Diet Supplements: Asking the Hard Questions

Look toward herbal extracts with standardized active ingredients. Know how much of the active principals are in your supplements.

I think we need to be aware that the "natural" supplement industry is no different than big pharma. Many of the best selling supplements are, in fact, made by pharmaceutical companies under different brand names.

IMHO, the industry is trying to sell us a quick and easy way to good healthy, distracting us from the more important elements of a healthy diet and exercise.

I love when products say they are all natural and therefore safe. Hemlock is completely natural. Arsenic is natural. I would not take either of those. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's safe or good for you.

"There is an underlying school of thought that considers "Big Pharma" evil and "natural supplements" good. Is this too simplistic?"

I think so. It is not that simple. Both camps have major pros and cons. There is no question in my mind that over 50 percent of supplements are completely useless (that is my ultra-liberal estimate).

They should be regulated.

I believe studies have shown that glucosamine does help with some forms of arthritis, as a pain reliver if nothing else. I believe Chondroitin should be avoided.
http://www.arthritis.org/research/ACR_Meeting/GAITStatement_final_11_10_05.pdf

In many cases, these "natural" substances are actually worse than big pharma, since the FDA has no say whatsoever as to what goes into their formulations. You could grind up your lawn clippings and put them in a gelcap and call it a "natural herbal remedy". It doesn't mean it'll do anything, though.

Many manufacturers have jumped on the natural remedy bandwagon as more and more people became worried about what was in the prescribed medications they were taking. Natural remedies used to be seen as 'quackery' (still are by a lot of narrow-minded people) and were very cheap and basic, but since it has become such a big money-spinner all kinds of over-priced rubbish (with ridiculous made-up names) has appeared on the market. I definitely think it needs to be regulated, not only to ensure the safety and performance of products, but to clear the muddied reputation of natural remedies.

What I hate is what the all-natural stuff claims to do, and they put it on the bottle like it's the truth even though they have no data to back it up. I'd trust a prescription drug over an herbal supplement...because they have to be regulated and they usually do what they say they'll do.

I'm 5'1" and 140 lbs. overweight, I know.
Which is why I want to gamble with the thought of trying a diet pill through the internet, particularly ebay.com.
I'm 21 and still live at home with my parents, and I'd rather they not find out that I'm unhappy and resorting to diet pills. Does anyone know whether they're shipped in a discreet box or not?
Thank for your help!!

"Half the products were fine, half were not"

But what "not good" supplement really means? Worthless, inactive, poisonous?

Definitely, all supplements cost money, and user is never sure...

Is any option around?

My opinion - organically grown food

You should always look to see if the herbal content has been verfied by an outside source. In the United States, you can check the back of the label. If it lists none under other ingredients, you know it is pure.

However, with the question of efficacy, there must be more research done to prove which ones are "fine" and which ones "are not." And is this regarding the purity of the supplement or how well it works?

You know something is wrong with the American system when doctors are prescribing supplements not evaluated by the FDA. Thanks for the article!

I am 61 & a recent widower. I have Hypertension, & high triglycerides. I've take supplements (Vitamin E, CoQ10 Cod Liver Oil & others) Recently I've been told to try Coconut Oil, as an overall supplement to improve energy & overall health, but with my triglycerides problem for which I take medication I an hesitant. Can you ofer any opimions?

42% Of Popular Diet Supplements Rated"Not Approved" By Independent Lab Test

These dietary supplements are put together by fitness and nutrition experts. They are FDA manufactured and approved, according to Good Manufacturing Practice. What is on the label is in the supplement. These supplements are designed with the consumer in mind in a number of ways. As part of their development criteria, the nutrient delivery system is analyzed, so that the nutrients are dispersed at the right place in the right amounts. In the case of a multivitamin, for instance, the nutrients are designed to time release over the course of a day. On the other hand, a supplement that enhances a workout might have to release with a single burst of nutrients... Next is product synergy. You never have to worry about overdosing on a particular nutrient. Every one of their supplements refers back to their multivitamin. If you stay within their system, you will never go out of balance. They will answer questions by phone, email or through an online coach. It's worth a look.

Speaking of natural supplements, has anyone had the chance to read the new book out about Metabolife? Look for The Metabolife Story, Amazon was sold out, but there is a site where you can get it if you do a search. I recently got it as a gift, read it, and there is an amazing account of how the owner Mike Ellis studied traditional Chinese herbal medicine to create his product, and how safe and effective it truly was because of the balancing of those natural herbs. I had no idea that this book would take me so many places, a really great read, suprisingly!!!

I read the book also! I thought the guy was a tax cheat and a drug dealer, I mean, that's what you heard all the time. My wife used to take it and said it was the best supplement she ever took. Simple, big pharma saw tremendous amounts of money that they were losing, targeted Metabolife and all similar natural supplement companies, and now the are selling their own knock off with a lot more pharmaceutical grade ephedra and caffeine than was ever in Metabolife. I checked an old bottle of Metabolife and Hydroxycut I had and this stuff Vasapro or Vasopro has way more in it? I thought these were killin' folks? Hmmmm???

I took Metabolife too, I always wanted to know what happened to that company because I lost so much weight on 356!!! It was here one day then gone the next, I used to see it at the malls and all over! the knock offs and the new stuff is not the same ... I want to read the book! Can you get the web site address for me Tallguy?

The owner was a tax cheat and drug dealer??? OMG!

trina ... no, he was not either of those things. he never sold drugs, and he was accused of stealing $90 plus million, but was paid back over $7 million by the irs because he overpaid!!! i am far from a conspiracy theorist, but this stuff makes you ask questions???