Spotlight: Supplements – Buyer Beware!

Dave_TrainerWith the passing of the responsibility for supplement safety on to the manufacturers and consumers in 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated: “The majority of supplement manufacturers are responsible and careful.  But as with all products on the market, consumers need to be discriminating.  They (the FDA) and industry have important roles to play, but consumers must take responsibility too.” This means that we might not know if a product is dangerous or defective until someone or in many cases, several people come forward to report the dangerous effects.

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Consumer Reports, last year alone, multiple dangerous substances were found as additives in some supplements:

  • Weight loss supplements containing Ma-Huang contributed to over 800 reports of adverse reactions including strokes, heart palpitations, seizures, and heart attacks.  Sadly, fifteen deaths have also been attributed to Ma-Huang.
  • Energy boosters containing ephedra or bitter orange (synephrine) have an equal number of reports for adverse effects, with ephedra contributing to the death of a 37 year old New York City woman who died of a stroke after taking a sports supplement.
  • Weight loss and energy boosting “mimic” substances, substances that are very closely related to banned FDA additives because of their health risks, are being added to products because they can create consumer desired effects without regulation.

While many ingredients such as Ma-Huang, bitter orange, and ephedra have stolen the headlines for the dangers of dietary supplements, many other threats and defective products are still out there.  Even if a product is not found to be dangerous, it might not contain what it says on the label. This leads to the question, “Who’s Got Your Back?”

To learn about various Tested and True supplements, scroll below.

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Why the Hype?

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – What are They?

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Buyer Beware!

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Who’s Got Your Back?

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Defined

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Fish Oil

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Krill Oil

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Multivitamins

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Do Multivitamins Lower Cancer Risk?

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Vitamin D

Go to Spotlight Supplements – Can Taking a Vitamin D Supplement Prevent Colds?

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Calcium

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ-10)

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Glucosamine and Chondroitin

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Joint Juice

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Probiotics

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Probiotic: Culturelle

Go to Spotlight Supplements – Why Probiotics May Be Worth It

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Muscle Enhancers – Creatine

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Muscle Enhancers – Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Nutrition Bars

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Nutrition Drinks & Powders

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Weight Loss Accelerators and Appetite Controllers

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Do unroasted coffee beans really help you lose weight?

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Mood Booster SAM-e

Go to Spotlight: Supplements – Tested and True: Mood Booster St. Johns’ Wort

Get your FREE ‘on Inspired Living™’ e-newsletter today!

*reference: Consumer Reports Health

 

 

About Dave Barnas, M.S., CES, NASM-CPT

Dave is the true health guy. He is the founder and owner of True Health Unlimited, LLC, a personal health and fitness company in Tolland, CT & Wellness Writers, a subscription wellness newsletter service that incorporates live & virtual wellness workshops for companies across New England. Dave earned both a Bachelor's (1998) and Master's Degree (2000) in Nutritional Science from the University of Connecticut, and also holds certifications as a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer, National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, Aerobics and Fitness Association of America Group Instructor, and Nutrition Specialist. He's also the lead author for four published works. Dave has over 20 years of combined experience in nutrition counseling, dietary supplement advising, personal training, corrective exercise training, health coaching and public speaking. In addition, he's spent over 25 years studying spirituality, meditation, and personal growth strategies. Dave's clients are all ages: youth, college championship level athletes, folks in their retired years, and everywhere in between. He's worked with three of the nation's leading physicians as a dietary supplement advisor and been a guest lecturer at Harvard University, Yale University, UConn, St. Joseph College and various church groups, health clubs, and high schools. In 2013, he was invited to Whole Foods Market to share his Real Food Therapy Guide. And in 2015, Dave's funny "Snowga" (yoga in the snow) video caught the attention of The National Weather Channel, who aired it to shake off cabin fever and bring laughter. In 2016, Dave & Hollie (his wife) founded Wellness Writers and deliver evidence-based Wellness E-newsletters to spread a message of health and happiness to various businesses throughout the US. Dave currently serves as a personal trainer in Tolland as well as a wellness coach and writer for several businesses, gyms and wellness facilities throughout the US.

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