Today’s topic is about supplements, especially the ones that claim some miraculous transformations without you needing to change anything. “Just one pill a day!” You know those….
Before you fall for an ad on Pinterest, or pretty Instagram ‘influencer’ promoting an ‘easy and healthy fitness /weight loss supplement’ – I have two words for you – buyer beware!
And a few more words….
No matter how many ‘magical’ things you buy from them, you won’t look like them!
I question if ‘they’ look like that in real life… I highly doubt it. And by ‘them’ – I mean the so called influencers on social media.
First of all, some of the ads for slimming or toning your body products make me cringe and laugh.
Have you noticed that the ads show people who don’t need any supplements or gadgets?
Show me a real human being, with a real body, without photoshop, without optimal lighting, without any butt enhancing pillows stuffed down their pants…. And then maybe, maybe I’ll pay more attention!
But I understand the appeal of these gimmicks. I’d rather take a pill, or sip on a special tea, or place a magical fat melting pad on my tummy or butt and do nothing at all – than being mindful and active. Actually that’s a lie – I love my lifestyle and I wouldn’t change it for any shortcut or an easy way out.
Again, I get it though.
When you don’t feel confident and sexy and healthy in your body – it can be hard to resist the enchantment of pills, powders, miracle “fat melting” pads, or teas that promise to let you go faster, lift heavier, feel less fatigued, lose weight or melt the body fat away.
We want what we want and we want it now without any change in our lives…
The overwhelming lineup of fitness and weight loss supplements and tools – screams at you online, at your gym or pharmacy, health-food stores and social media feeds.
Most of these products haven’t been proven to work, some could be downright harmful, and NONE are necessary for exercise and weight loss!
Manufacturers are NOT required to demonstrate a.k.a. ‘prove’ that the supplements are safe or effective before selling them.
I’m not even going to talk about supplements and butt-enhancing-gadgets from China that promise transformations worthy of the work of a plastic surgeon – or photoshop.
Even more, there is absolutely NO guarantee that the products actually contain what is listed on labels. And the level of some ingredients, especially in multi-ingredient supplements, may be too low to be effective.
Because certain ingredients are ‘in’ and labeled as ‘wonder’ – it is always appealing to the end consumer.
By following these tips you will become a savvy supplement shopper:
- Forget (and ignore) claims such as ‘clinically proven’ or ‘clinically tested’, which are basically meaningless. Instead, check out the actual research for yourself by going to Google Scholar or PubMed.gov. Look for independent studies testing that type of supplement in people – not in animals or test tubes.
- When you see supplements that contain a ‘proprietary blend’ of ingredients – please beware! This very often includes a mishmash of things you don’t want, and insufficient amounts of what you do want (and need). I’m not a doctor, but please never take more than the recommended amount!
- Please check if the supplement has been tested by Consumerlab or Labdoor. These are independent organizations that analyze dietary supplements to see whether they contain what’s listed in the label as well as any impurities or potentially harmful ingredients.
- Don’t let claims that a supplement or any of its ingredients are ‘natural’ to cloud your judgment. Just because something is labeled as natural, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe or healthy! Death Cap mushroom or Red Toadstool are all natural, but you wouldn’t eat them, now would you?
- If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, you can safely assume it’s a chemical. Would you willingly put unknown chemicals into your body? I wouldn’t, that’s for sure!
PRO TIP – Majority of slimming supplements and detoxes contain ingredients that are suppressing appetite and cause diarrhea. So yes, you will lose some weight (not body fat!) in a short time, but as soon as you stop poisoning yourself – you will gain all the weight back. Not to mention the internal damage to your gut biome and hormones!
I believe in holistic approach. Of course, the right and appropriate supplements can help and support in achieving your goals, but they are not magical fixes to your problems. Don’t take supplements just for the sake of taking them. Talk to your holistic, or functional medicine practitioner.
If you don’t need the supplement, you are just making expensive waste in your body.
So, should you buy supplements or not? It’s up to you. But for the love of god (and yourself) – do your research! Don’t be a ‘trend follower’ be a ‘trendsetter’!
A trendsetter for educated and knowledgeable humans!
I know YOU CAN! Do you?
