Health & Medicine
Diet Supplements Are Useless, Here Are What's Good For You
Johnson D
First Posted: Jul 23, 2016 05:00 AM EDT
A lot of people want to feel healthier, so they follow a balanced diet, get enough sleep and exercise. Some even take health supplements to make sure their body is packed with the nutrients they need. However, a recent study has revealed that supplements do not usually help you lose excess fats, grow muscles or become more energetic. In fact, experts say these supplements may even be harmful for you.
Businessinsider.com reported a study of the federal government found a connection between supplements with brand names like Hydroxycut and Xenadrine with 20,000 ER visits each year. last year alone, the Department of Justice filed criminal and civil enforcement actions against 117 makers of these products.
According to vox.com, a review of government databases, court documents and some scientific studies revealed that there are more than 850 products containing illegal and/or hidden ingredients that sometimes include prohibited drugs, medications like antidepressants and other artificial chemicals that have never been tested in humans before.
Iflscience.com came up with list of supplements that are safe for human consumption, along with those that should be avoided.
Experts suggest that protein powder is to be avoided and if you want to have your dose of protein, eat beans, tofu, nuts, fish, or meat instead. These protein supplements are a huge success in the United States, and help your body build muscles. However, most Americans already get a lot of protein in their diets, and sometimes it is too much. A lot of companies have been rumored to include their protein powders with cheap fillers, adding to the reasons why it should be avoided.
Homeopathic remedies are also one of those you should not bother taking. These treatments are super-diluted doses of medication that advocates have claimed to do everything from relieving colds to calming anxious pets. However, it has continuously showed no effect on homeopathy. A study published in The Lancet in 2005 found that homeopathy, which involves diluting ingredients until no measurable quantity was left, had the same effect as a placebo.
Other supplements that should be avoided are workout boosters like Jack3d or Oxy Elite Pro. Experts say they have been linked to several illnesses and it was also found that there have been deaths because of it. Makers of this product have claimed that the supplement, with an active ingredient of dimethylamylamine, or DMAA, can increase speed, strength, and endurance.
But in 2011, two soldiers who had used Jack3ed died prompting the Department of Defense to get rid of all products that contained DMAA from stores on military bases. Also, there has also been a recent indictment against Dallas-based Company, USP labs (makers of OxyElite Pro). The company was accused of falsely claiming its product was made of natural plant extracts. It was found that the product contains artificial stimulants which were made in China. The same indictment apparently linked the use of OxyElite to several liver injuries and at least one death.
Health experts have recommended green tea extract which has a lot of health benefits and is generally considered to be safe for consumption. A series of Mayo Clinic studies revealed that the chemical component of green tea known as epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG can help reduce the number of cancer cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which a form of cancer. However, research on green tea with people with other forms of cancer has been too limited to say for sure how beneficial it is.
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First Posted: Jul 23, 2016 05:00 AM EDT
A lot of people want to feel healthier, so they follow a balanced diet, get enough sleep and exercise. Some even take health supplements to make sure their body is packed with the nutrients they need. However, a recent study has revealed that supplements do not usually help you lose excess fats, grow muscles or become more energetic. In fact, experts say these supplements may even be harmful for you.
Businessinsider.com reported a study of the federal government found a connection between supplements with brand names like Hydroxycut and Xenadrine with 20,000 ER visits each year. last year alone, the Department of Justice filed criminal and civil enforcement actions against 117 makers of these products.
According to vox.com, a review of government databases, court documents and some scientific studies revealed that there are more than 850 products containing illegal and/or hidden ingredients that sometimes include prohibited drugs, medications like antidepressants and other artificial chemicals that have never been tested in humans before.
Iflscience.com came up with list of supplements that are safe for human consumption, along with those that should be avoided.
Experts suggest that protein powder is to be avoided and if you want to have your dose of protein, eat beans, tofu, nuts, fish, or meat instead. These protein supplements are a huge success in the United States, and help your body build muscles. However, most Americans already get a lot of protein in their diets, and sometimes it is too much. A lot of companies have been rumored to include their protein powders with cheap fillers, adding to the reasons why it should be avoided.
Homeopathic remedies are also one of those you should not bother taking. These treatments are super-diluted doses of medication that advocates have claimed to do everything from relieving colds to calming anxious pets. However, it has continuously showed no effect on homeopathy. A study published in The Lancet in 2005 found that homeopathy, which involves diluting ingredients until no measurable quantity was left, had the same effect as a placebo.
Other supplements that should be avoided are workout boosters like Jack3d or Oxy Elite Pro. Experts say they have been linked to several illnesses and it was also found that there have been deaths because of it. Makers of this product have claimed that the supplement, with an active ingredient of dimethylamylamine, or DMAA, can increase speed, strength, and endurance.
But in 2011, two soldiers who had used Jack3ed died prompting the Department of Defense to get rid of all products that contained DMAA from stores on military bases. Also, there has also been a recent indictment against Dallas-based Company, USP labs (makers of OxyElite Pro). The company was accused of falsely claiming its product was made of natural plant extracts. It was found that the product contains artificial stimulants which were made in China. The same indictment apparently linked the use of OxyElite to several liver injuries and at least one death.
Health experts have recommended green tea extract which has a lot of health benefits and is generally considered to be safe for consumption. A series of Mayo Clinic studies revealed that the chemical component of green tea known as epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG can help reduce the number of cancer cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which a form of cancer. However, research on green tea with people with other forms of cancer has been too limited to say for sure how beneficial it is.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone