Search the internet or turn on the TV and you’re likely to come across a celebrity-endorsed supplement touted to be “totally safe,” “all-natural,” or “without side effects.”
Because it’s a celebrity, we assume they’ve used the product, and we believe “it must really be safe.”
The truth is, the celebrity is only used to gain our trust and sell the product. Moreover, the product may contain ingredients that are anything but safe and may cause harmful side effects.
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Today’s dietary supplements are not only vitamins and minerals: herbs and botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and many other ingredients can be found in them.
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Dietary supplements are complex products that come in a variety of forms: traditional tablets, capsules, and powders, as well as drinks and energy bars.
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While many dietary supplements meet the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) standards for safe ingredients, some companies knowingly distribute and sell dangerous or otherwise illegal products that put consumers at risk.
Unlike drugs that must prove safety and effectiveness before marketing, dietary supplements do not require premarket review or approval by the FDA.
However, to help ensure the identity, purity, strength, and composition of dietary supplements, the FDA has established good manufacturing practices (GMPs).
These GMPs are designed to prevent the inclusion of the wrong ingredient, the addition of too much or too little of an ingredient, the possibility of contamination, and the improper packaging and labeling of a product.
The FDA is responsible for taking action against any unsafe dietary supplement product after it reaches the market. But this means that consumers may unknowingly consume dangerous ingredients before the FDA identifies them as unsafe.
To solve this problem, the FDA recently unveiled its new Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List, a rapid-response tool meant to quickly alert the public when the FDA identifies ingredients that do not appear to be lawfully marketed in dietary supplements.
Consumers may wish to avoid buying and using products marketed as dietary supplements containing ingredients on this list.
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How to be a smart supplement shopper
Think twice about chasing the latest headline. Sound health advice is generally based on research over time, not a single study touted by the media.
When searching for supplements on the internet, use noncommercial sites such as the National Institute of Health, Food and Drug Administration, or United States Department of Agriculture, rather than depending on information from sellers.
Learn to spot false claims. If claims sound too good to be true, they probably are. Be mindful of product claims such as “works better than medicine,” “totally safe,” or has “no side effects.”
Other red flags include claims about limited availability, offers of “no-risk, money-back guarantees,” and requirements for advance payment.
Be aware that the term “natural” doesn’t always mean “safe.”
Ask your healthcare provider if the supplement you’re considering would be safe and beneficial for you.
Always remember – safety first!
Constance Brown-Riggs, is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, national speaker and author of the Diabetes Guide to Enjoying Foods of the World, a convenient guide to help people with diabetes enjoy all the flavors of the world while still following a healthy meal plan. Follow Constance on social media @eatingsoulfully
