5 Myths People Still Believe About Supplements

The pharmaceutical market is absolutely massive, and there is no shortage of opportunities for companies to cash out on trends that creep around the world. There’s a reason why there are entire stores dedicated to things like supplements and medicine and it’s also the same reason why supermarkets are starting to encroach on pharmaceutical territory with their own brands: there’s money involved.

But where there’s money, there’s always going to be a scam. Like any other industry, the pharmaceutical industry plays on the fact that most consumers don’t understand medicine like they do. As a result, they can use vague or complicated terms to sell a product and make plenty of money from it. Sadly, it’s often hard to tell between something over exaggerate and something that offers real advantages. To assist you, here are five myths that far too many people still believe about supplements.

1. Supplements can replace food

Absolutely not true. Supplements cannot and will not replace food simply because we need the calories from regular food in order to survive and provide our bodies with enough fuel to live. Supplements may contain some of the nutritional properties of regular food, but that doesn’t mean there’s enough to replace it.

2. Supplements can manage health issues

Supplements aren’t actually designed to manage any kind of health issues. Supplements are, instead, created to fill in nutritional gaps in your diet. For instance, if you’re lactose intolerant and find it hard to get enough calcium intake for your bones, you may be recommended a dairy-free calcium alternative in the form of pills. This will help you strengthen your bones and you don’t run the risk of exposing yourself to lactose intolerance.

3. Supplements are free of side effects

Most supplements will advertise that they have no side effects. For example, AlgaeCal side effects are non-existent and this helps it sell. This makes it popular among seniors that are concerned about the health of their bones, but that what it doesn’t take into consideration is overdosing. Too much of a single thing will always be bad and the same counts for vitamins. You can’t expect to take lots of a single supplement and “save up” the nutrients for when you need them—it will just cause health issues.

4. Supplements labelled “all natural” are the best

You would think that “all natural” meant something meaningful in the world of pharmaceuticals. Sadly, it’s just another term used by manufacturers to trick you into buying their products over a more generic one. In fact, the “natural” supplements added to most of these products are just trace amounts. Essentially, pharmaceutical companies are charging you extra for negligible benefits.

5. Supplements are better when they cover single sources

Most people only need a multivitamin or supplement. There is no concrete evidence that single supplements are better and it’s all dependent on your current nutritional situation. Always consult a doctor before you attempt to take any supplements to ensure you don’t put yourself at risk.