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Tag: supplements

  • How To Find Trustworthy Supplements on Amazon

    How To Find Trustworthy Supplements on Amazon

    One of the largest businesses in the world, Amazon, makes up 77% of all supplement sales online. This percent is larger than the five biggest vitamin sellers combined. However, since many are controlled by third-parties, online supplement legitimacy has grown controversial.

    The history of the mismarketed supplement on Amazon is long-lived. Hundreds of articles began emerging about fake products as early as 2013. In June 2020, NPR discovered over 100 dietary supplements illegally marketed as antiviral medications.

    Mismarketed supplements come in a variety of forms, including those that:

    • Wrongfully record doses of active ingredients.
    • Include unlisted ingredients or ingredients by the wrong name.
    • Lack of at least one major active ingredient.

    The most commonly mislabeled supplements on Amazon range from bodybuilding supplements and CBD products to herbal and dietary vitamins. The goal of supplements is usually to augment or increase heath relative to personal goals, but poorly manufactured supplements often produce adverse, even dangerous effects.

    Nearly 5,500 health incidents were reported to the US Poison Control Center over the past year. Vitamins have been known to negatively affect vital organs such as the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Worse, overdoses and other forms of supplement poisoning have increased by 35% in less than 25 years. The issues associated with vitamin and supplement use are only increasing, and the industry is not slowing down.

    The supplement and vitamin market is one of the most thriving industries worldwide. It is projected that the global market for dietary supplements will surpass $27 billion dollars by 2027. It is safe to assume that the market for supplements — whether they are high quality or not — will only continue to grow over time.

    From a business point of view, controlling the 58% of third party vitamin sellers on Amazon’s platform is tricky. Many dishonest businesses are familiar with loopholes in the legal and digital business systems, leading to exploits that include:

    • Reselling supplements that were not approved through quality control.
    • Falsely claiming to be located inside of the US to avoid consequences.
    • Paid for reviews that claim a poor quality supplement is safe for human use.

    Tricky business practices make it extraordinarily difficult to purchase safe supplement products through Amazon. This revelation pushed the company to take action, although not as quickly as most had hoped.

    Amazon’s Project Zero launched in 2019 in order to combat false advertising and poor business practices listing supplements online. The program utilizes a program that crawls Amazon search listings to identify suspicious, fake, or dangerous products. Unfortunately, the program requires opting-in by small businesses, reducing reach and identification capabilities.

    A year later in 2020, Amazon debuted a pilot program to vet new businesses on a live basis. It is hoped that the program will identify poor quality supplements before they hit the market, but the full extent of the program has not yet been tested.

    Until better circumstances surround the Amazon supplement industry, it will be important to choose only verified, safe sellers. Look for supplements that follow USDA regulations, possess signs of high quality, and are free from red flags. Until then, this infographic may give further insights.

  • Fish Oil Supplements: Three Reasons To Try Them

    Fish Oil Supplements: Three Reasons To Try Them

    Many people rely on vitamins and supplements to get the nutrients they need to feel and stay healthy.

    One of the more popular supplements on the market is fish oil.

    Fish oil supplements have numerous benefits that range from making your heart stronger to making your hair shinier.

    Some people do not like taking fish oil because of the unpleasant scent of the capsules or the bad taste they leave behind.

    There are numerous reasons you should consider taking fish oil supplements, here are the top three.

    Prevents Brain Shrinkage, Promotes Memory
    Fish oil supplements have recently been found to help prevent brain shrinkage and promote cognitive memory in adults. A study recently found that the supplements could be the best weapon available to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Results showed that adults taking fish oil, who had not yet developed Alzheimer’s, experienced significantly less cognitive decline and brain shrinkage than adults not taking fish oil. More studies are underway, but the results of current studies look promising.

    Fights Depression
    You might not think that fish oil would have an impact on your feelings, but taking the supplements could help you fight off depression. According to Dr. Andrew Stoll, cell membranes are partially comprised of omega-3s, increasing the levels of omega-3 in the blood allows serotonin, an antidepressant chemical produced by the body, to more easily transport between cells, thus explaining the benefits, higher levels of omega-3s and connection to lower rates of depression.

    Reduces Inflammation And Relieves Joint Pain
    Anyone suffering from arthritis or joint pain knows how hard it can be to find relief. Fish oil supplements have been proven to prevent inflammation in the body and help relieve joint pain. The Albany Medical College conducted a research study that confirms fish oil may be used in place of pharmaceuticals for pain relief from Rheumatoid arthritis.

    You can get fish oil naturally by consuming fish, but if you don’t like eating fish or need to consume more fish oil than the fish provides, fish oil supplements are your best option.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Fish Oil Supplements Protect Against Alzheimer’s

    A new study suggests that fish oil might be one of the most effective preventative measures against developing Alzheimer’s disease, for those who aren’t genetically inclined to develop the common form of dementia.

    There is presently no cure for Alzheimer’s; it is a progressive disease and eventually leads to death. It is most often diagnosed in those over 65 years of age, and is projected to affect 1 in 85 globally by 2050. It is presently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

    Researchers from Rhode Island Hospital studied three groups of adults ages 55-90, utilizing neuropsychological tests and brain magnetic resonance imaging biannually. The participants in the study, all part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), comprised 229 adults with no signs of the disease; 397 who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment; and 193 with Alzheimer’s. The ADNI study ran from 2003 until 2010.

    Results showed that adults who had not displayed any symptoms of the onset of Alzheimer’s saw a significantly less decline in cognitive function and brain shrinkage than those who weren’t taking the substance. Cognitive decline was measured using the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) and the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE).

    Though, researchers pointed that those who are genetically predisposed to developing Alzheimer’s, carriers of the APOE (apolipoprotein E) gene, might not be able to metabolize DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), the fatty acid in fish oil thought to promote cognitive benefits. Yet, taking fish oil is suggested regardless, as it might prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s from being triggered late in life.

    The most widely available dietary source of DHA comes from cold-water, oily fish, such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines.

    Doctor Andrew Weil explains some fish oil facts:

    The Hodge Twins reveal that a man who doesn’t take fish oil is pretty much a female, but likewise advise not to take fish oil:

    Aside from cognitive benefits, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to help in preventing heart disease. Other studies have revealed that fish oil might be beneficial to those who suffer from clinical depression, anxiety, cancer, psoriasis and macular degeneration, although benefits have yet to be proven.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Glucosamine Could Help You Live Longer

    Glucosamine Could Help You Live Longer

    If you knew a supplement could possibly make you live longer, would you start taking it? Who wouldn’t? A recent study shows that taking Glucosamine, a popular arthritis supplement, could help lengthen lifespans.

    The study is still in the early stages and has so far only been tested on laboratory mice and worms. When the supplement was given to aging mice, scientists found that it lengthened their lifespan by 10%. When it was given to the worms, they responded in a similar way.

    Swiss researchers believe that their epidemiology studies also show that the supplement could do the same for humans. They conducted epidemiological studies that involved more than 77,000 participants. The studies related to medications and products that could reduce death rates and Glucosamine proved to have an effect.

    Professor Michael Ristow, from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, who led the new research, said,

    “Unlike with our longer living mice, such an association is no definite proof of the effectiveness of glucosamine in humans, but the chances are good.”

    “Since unlike with most other potentially lifespan-extending drugs there are no known relevant side effects of glucosamine supplementation, I would tend to recommend this supplement.”

    The supplement can also mimic a metabolic state of a low-carb diet in the body, allowing those who take it to lose weight without eating less. Ristow even admitted to taking the supplement himself after finding out about its many benefits.

    Because humans are so different from worms and rodents, more studies are needed to determine exactly how much the supplement can help lengthen lifespans and any other benefits it could have for humans.

    The supplement is safe to use but can react with certain types of medications. You should always talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements or medications.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Hair Growth Supplements: Going Natural

    Hair Growth Supplements: Going Natural

    If you are bald or have thinning hair, you may be looking for ways to improve your hair growth. While transplants are a last resort for most people, hair growth supplements are one of the first places people start when trying to regrow hair. There are numerous hair growth supplements on the market but if you are worried about your health, you want to be careful what you put in your body. Some of the best hair growth supplements are also the natural ones.

    Vitamin B
    Vitamin B and combination supplements that contain it are popular natural vitamin choices for hair growth. Vitamin B contains pantothenic acid and niacin which help hair grow and strengthens the hair that you already have. Vitamin B can also give you a burst of energy and who doesn’t need that?

    Biotin
    Biotin is a natural supplement that helps make hair follicles stronger and thicker. It also helps prevent hair from falling out. Biotin can be found in a variety of supplements such as hair, skin and nails vitamins. It is also a main ingredient in many hair products.

    Vitamin C
    You probably already know that Vitamin C is good for your immune system and can help keep you healthy, but did you know it is also good for your scalp and hair? Vitamin C will protect your scalp from becoming dry, itchy and flaky. A dry and itchy scalp can lead to damaged hair follicles and hair loss.

    These three vitamin supplements are the most popular when it comes to hair growth, but they are not the only ones that can help. A healthy diet can also help improve the health of your hair and stimulate growth. Take care of yourself and stay healthy and you will see that your hair will get healthier, thicker and longer too.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Omega-3 Supplements Vs. Foods That Have Them

    Having trouble getting the kids to sleep?

    Surely your first answer isn’t to reach for a bottle of pills when you aren’t sure what’s in them. But, as a new study came out showing evidence of a link between omega-3 fatty acids and sleep in healthy children, it’s worth observing.

    So, omega-3 fatty acids are dubbed “essential fatty acids”. That’s great. What does that mean?

    Basically this: we all need them to function properly (both adults and kids), we have to get them from our diet, and there’s a few different kinds. According to WebMD, DHA and EPA are the types we can get from fish and fish oil, DHA on its own can be found in algae, and ALA (a precursor to those other two) can be acquired from flaxseed and various plants.

    Supplements sometimes seem like a great and quick way to get what we need. But as with anything we put in our bodies (or our kids’), it’s good to do a bit of research.

    Thus, Dr. Oz invited Dr. Cooperman of ConsumerLab.com onto his show to see what the results of omega-3 supplement studies yielded. Dr. Cooperman was surprised to learn that many of the claims supplements make are false – that 30% of them failed their test.

    “They failed for either containing too little of the omega-3’s – much less than they listed – or for being spoiled even though when we purchased them they were well packaged and we tested them before they even had their expiration date,” he stated.

    Rancid fish oil? Gross…

    “Things you need to look out for are ‘pharmaceutical grade’,” he said, “There is no such thing as ‘pharmaceutical grade’ – it’s not a defined term.” Why? Because, as he adds, “The FDA doesn’t approve labs for testing fish oil.” Dr. Cooperman went on to say that two products that passed the test were Life Extension’s Super Omega and AdvoCare Omegaplex.

    But wait… let’s back up a second. Why doesn’t FDA approve labs for testing fish oil?

    While fish oil products raked in $1.2 billion in sales in the United States last year, you might be surprised to learn that they (like many supplements) are largely unregulated. Companies aren’t required to register products with the Food and Drug Administration or provide any proof that their liquids or capsules even have the ingredients in them that are advertised on the labels.

    So, they can just lie if they want?

    Bummer. I’ve been gobbling down that gunk for years. Maybe I’ll just add in some actual edible foods that have these “essential fatty acids” in them instead. Some foods high omega-3 include: Flax Seeds, Walnuts, Sardines, Salmon, Soybeans, Tofu, Shrimp, Brussel Sprouts, Kale, Spinach, Cauliflower, and Winter Squash.

    Dr. Frank Sacks of Harvard, explains, “For good health, you should aim to get at least one rich source of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet every day. This could be through a serving of fatty fish (such as salmon), a tablespoon of canola or soybean oil in salad dressing or in cooking, or a handful of walnuts or ground flaxseed mixed into your morning oatmeal.”

    Alright. That’s a lot of info. Some of those don’t sound too great. Others are things I buy and eat sometimes anyway – just not enough. Honestly, it’s a bit inconvenient to nibble on soybeans or walnuts when pills or oils take about half a nanosecond to swallow, but soybean or canola oil isn’t any more of a bother to add into food, really. That’s easy. Plus, it might just beat eating expired mystery-fish-juice – or feeding it to little ones.

    If you’ve found a supplement that works for you, that’s great! Some people swear by this stuff. Share your experiences in the comments below.

    Image (and recipe) via Youtube.

  • Vitamin D Supplements: Proven Useless?

    Vitamin D Supplements: Proven Useless?

    Vitamin D Supplements have been found practically useless in a new study out of New Zealand which flies in the face of everything that we have been told.

    Vitamin D has been thought helpful in the prevention of many diseases and ailments such as heart attack, stroke, and even depression. However, the new study finds that Vitamin D in supplement form, among other supplements, could be totally useless.

    In the study, researchers found that a group of people given a real Vitamin D supplement and a group given a “dummy” supplement had no marked differences in the diseases with which they suffered.

    “Our findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation with or without calcium does not reduce skeletal or non-skeletal outcomes in unselected community-dwelling individuals by more than 15%. Future trials with similar designs are unlikely to alter these conclusions,” concludes the study conducted by Health Research Council of New Zealand.

    Experts say that the best way to get Vitamin D is from food sources like milk, salmon, tuna, and vegetables like mushrooms.

    “The take-away message is that there is little justification currently for prescribing vitamin D to prevent heart attack, stroke, cancer, or fractures in otherwise-healthy people living in the community,” says lead study author Dr. Mark Bolland, according to bio-hormone-health.com.

    However, there are still many who would argue that Vitamin D supplementation is absolutely effective. Dr. Michael F Holick, a vitamin D expert and author of “The Vitamin D Solution” book, says that the testing methods done in New Zealand were simply “silly”. He says the results prove nothing since the doses of Vitamin D given test subjects was incredibly small and not what would normally be prescribed.

    The RDA for Vitamin D supplementation is only 400 IU per day, yet current research suggests that our daily Vitamin D requirement is closer to 4,000 to 5,000 IU.

    Would giving the required dosage have made a difference? I suppose another study will be in order.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Zinc Supplements Studied For The Common Cold

    Although Americans are hit with 1 billion colds each year, most view it as some invisible enemy to which they’ll inevitably succumb.

    We wait until the running nose and sore throat symptoms set in and then head to our local pharmacy to self-medicate or hit the nearest urgent care so we can try to make it to work the next day. However, a new review from the Canadian Medical Association offers possible alternatives that might not be part of our current five point plan for the onset of sick season.

    What’s the potential panacea? Some studies are looking to zinc and hand washing.

    That’s right. To avoid colds, results from 67 trials showed that viral spread was reduced by a good soapy skin scouring. They also indicated that some of the kids who took zinc didn’t catch colds as commonly as other children. In fact, the same study suggests that some of the existing go-to protocol on which many rely may not be very helpful after all. Probiotics are still considered helpful to ward off sickness, and ibuprofen or acetaminophen will assuage the aches once it’s too late. However, traditional remedies like Echinacea, ginseng, vapour rubs, and cough medicine were found to have fewer clear benefits.

    Additionally, even the effectiveness of Vitamin C was questioned by the study. Dr. Michael Allan, a family doctor and associate professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Alberta, claimed that Vitamin C was found to have “no meaningful benefit in the average patient,” and went on to say, “The average adult would need to use vitamin C for 10 or 15 years to prevent one cold.”

    Okay, so those herbs might not be as helpful as we thought; but they certainly won’t hurt you to take when the sniffles initiate. What will do more harm than good is taking antibiotics for a cold.

    Why? First, antibiotics won’t work on viruses. Simply put, it all boils down to what kind of microbe is eating you at the moment. Antibiotics are meant to maim bacteria (which are living things); but when we catch the common cold, it’s a virus (non-living thing) causing our illness. But, since they can’t be killed, that’s why you have to just wait for it to pass and manage the symptoms. If that was too boring to follow, use this reductive analogy instead: using antibiotics against viruses is like trying to kill an android with arsenic. It does not compute.

    Also, it allows bacteria that are just hanging out and minding their own business in our bodies to mutate into super Chuck Norris bacteria. Then we’re really in trouble. Enough from the soapbox, though. Let’s look to the resolutions!

    How helpful could this Zinc be?

    It depends. Tests with zinc sulphate supplements of 10 mg or 15 mg a day resulted in fewer colds for the zinc group versus the control. However, the devil is always in the details. While those studies did indicate that zinc lessened the time adults spent sick, it was by a whopping one and a half days… and even that comes from an experiment where adults took a 23-mg zinc gluconate lozenge every two hours.

    Ultimately, the results were mixed. Allan said that, “kids in these studies did not get a benefit, but adults did,” adding that Zinc should never be used via nasal spray because “a few cases have linked it to the loss of smell.”

    Allan concedes, “I certainly don’t want to be telling parents to put their children on zinc every day to prevent the common cold. The research is not very robust.”

    In the end, the preventative hand-washing is always good advice, while the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” saying seems best with respect to any medicinal plan (especially when it comes to experimenting on your kids). If a seasonal cold is really just an annoyance your current herbal remedies resolve pretty well, it may or may not be worth trying out a new supplement like Zinc. But if you are going to give it a go, Dr. Oz suggests starting the supplements the day you begin to get symptoms and keeping it up until you’re fully recovered.

    Cold symptoms usually end between 7 and 10 days. Anyone still suffering after that, may find that a medical follow up is the best route.

    Images via Youtube

  • Vitamin D Not As Beneficial As Once Thought

    Many people swear by vitamins and take them every day. Others only take them when they feel like they need to or are looking for certain benefits. Although vitamins have been labeled as beneficial for years, a new study shows that Vitamin D may not have any benefits.

    Vitamin D is said to help protect against bone problems, stroke, cancer and other diseases. Nearly 50% of Americans take Vitamin D, believing it will protect them from these health problems.

    According to Dr. Mark Bolland, a researcher at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, this is not the case.

    “The take-away message is that there is little justification currently for prescribing vitamin D to prevent heart attack, stroke, cancer, or fractures in otherwise-healthy people living in the community,” Dr. Bolland said.

    In the past, doctors have said that Vitamin D deficiencies can lead to poor health and causes bones to lose calcium. The study shows that Vitamin D deficiencies do not cause poor health, but are a consequence of it instead.

    Further studies show unborn babies do not get any benefits from the vitamin when taken by pregnant women. The study shows that people suffering from Vitamin D deficiency would benefit more by walking out in the sun, which causes the body to produce the vitamin naturally.

    Do you think Vitamin D supplements are beneficial?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.