Here ’s How to Tell Whether Your Supplements Are Dangerous

Supplements live in the wild west of the wellness world. They’re largely unregulated and under-researched, so people are often left to make not-so-educated guesses about what they’re putting in their bodies. Two new resources from the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Substances (ODS) may help. On Wednesday, it released two new fact sheets — one for exercise and athletic performance supplements, and another for weight loss supplements — meant to help people determine what’s safe and effective. Each database lists common dietary supplements used for a specified purpose — like creatine, protein supplements and tart cherry juice for fitness, and caffeine, green tea extract and capsaicin for weight loss — as well as a summary of the science, however minimal, available on that substance. The tools are meant to guide people as they try to improve their health, and steer them away from ineffective or unsafe ingredients. On the whole, more fitness supplements got the green light than weight loss supplements. Creatine, beet juice and caffeine were endorsed for at least some types of athletes, while things like deer antler velvet were called out for inadequate evidence. Most of the weight loss supplements were associated with very modest results at best, while others — including bitter orange and green tea extract — carried safety warnings. “Dietary supplements marketed for exercise and athletic perform...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized are dietary supplements safe are fitness supplements safe are weight loss supplements safe best supplements Diet/Nutrition dietary supplements research do dietary supplements work Exercise/Fitness healthytime natural supp Source Type: news