“More than half of American adults take vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other nutritional supplements” says Consumer Reports. This sounds like good news to me but in a recent article in the publication, 10 dangers of supplements were outlined and they ask that we all “read and be warned.” The purpose of this blog post is to share the dangers Consumer Reports presents and to try to weed through why they are part scare tactic and part government meddling.

I strongly believe in educating myself on the brands I purchase, the ingredients I ingest, and the products I use in my home and think this article from Consumer Reports brings an important discussion to the table. Because the natural health industry is one I am proud to be a part of, I want to touch on these “dangers” and help shed some light on this situation. If you’d like to read the Consumer Report article, you may do so here, otherwise let’s dive in.

There is a common theme to each of the dangers listed in the article and that is fear. Be afraid to take supplements, be afraid of herbs, be afraid of natural products for health… just be sure you’re really afraid. Why? FDA regulations are extremely strict but companies are tricky and there’s no way Consumer Reports can say there are bad guys AND good guys when making their “danger” claims, so they’ve instead assigned everyone to the naughty list. Here’s an example: Last year I read about a company that manufactured brownies loaded with an unbelievable amount of Valerian root. While there was some comedy in the name of the brownies being Lazy Cakes and the fact that Valerian root encourages sleep and relaxation, the dosage in each serving was unnecessary, the label looked like it was directed at children, and there were 2 servings in each brownie. My point in sharing this story is that some companies will use marketing, gimmicks, and misinformation to persuade you to try their products while other companies suffer guilt by association. Valerian root is not bad for you and has helped many people ease into sleep and relax but some consumers will choose to not buy it because the FDA recalled Lazy Cakes. Valerian root wasn’t recalled, the cakes were but that’s not what becomes important in these instances and that’s not what’s remembered by the public.

The Lazy Cakes and Valerian root example is one of thousands just like it; one company is looking to make a quick buck and the world of natural products suffers because of it and becomes the focus of an attack from publications like Consumer Reports.

Before I put my soap box away, I’d like to share the 10 points made in the article and provide a different way to view what is being suggested.

1. “Supplements are not risk-free”: The safety record for supplements is excellent. Millions are sold annually and there is data to back this safety record up. However, nothing in life is risk-free and while I am not attempting to use that fact as an excuse I do want to point out that there is an element of danger, no matter how small, to anything we do in life. By researching a company to ensure they’re trustworthy and understanding the ingredient list on their labels you cut down on risk because you’ll be informed of what is going into your body.
2. “Some supplements are really prescription drugs”: Look at the ingredient label. If there is a drug in the ingredient list, it is not and never was a supplement.
3. “You can overdose on vitamins and minerals”: It’s silly to point this out but you can also overdose on water. You can overdose on anything and that’s why there are warning labels. Any vitamin and mineral on the market has research for benefits and risks that you can review before deciding if it is right for you.
4. “You can’t depend on warning labels”: Look at that! Number 3 goes right into number 4. Supplement manufacturers are aware of the dangers in their products and would like to make sure they don’t face a law suit each year. Warning labels are not a suggestion, they are a warning to consumers. If the warning scares you, don’t purchase the product but try not to buy into the hype of a “danger” in this situation. Say someone ingested an entire bottle of a product at one time, became ill, then decided to sue the company because there was no warning label against ingesting the contents of the bottle in one serving, you might think that was silly. It is but, it happens.
5. “None are proven to cure major diseases”: Supplements are not intended to cure diseases and if a product makes a claim that it can, it is no longer a supplement and is, instead, a drug.
6. “Buy with caution from botanicas”: A botanica is a traditional medicinal store that offers spiritually and physically healing items and are mostly seen in Hispanic neighborhoods throughout America. Herbal remedies can be found in botanicas along with a variety of other objects important to Hispanic culture and healing. As a consumer it is important to use caution with any item you purchase and from any retailer, whether it is an herb from a botanica or an appliance from a store.
7. “Heart and health protection: not proven”: A diet rich in omega-3s is listed as a recommendation by the American Heart Association for heart health. Concerned with heart health but can’t eat such a diet? AHA then recommends ingesting Omega-3 supplements. Additionally, supplements like vitamin D and calcium have proven effective in the fight against osteoporosis and are cleared to be labeled as such on bottles so the proof is there, it’s just minimal for which products have been cleared to be labeled.
8. “Pills can irritate the esophagus”: Consumer Reports choosing to list this as a danger is frustrating to me. Yes, pills irritate some people to the point that they don’t like to or will not take pills but listing this as a danger seems like a stretch. If irritation or choking are a concern for you, odds are you can find a liquid version. Several of my friends have an issue with swallowing pills and instead open the capsule up and add its contents to a glass of water.
9. “Some ‘natural products’ are anything but”: The danger listed here by Consumer Reports is specific to vitamins and the fact that they can be synthetically, and legally, produced in a lab and that there are some synthetic ingredients allowed in multivitamins labeled as organic. The U.S. Congress passed legislation mandating that marketers cannot differentiate between synthetic and natural ingredients for vitamins so while this is a valid point, it is only partially so.
10. “You may not need supplements at all”: In a perfect world we would get adequate nutrition from our foods but many Americans do not. Speaking with your doctor about how supplements can complement a diet and exercise program is the perfect way to be sure you’re getting proper nutrition and are avoiding taking supplements your body doesn’t need. Just because an item appears to be healthy doesn’t mean you “need” it to be healthy.

You may agree or disagree with these points or my opinion but that’s what’s so wonderful about discussing a topic like this. There are companies that want your money, others that want to appear as helpful, and others still that actually do want to be helpful; who you listen to is your decision just as what you decide to purchase as a supplement, food, appliance, etc. is your decision.

Being vigilant about what goes into your system is an excellent way to ensure that these “dangers” outlined by Consumer Reports don’t become a reality for you. The buyer should beware but not only for supplements. Do some research before you bring anything into your life, be it a puppy or a backyard pool or a new brand of laundry soap. When we understand the benefits and setbacks of a purchase we’re able to make decisions that are right for ourselves. Hanna’s Herb Shop has a glossary of herbs, articles on health issues and products, as well as videos to help inform and educate and is always happy to answer product questions. Check out our Learn section and let us know what you think!