Health or Hype: Supplements
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From collagen pills for brighter and softer skin to creatine for increased glute gains, health supplements are flooding popular culture. But are they actually giving you glass skin or a voluptuous bum, or are they hurting you? That's what I'm here to find out.
Although they have gained popularity in recent years, with the launch of supplements such as Lemme Live by Kourtney Kardashian Baker and Bloom Nutrition by Mari Llewellyn, supplements have been around for way longer. Some of you may remember the infamous Sugar Bear Hair multivitamin, founded in 2015 by couple Nicole Johnson and Dan Morris, which has been referred to on the selling site as the “world’s first gummy vegan hair multivitamin” and the “#1 Best Selling hair vitamins online since 2016.” However, since its debut, Sugarbear Hair has experienced some controversy regarding its effectiveness. Dietitians and nutritionists such as Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, Nutrition Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, and Ms. Pigott-Jones of the British Dietetic Association–– in an article for BBC Wales' X-Ray program–– both agreed that while biotin and other ingredients in the vitamin are good for you, it is better to get them through food. However, a few people tend to be deficient and experience real effects from the vitamin. Similarly, Lemme Purr, a vaginal supplement from Lemme Live, has also had its efficiency questioned. In an article by USA Today, several doctors and clinicians discuss their qualms with Lemme Purr, saying that it is possible it could cause adverse effects due to the probiotic nature of the pills and the important bacterial ecosystem of the vagina, as well as portray rhetoric that women need to “fix” their bodies. Looking towards my own experiences with body and health insecurity as well as experiences with a multitude of supplements, I am now wondering if I was buying supplements out of influence or genuine need.
Another critical aspect to remember about health supplements is the Food and Drug Administration regulations. In the US, the FDA classifies health supplements as food, not drugs, meaning efficacy and safety are not as regulated as pharmaceuticals. This does not mean taking a health supplement will outright hurt you, but you should exercise caution to ensure your utmost health safety.
After deliberating, I cannot say whether health supplements are worth the hype. Like most people, I've had good and bad experiences with them. Do your research, tread lightly, and remember that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. As much as I wish it could, a gummy vitamin can't fix all my problems.
Strike Out,
Katherine Fivgas
Editor: Emily Copp
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