Supplements – Red Flags

 

There are a ton of supplements on the market, covering a myriad of different things, and right now there are more supplements and brands than ever. Understandably, it can be pretty difficult to discern what is worth taking and what’s best left on the shelves. The main thing to keep in mind with supplements is what they are first and foremost – a supplement. If you aren’t prioritising your nutrition, sleep & recovery, stress management, and hydration yet, focus on dialling those things in first. As the saying goes, “Don’t mow your lawn while your house is on fire!”

 

With that being said, there are some things to look out for when buying supplements. Here are our top 3 red flags when it comes to claims made by supplements and/or their companies.

 

1. Proprietary Blends

This is one most commonly seen on labels for things such as pre-workouts, fat burners, and multivitamins. Proprietary blends only list the combined amount of all the ingredients used in the blend; they don’t disclose how much of each ingredient the product contains. They are often used to trick consumers and hide the fact that their product contains only trace amounts of the active ingredients listed on the nutrition label. Instead, they are composed mostly of fillers, additives, or the ingredients you don’t really want.

 

2. Outlandish Claims

Bold and outrageous claims such as “clinically tested ingredients” or “pharmaceutical grade”. Firstly, just because an ingredient has been clinically “tested” does not mean it has been clinically “proven” to work. Even if an ingredient has been proven to work, the product may not contain the right amount of ingredient, or suggest the correct dosing. Furthermore, there is no such thing as “pharmaceutical grade” for most supplement ingredients. Claims like these are commonplace in the supplement industry, so it’s important to keep an eye out and not take them at face-value.

 

3. False Promises

False promises and claiming near-miraculous results. These may present in the form of “Explosive Energy”, “Metabolism Boosting”, “Superior Protein Technology”, or something along similar lines. These promises may look good on a label, but put into practice they’re really nothing more than carefully selected words to bolster the quality and effectiveness of the supplement.

 

Supplements can be a great tool to implement, when necessary, to kick your training into the next gear – but they’re not magic pills. They’re certainly not going to out-perform poor nutrition, effective training, and adequate rest and recovery. Keep these things in mind when you find yourself searching your local supplement store for the next best thing.