and/or promise a quick fix for your missing sex drive (like, okay, kinda presumptuous).
In truth, I have no idea.
But probably not, according to the experts I spoke with for this story.
CSA-Printstock/Getty Images/Amanda K Bailey
The general consensus is that the benefits of supplementation are largely unproven and most people dont need them.
First, its important to know that most people dont have nutrient deficiencies.
(If youre curious, here arethe governments recommendations for daily nutrient intake.)
So many (toomany!)
people believe that its important to take a daily multivitaminbut, experts largely agree, most dont need to.
Granted, there are some exclusions.
Dont let that freak you out too much, though.
Even then, most Americans do not have many deficiencies, she clarifies.
Most supplements dont offer the fantastic health benefits their manufacturers claim.
Its easy to feel enticed by all the remarkable things supplements swear they can do for you.
Who wouldnt be alittleintrigued by a once-daily cherry-flavored chew that cansupposedly make your hair grow fasterand your nails stronger?
But those claims are, sorry to be blunt, bullshit.
Gardner sayshalf-kidding, half-notthat research could be as simple as one small study conducted in rodents.
Per FDA guidelinesknown asstructure/function claimsa supplement company could say its tasty little fiber gummy can help you poop better.
The brand just has to add a disclaimer that those statements havent been evaluated by the FDA.
This, in theory, shows the benefits areplausibleif not proven.
Problem is, a supplement might be meaningfully different from what was actually studied.
The bar is so low, Dr. Gardner says.
As Dr. Bernard puts it: Its kind of a big deal.
Supplements might be packaged in a form that your body cant use well.
At that point, itreallyis just expensive pee, Dr. Bernard says.
All of [the brands] will say: This is the best one, Dr. Bernard says.
This is where food has the upper hand.
Supplements do not react in our bodies the same way a whole food does, Dr. Hunnes says.
She once had a colleague ask her what ingredient makes a raspberry so nutritious.
Her answer: the whole berry.
When it comes to making sure supplements are safe and effective, its the Wild West out there.
The agency only gets involved if a product thats already on the market is causing people harm.
Supplements are generally considered safe until shown to be detrimental, Dr. Hunnes says.
The result: Its a free-for-all, Dr. Gardner says.
This is vastly different from how the federal government oversees pharmaceutical medications.
Supplements do not need these types of studies, Dr. Hunnes says.
Several scientific reports have found that supplements are labeled inaccurately.
It just shows you how unregulated it is, Dr. Bernard says.
In addition, many brands hitch their (marketing) wagon to being all natural.
Just because its natural does not mean its good for you, Dr. Bernard says.
Theres plenty of stuff found in nature thats horriblesometimes poisonous!for humans.
Even too much water can be toxic (and whats morenaturalthan that?).
Inmostcases, taking a multivitamin, even if you dont need to, wont harm your health.
In other instances, taking a vitamin you dont need can trigger a benign but unpleasant problem.
Downing more than 2,000 mg of vitamin C a day, for example, can give you the runs.
Sometimes, the risks can be more serious.
But it can also occur with staples like vitamin A, vitamin D, and fish oil.
The whole lack of federal regulation comes into play here too.
As a result, people can overdose on supplements without realizing it.
Zinc, calcium, and magnesium can prevent your body from absorbing certain antibiotics.
Even something as seemingly innocuous as vitamin D can mess with diuretics and antipsychotics, evidence suggests.
A lot of the time, the answer may be no, Dr. Bernard says.
Swipe straight past the influencer telling you that kava miraculously fixed their anxiety.
The reality is, taking a random pill isnt actually a quick fix.
We did not evolve to eat nutrients.
We evolved to eat foods.
