Lowering LDL cholesterol can curb your risk of heart disease. If a heart-healthy diet doesn’t work, prescription drugs can slash LDL. Do supplements also work?
In a crowded marketplace, supplement companies want their products to stand out. Some cite vague scientific theories. Others cherry-pick a study that seems to lend credence to a claim they’re making. Still others pay to have a study done, highlight any results that support their bottom line, and watch the cash roll in. Here’s a sampling of recent examples.
Food manufacturers use a legal loophole to introduce new food ingredients without FDA review—endangering public health and leaving consumers in the dark about what’s in our food. Here’s what you should know about the FDA’s review process—or lack thereof—for new food ingredients.
FDA alerts online shoppers that tejocote root supplements may be toxic yellow oleander; Amazon warned to stop selling mislabeled erectile dysfunction drugs.
Balance of Nature ordered by a federal court in Utah to stop producing and selling nutritional supplements following multiple labeling and FDA standards violations.
It never fails. You turn on the TV, start a new podcast, open a web browser, or walk through the supermarket, and you’re bombarded with ads pushing quick fixes to help keep you going in a demanding world: an immune boost here, a hangover cure there, a supplement for your hair or skin, or a little something to help you relax at night. What’s the evidence that these drink mixes, gummies, probiotics, and powders deliver on their promises? We took a look.
In 2020, Americans spent about $55 billion on dietary supplements. That’s no surprise, given that roughly half of all adults take a supplement. What may be a surprise: Many of those people are wasting their money, and some may even be risking their health. Here’s how the industry keeps you buying more.
