Americans spend 26.7 billion dollars on dietary supplements believing that they will become healthy, lose weight or increase vitality.
However, many do not realize that supplement manufacturers are not obligated to ensure the safety or effectiveness of supplements.
Junior Nicole Corpuz said, “My mom takes calcium supplements in order to be more healthy. She doesn’t like drinking milk so she uses the supplements in replacement of it.”
According to Consumer Reports, almost all supplement brands contain twelve ingredients that have been linked to health risks such as cardiovascular, liver and kidney problems.
Under the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has minimal power to regulate dietary supplements. Only a third of the manufacturers listed in the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database have scientific evidence to support the level of safety and effectiveness of supplements.
The deadly ingredients that are readily available in common supplements include aconite, bitter orange, chaparral, coltsfoot, comfrey, country mallow, lobelia and yohimbe. Consumers should avoid products that contain these ingredients due to the health risks that accompany their temporary healing powers.
Aconite is usually used for joint pain, inflammation, gout and wounds. It has been linked to low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, problems with heart rhythm, respiratory paralysis and death.
Bitter orange, or citrus aurantium, is mainly used for weight loss, allergies and nasal congestion. This ingredient has been associated with heart problems, stroke and death.
Chaparral is an ingredient used for infections, detoxification, colds, weight loss and inflammation. It is considered deadly because it causes liver damage and kidney problems.
Coltsfoot is used to treat sore throat and asthma but is unsafe because of the liver damage it causes.
Comfrey is taken to alleviate heavy menstrual periods, coughs and chest pains. Similar to coltsfoot, the ingredient causes severe liver damage.
Country mallow, commonly used for allergies, asthma, weight loss, nasal congestion and bronchitis, is described as unsafe due to the fact that it is linked to heart problems, stroke and death.
Lobelia is taken for bronchitis and asthma. A repeated use of this ingredient causes low blood pressure, a fast heartbeat, coma and death.
Yohimbe is taken for chest pain, diabetic complication and depression. This ingredient is deemed unsafe because without a doctor’s supervision, the wrong dosage can cause high blood pressure, a rapid heartbeat and possibly death.
Although manufacturers are aware of the serious side effects of these ingredients, they continue to sell these products to the public.
A spokesman from the “Vitamin Shoppe” chain claimed that the FDA has the authority to remove the hazardous ingredients from the market. However, since the FDA has not banned the ingredients, manufacturers do not see the need to stop selling hazardous supplements.
Many of the products that contain these ingredients will have false advertisements on labels misleading the public to believe they are safe.
Junior Rhys Low said, “I recently stopped taking supplements because I was informed about the dangerous effects. Instead of taking supplements, I eat more fruits and vegetables and I drink more milk.”
Consumers must be aware of the many side effects of the products they are using. If one wishes to live a healthier life, natural remedies would be the better route to go.
