Truth about health supplements

TrialKing

So the FDA regulates supplements as food not drugs..drugs must be approved before sold but a supplement won't get rigorous regulation until someone goes to the hospital too many times or becomes lethal.

Unfortunately this is how some companies get away with putting labels on supplements without being truly accurate.

Stay vigilant my friends. Stay healthy and always research

MikeSugs

k

jps76

Supplements in the US have a label to say that the product isn't intended to cure, treat, or diagnosis anything. People should take that at face valuable... It's not intended to do anything.

consciousseeker

@FutureHeart2023 - Are there any specific supplements in your personal experience that are bad?

Cozette_Comfy

Yeah, some supplements have helped me a lot, but I always feel like I'm using myself as a guinea piggy 🥴

TheFunCartel

My cardiologist has me on some supplements—namely beet root and amino acids. The beet root scrubs your arteries and amino acids help with circulation. I passed my last stress test with flying colors and do not have to be tested for at least two years. Now I have prescription pills and go to the gym religiously, but my heart is doing well.

disneysamurai

I’d check with your doctor before taking anything.

BR123

If you’re not well versed in the realm of supplement companies, in regard to who’s reputable, and who’s not, it’s best to go with the companies that are third party tested.

Or, you could buy them and get them tested yourself. This might cost a little change, but if you intend on going the holistic route, then it’s well worth the investment.

As someone who was part of the health and fitness industry for years, my basic advice is to stay away from Walmart supplements. Because, if you shop at Walmart, you’ll end up looking like Walmart. Plus, many of their alleged natural and herbal supplements are extensions of big pharmaceutical companies, like Bayer. So, any testing will be from the inside, and totally biased.

My advanced advice is to source whatever herbs, and other natural ingredients you may need from a reputable dealer, and mix the concoctions yourself. But, at the end of the day, self care is trial and error. But, I think it’s physically and mentally fulfilling to do it yourself, rather than letting mad scientists in white coats experiment on you with synthetic stuff that barely anyone can pronounce.

SqueezeBuddy

Get a multivitamin but most supplements are placebo

TheFunCartel

but most supplements are placebo

Based on??? Also the FDA is involved in the industry. All new ingredients and new formulations must be submitted to the FDA to determine if a warning label is in order or if the product should be banned. In addition there are some supplements that genuinely have demonstrated positive results based on longitudinal studies by respected institutions such as Harvard and Johns Hopkins. That does not make it safe for you as you should consult your physician, but it is equally foolhardy to dismiss it as a placebo.

And as @BR123 stated, choose supplements that have 3rd party testing. And don’t buy supplements from infomercials on tv. They are generally overpriced versions of supplements that have been in your health food stores for years.

BR123

@TheFunCartel Yea, I scratched my head when I read the placebo comment too. I didn’t respond because I kinda got triggered.

BR123

The biggest discrepancy people face with supplementation isn’t the supplements being fake, or placebo, but the supplements being under-dosed…

SqueezeBuddy

I’d like to clarify my previous comment. I certainly don’t believe all supplements are placebos, in fact, I take several myself. My point was specifically directed at products marketed for complex issues like weight loss, ED, anti-aging, testosterone boosting, tinnitus to mention a few. In many of these cases, the marketing claims simply don't align with clinical evidence, making them effectively placebos for the conditions they promise to treat. Unfortunately, the market is flooded with these products, and it is increasingly difficult for consumers to distinguish genuine reviews from the paid or AI-generated testimonials used to drive sales.

TheFunCartel

@SqueezeBuddy That does clarify things. Thanks.

TrialKing

@consciousseeker for best supplements are usually online instead of stores because they cut out the middle man and can deliver higher quality. I try to look for organic or pure. The word natural is misleading because the FDA allows companies to put natural on the bottle as long as it's 40 to 60 percent natural not 100 percent

Unlike to take tumeric supplements but they must include black pepper extract otherwise the bioavailability and absorption rate is substantially lower

TheFunCartel

best supplements are usually online instead of stores because they cut out the middle man and can deliver higher quality.

Not true at all. Where did you get that information? That is based on nothing at all. Solaray and Country Life brands have been in health food stores since the early 1970s and use 3rd party testing more heavily than most brands.

The word natural is misleading because the FDA allows companies to put natural on the bottle as long as it's 40 to 60 percent natural not 100 percent

Also you are right, you should ignore the word natural, but the numbers you threw out are meaningless because the FDA does not oversee how much of the ingredients are “natural”. And there are certifications for organic you should look for to ensure if it is organic or not. The FDA is only concerned with the safety of products, monitoring adverse events, and policing false medical claims

I was in the industry for years before I opened and owned a couple of stores from the 90s to the early 2000s before selling them. I have heard so much BS by people that hear stuff on tv and the internet that we could fertilize the planet twice over.

TrialKing

@FunCartel_ I have a local store I go to name Anthony's they are absolutely high quality and family owned. I didn't mean every single online store is better just I have experienced good quality online in comparison to brick and mortar like gnc and vitamin shoppe

Chamberlains also good quality and few others not saying all online are good and all brick and mortar are bad.

TrialKing

@FunCartel_ with your expertise I love to learn more about bioavailability and absorption. Seems like a new car soon as you swallow it, the absorption rate drops because does it have to go through the liver and from there what gets into the blood is the bioavailability? That's part I'm new and willing to learn

TheFunCartel

@FutureHeart2023 I appreciate your curiosity, but there is massive amounts of information available from unbiased sources with little to no skin in the game. But let’s just take calcium for example. The best calcium to take is calcium citrate which calcium bound to citric acid. The absorption is the best and it does not matter if you are full or not—it will not change the absorption rate or upset your stomach. And if it is also taken or sub combined with vitamin D, the absorption level increases dramatically.

If you see food that contain calcium, that is calcium carbonate, which is cheap and sold as a value calcium, but you need to eat with food in order to receive much benefit. This type of calcium is common as an additive in foods and is the active ingredient in antacids.

Then there is the Cadillac of calciums—calcium chelate which is calcium bound to amino acids. This is the best option for people with digestive issues and diseases, or people whose body produces less enzymes and acids in the gut. However, this form of calcium is more expensive than all others.

What I suggest is building a library of reference books and research each item you are interested in. The one thing that is true is you do have to look out for yourself, your body, and do not take any business’ word for anything. If they are making money off it then they have an agenda. If you had a job in the natural foods and supplements industry you could go to the Newtopia or the Expo West national shows. You learn so much your head will spin.

HappyHikes

Haven't many pyramid schemes in the US been linked to "nutritional" supplement sales?

TheFunCartel

@happyhikes Yes, and you should avoid those as well. Amway has sold watered down versions for years.

cuudledragon

A naturopathic doctor would be best for this conversation

TheFunCartel

A naturopathic doctor would be best for this conversation

A naturopathic that isn’t selling supplements like many of them do for commissions and profit. But if you have underlying serious medical issues you should check with your medical specialists who are trained on drug interactions and supplements now days. My cardiologist guided me on supplements that could enhance my situation as well as utilizing western traditional medicine.

If you are otherwise healthy, NDs are a great way to go.

MeltMyWay

@BR123 thanks for the suggestion of having them 3rd party tested myself. That thought would of never crossed my mind.
I've been studying her ology since 2019 and used to make all my tinctures myself, but it's not practical where I'm staying to do so now. First time in years I been buying supplements.

@cuddledragon7 I had a 14 month apprenticeship under a naturopath and his wife who's an herbalist. They strongly believed in getting 2nd opinions. I've met several naturopaths that buy cheap bulk herbal supplements with tons of fillers and just relabel them.

I work with on OD along side my ND. OD is usually a West meets East experience when it comes to medicine.

I'm at my oncologist office now waiting for my appt.. I'm searching for a new one because this one doesn't want me taking any supplements smh

TheFunCartel

@MeltMyWay Start juicing!

LuvRubs

The FDA does not evaluate or regulate supplements. The best you can do is find a USP grade and evaluated product. United States Pharmacopiea. https://www.usp.org/

Nature Made is the only USP labeled Vitamin/Supplement company i am aware of.

been in Pharma and Ingredients etc for over 30 years.

https://www.naturemade.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorIrwgeAmRjokkzjhFbEVwN8UGP5mf96jJYueqDW-uND6mN4eEK

TheFunCartel

The FDA does not evaluate or regulate supplements.

@LuvRubs As a blanket statement, that is untrue. They do not oversee everything, but they are involved.

From the FDA website:

FDA is responsible for enforcing the laws and regulations governing dietary supplements. To identify violations, the agency conducts inspections, monitors the marketplace, examines dietary supplements and dietary ingredients offered for import, and reviews NDI notifications and other regulatory submissions for dietary supplements (e.g., postmarket notifications of a structure/function claim or other claim made under section 403(r)(6) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 343(r)(6)). We also investigate adverse event reports and complaints from consumers, health care professionals, other regulatory agencies, and industry.

Nature Made is the only USP labeled Vitamin/Supplement company i am aware of.

There is Natrol and several others that are USP. USP is one of a handful of testing companies that approve FDA GMP.

lovingspoonfull

For what it’s worth nutritionfacts.org is a website run by a medical doctor that advocates for lifestyle medicine, rather than pharmaceutical treatments. He makes a pretty concerted effort to only advocate based on clinical research. In many cases he does advocate for supplements that do have positive health impacts.

TheFunCartel

@lovingspoonfull I am very familiar with that site. But even there they say to still consult with your physician or specialist if you have extenuating conditions. But it is a great resource.

great_pillow08

Make sure they’re NON synthetic vitamins or else your body won’t absorb A-N-Y of the nutrients!

7:08pm edit: 🤣🤣Oh good geez- This thread’s gone W-A-Y past synthetic vs. non synthetic!!

great_pillow08

@MeltMyWay - Creatine is supposed to be REALLY good for people like us (actually FOR EVERYONE!!)