Report: Benefits of food supplements exaggerated

The unhindered and belligerent advertising marketing of the health benefits of food supplements belie the truth behind them and also obscure any common sense analysis of them. Modern society has begun to rely heavily on vitamin enriched water products as well as herbal solution as quick relief measures.

However, health experts opine that buying ‘untested’ products could harm people. There is no guarantee that these herbal, vitamin, fiber and mineral supplements are actually safe. Currently these products are present everywhere in society. An analysis has revealed that out of every dollar that was spent on alternative treatments, 44 cents were used upon buying products like glucosamine, Echinacea and fish oil.

Americans spend about $15 billion on buying fish oil which in reality does not originate from fish but from plants. Scientific research has proved that these products, far from being useful are in fact quite harmful. As a report from Pricewaterhouse Coopers puts it; “… Some that are little more than dressed up junk food.”

The influence of modern day advertising on the population is so strong that people continue to buy vitamins despite knowledge to the contrary and pay high prices for what they are fooled into believing. Anti oxidants like beta carotene pose a 28% risk of developing lung cancer in humans which make the marketing of these food additives and supplements almost a criminal act.