Dietary Supplements: Safe or Stay Away?
By Stephanie Woodruff UREC Employee & Nutrition
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"Gain, Gain, Gain" "Get MONSTER Muscles NOW!" "Lose weight and still eat EVERYTHING you want" You've seen the claims, and though it is tempting you still question the validity of these promises, but how do you really know what to believe? It sure would be nice to just pop a pill, or mix up a shake and see near instant results. What works and what is bogus? What is safe and what is harmful? What exactly is a supplement?
According to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), a dietary supplement is considered to be any product that "contains substances like vitamins, minerals, foods, botanicals, and/or amino acids and is intended to supplement the usual intake of these nutrients". Supplements are taken orally and are often found in the form of pills, tablets, capsules, powders or liquids.
In a society driven by the outward appearance, many people struggle with poor body image and spend hours at the gym trying to sculpt and whittle their body into what is probably an unrealistic body shape. The culture of Americans is driven by a need for instant gratification. We want to see results and we want to see them now! The supplement market is booming. Anything that is not regulated by the FDA is classified as a supplement. That means that companies can put products on the market without checking for the safety or the validity of the products' claims. Often times, consumers don't see regulations until serious negative side effects begin occurring in the general population. Some of the side effects seen from supplemental products include: liver failure common in weight loss supplements such as Kava and heart failure and palpitations associated with ephedra and ephedra-like products (including caffeine).
With so many products out there, it is virtually impossible to go through them all and inform you, the consumer, which products are safe and which you should shy away from. It is possible, however, to give you a few tips in deciphering between safe and potentially unsafe products. Keep in mind, that if you are eating a well-balanced diet the need for supplementation (be it for weight loss, muscle gain, or just vitamins and minerals)- isn't necessary and could put your body at risk. Check with your doctor and local registered dietician to see if a vitamin and mineral supplement could benefit you.
With so many web sites, TV ads, magazine ads promoting supplements, it is crucial to be an aware consumer and do your research. Check the back of the label, look at the ingredients and then come home and log onto one of the sites at the end of the article and make sure there are no ingredients that are red flagged by the FDA. Does this mean that it is safe? ABSOLUTELY NOT! These products are not regulated. Supplements have an open market and can claim what they want. Even if they aren't going to put your body at risk, they may just drain your wallet without giving you the results you were hoping for. Some key-words and phrases you should be aware of that generally mean "bogus" are terms like "Never before seen!", contradictory phrases such as "Undiscovered ancient medicine to help you…" testimonials, a "university study" or a "doctor's endorsement" are all signs that a product doesn't have any real scientific evidence that meet the claims being made and could drains your pocket book and harm your body.
For more information check out these reliable sources:
Remember check with your doctor and dietician about any supplements before you start a routine, and the best way to see results is to work hard and to eat a healthy well balanced diet!