Consumer Reports Reminds Us to Be Vigilant about Supplement Attacks

Supplements are not risk-free." As many of us are taught from a young age, nothing in life is risk-free and this is not a danger" unique to supplements. Government data shows supplements have an excellent safety record, especially taking into account the millions of supplements sold annually.

Some supplements are really prescription drugs." If it has a drug in it, it is not and never was a supplement. NPA leads the charge to see the folks that market illegal drugs as supplements prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

You can overdose on vitamins and minerals." Actually, you can overdose on almost anything, even water. This is just another obvious point that too much of anything is not necessarily a good thing.

You cant depend on warning labels." NPA has been a leader in providing education to the supplement industry. Each year, we offer a popular seminar covering labeling requirements at our trade show. All supplement manufacturers are encouraged to attend our training to find out what is required for their labels.

None are proven to cure major diseases." Supplements arent intended to cure diseases. And if a product makes a disease claim or includes a drug, its no longer a supplement, but a drug.

"Buy with caution from botanicas." NPA provides the Retailers Staff Education Toolkit free of charge for all retailers selling supplements. It provides an overview of the legal limits for supplement claims and what sales staff may and may not discuss with customers.

Heart and health protection: not proven." The article relies on disputed and inaccurate studies to draw the wrong conclusions. More importantly, though, the American Heart Association (AHA) disagrees. It has recommended a diet high in omega-3s with supplementation for those who cannot get enough from their diet. In addition, the federal government has approved health claims for some supplements, such as associating vitamin D and calcium intake with a reduced risk of osteoporosis.

Betcha cant guess this commonly reported problem." Choking, seriously? Another danger" not unique to supplements, but included to make sure the list had an even 10. This is just an example of fear mongering by Consumer Reports.

"Some natural products are anything but." Legislation passed by the U.S. Congress mandates that marketers cannot differentiate between synthetic and natural ingredients for vitamins. Regardless of the source, were talking about the same product, and our bodies treat the synthetic version the same way as the natural version.

You may not need supplements at all." Getting an adequate amount of nutrition from your diet would be ideal in a perfect world. Unfortunately, we know that many Americans dont get the nutrients they need from the foods they eat. NPA encourages Americans to talk to their doctors and health care providers about what they may need to supplement their diet and exercise program.