Thursday, March 26, 2009

The Truth Behind Health Supplement

Food supplements are quickly becoming popular nowadays. From the tv and radio, flyers and billboards, and every other conceivable space visible to the public, food supplement commercials are everywhere, promising good health, miracle cures and long life.But what are food supplements? Do they prevent or cure certain diseases? Is it similar to that of a drug? And is there really a need to take food supplements?
BETTER WARY THAN SORRY
USA's Federal Trade Commission, as part of their campaign to alert consumers against fraudulent health care products, advices consumers to be suspicious of:
- Claims that the product is "natural" or "non-toxic". since this do not necessarily mean safe. Some supplements can contain potent stimulants or cause harmful drug interaction with other medicines.
- Testimonials from people who claim amazing results, as those testimonials are often undocumented and are not a substitute for scientific proof.
- Claims that a product is a "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "secret cure," or "ancient remedy."
- Claims that a product is an effective cure for a wide range of ailments. Claims that use impressive-sounding medical terms.

Many supplements in the market today present consumers with the claims mentioned above. To avoid becoming a victim of health frauds, it is important to learn how to asses health claims and seek the advise of health professionals.The best advise for consumers is to be smart and be skeptical.

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