3 Marketing Myths The Supplement Industry Wants You to Swallow

Americans seem to have a fairly positive attitude towards dietary supplementsAccording to a 2023 study, 74% of American adults take vitamins, prebiotics and the like.

This the supplement business is boomingand with all the buzz around them, it’s effortless to forget what they actually are: substances that can have a powerful effect on the body and health, yet they aren’t regulated like drugs. They are regulated rather like food.

Thanks in huge part to a 1994 law, the Food and Drug Administration is essentially toothless when it comes to supplements. the agency confirms: “The FDA has no authority to approve dietary supplements before they are put on the market. Companies can sell supplements without going through any approval process or even having to share evidence of safety.”

As a member of the research department at postgraduate studies in medicineI am responsible for teaching resident physicians how to understand and critically engage with health research. I also write about health, fitness and supplements to a wider audience. As a result, I spend a lot of time thinking about supplements.

It is significant to consider why so many people believe that supplements can facilitate them live healthier lives. While there are many reasons, the way supplements are advertised is undoubtedly importantOver the years of following the industry, I’ve noticed three false assumptions consistently appearing in supplement marketing.

1. The Fallacy of Referring to Nature

This the mistake of appealing to nature occurs when you assume that because something is “natural” it must be good. The word natural is often used in supplement marketing. In the context of health, it often seems right to want natural medicine, remedies, preventative techniques, and so on.

For example, if I say “vitamin C,” what immediately comes to mind? Probably oranges or citrus fruits in general and flu prevention. But if I say “flu vaccine,” what immediately comes to mind? Probably doctors’ offices, some pain, and pharmaceutical companies. One of them is clinically proven to prevent influenza infections and to alleviate the course of the disease. Other was introduced to the market like he was doing the same things but there is no clinical evidence to support this.

The supplement industry is flooded with brands that include the word “natural,” appealing to the misconception that nature is attractive. Also, look for websites and ads that urge consumers to ditch “artificial” products in favor of “pure” and “natural nutrition.” Using the word artificial to describe other products and natural to describe a particular supplement is designed to make you feel like this product is better than the competition and that you need it to be well.

To be clear, “natural” does not mean “better,” but that is exactly what marketing would have us believe.

2. Believing that more of a good thing is always better

There is another assumption that is based on the nature fallacy: if something is natural, it must be good, and more of it must always be better. If a little bit of vitamin C is good for you, a lot of it must be great!

The truth is that our bodies tightly regulate the levels of vitamins and minerals we consume. If you are not deficient, consuming more of a particular vitamin or mineral through a supplement will not necessarily lead to health benefitsThat’s why supplement skeptics sometimes say, “You’re just paying for exorbitant urine” – because your body will excrete the excess.

An example of the “more is better” myth is to look at almost any Vitamin C supplement. The packages often clearly show the doses, which can be as high as 750 or 1,000 milligrams. However, adults only need about 75 to 120 milligrams of vitamin C per daySimilarly, look at Vitamin D supplements which may come in doses of 5,000 IU or international units – this fact is often highlighted on the packaging. But Adults should not take more than 4,000 IU per day. Again, it’s effortless to overdo what we need.

3. Propensity to act

Finally, the supplement industry likes to exploit the idea that doing something is better than doing nothing. This is bias of actionTaking action makes people feel more in control, which is especially powerful when it comes to health. “Even if I don’t need extra vitamin C,” they might think, “I’ll take it just to be on the sheltered side. What’s wrong with that?”

The examples in the last section show that supplements often contain many times more than the recommended daily allowance of a particular vitamin or mineral. The assumption is that taking that amount of any particular substance is sheltered.

You can have too much of a good thing. Too much vitamin C can lead to diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps and othersExcess vitamin D can lead to conditions such as: nausea, vomiting and kidney stones. Supplements can also interact with prescribed medications. For example, St. John’s wort is known to interact with contraceptives, immunosuppressants, statins and chemotherapy by exacerbating or weakening their effects. When it comes to supplements, taking them is not necessarily better than not taking them.

Be careful with these marketing messages – they are not necessarily correct or good for your health. And talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.