“Because the regulations are so weak, dietary supplements can be contaminated”.
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With sales topping $40 billion each year, dietary supplements are a huge business.
“I feel that it’s the responsibility of the person coming in buying a vitamin or supplements that they should tell the salesperson that they are on certain medications and if not, they should be reading the label”.
Consumer Reports found 50 percent of Americans believe supplements are tested for effectiveness, and 38 percent think they’re tested for safety by the Food and Drug Administration.
A recent study found that more than 23,000 people end up in the ER each year because of supplements.
People often use supplements because they are much easier to get than prescription drugs.
People take them for everything from losing weight to building muscle, boosting energy, staying mentally sharp, and even improving their sex lives, but supplements are nearly completely unregulated.
“Before supplements arrive on store shelves the government is doing nothing to ensure that they are safe”, Dr. Pieter Cohen, Harvard Medical School said. “I feel like I have a lot more energy when I take supplements and I’m just able to get through the day without any problems”. “They can be ineffective”, Interlandi said. A Consumer Reports investigation calls out 15 potentially harmful ingredients being sold right now.
After visiting 60 stores in 17 states, the shoppers reported that employees rarely warned them about the risks of products containing the 15 unsafe ingredients, nor inquired about any pre-existing conditions that might interact badly with the proposed purchases.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition, which represents supplement manufacturers, says supplements are adequately regulated and the vast majority are safe. But it can raise blood pressure and heart rate, cause headaches, panic attacks, seizures, liver and kidney problems and possibly death.
Millions of people in the US use dietary supplements – but a new report might have you taking a closer look at what’s in your medicine cabinet.
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A new report may have you taking a closer look at what’s in your medicine or kitchen cabinet.
