s a lifelong practice and a daily ritual. The right supplement won’t just promise change—it will support the incredible progress you’re already making toward a healthier, happier you.
