What "They're" Not Telling You About The "Vitamin Trend"
The vitamin and supplement industry has exploded recently. According to the FDA, the industry that was once worth about $4 billion is now worth more than $40 billion, with between 50,000 and 80,000 different products available to consumers. This astronomical growth is thanks, in large part, to the proliferation of social media and the idea of selling the “influencer lifestyle.”
via The Paleo Diet
I’m sure you’ve seen the Kardashians peddling various supplements designed to help you get a slimmer waist or shinier, more voluptuous hair. New companies have also cropped up lately selling daily vitamins specifically catered to your personal needs and promising all sorts of health benefits. But what most people don’t know is that the vitamin and supplement industry is unregulated by the FDA and there’s no conclusive evidence that supplements can help promote overall health.
Luckily, on February 11th, the FDA announced plans to clamp down on dietary supplements and increase regulation for the first time in over 25 years. With the vast increase in products available to the masses, the FDA hasn’t been able to keep up, stating that, “as the popularity of supplements has grown, so have the number of entities marketing potentially dangerous products or making unproven or misleading claims about the health benefits they may deliver”. The new regulations aim to communicate concerns about supplements on the market to consumers more quickly, adequately evaluate the safety of each product available to consumers, and promote innovation within the industry.
via Goop
One example of the risks associated with the lack of regulation on supplements, put forth by an eye-opening Business Insider article, is Goop’s product, “Why Am I So Effing Tired.” These vitamin packs each contain 960% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin B6. I’m no doctor, but this sounds like the definition of “too much of a good thing.” The article cites the Mayo Clinic as saying that taking too much vitamin B6 “has been linked to abnormal heart rhythms, decreased muscle tone, and worsened asthma. High doses of vitamin B6 can also cause drops in blood pressure…and can interact with drugs like Advil, Motrin, and those prescribed for anxiety and Alzheimer’s.”
via Adweek
You’ve no doubt seen Ritual Vitamins circulating around the internet; those cool-looking capsules filled with little beads with the beautiful bright yellow ads. They’re touted as “the vitamin with only the essential nutrients a woman needs.” They currently have 100k followers on Instagram and it’s no wonder – their marketing is on point and they built themselves on a platform of being totally transparent and “essential for women.” But it turns out that Ritual pills don’t actually differ much from normal (and cheaper) multivitamins. What’s more, most people don’t need these vitamins because they’re already getting sufficient amounts from their diet.
via Sugarbear Hair
Another big player in the supplement industry is Sugar Bear Hair. You know them, they’re the adorable pastel-colored gummies that Kylie Jenner and pretty much every beauty influencer on Instagram has promoted. I hate to break it to you, but there is no evidence that these can actually promote healthy hair growth. While there is some evidence that biotin, Sugar Bear Hair’s lead ingredient, may help with hair growth, the studies are few and far between. And again, most people typically get enough biotin in their standard diet and supplements aren’t recommended unless you’re deficient (as is the case with any vitamin).
I’m not completely writing off vitamins. I happen to be very deficient in vitamin D and take a daily supplement for that. I’m also mostly vegetarian, so my B12 levels are low sometimes. But I know this because my doctor took my bloodwork and was able to identify exactly what my diet is lacking. Before going after the latest vitamin craze, I urge you to visit your doctor to see if it’s even necessary to shell out that extra money on a product that you probably don’t even need. I know the thought of taking a trendy supplement or a yummy gummy that is also good for you sounds really appealing, but I think it’s better to just grab that bag of gummy bears and treat yourself to those instead. They don’t have that weird medicinal aftertaste and they’re cheaper, too.
Cover image via Refinery 29