Given my experience in the MMA Fight Game... A lot of people ask me for advice on what types of Supplements they should be taking. My response? Don't.
Here are 6 reasons why
1. They Don't Have What they Say they Have.
In February of 2015 the Attorney General's office issued a report found >>HERE<< accusing a number of large supplement providers of selling "Fraudulent and Potentially Dangerous Supplements". They ran DNA strand testing on a number of supplements containing herbal and vitamin remedies to determine what was in them to find that:
"4 of of 5 Supplements
contained NONE of the products
listed on the label."
The Attorney General found that they were mostly filled with... well... cheap filler! Powdered Rice, House Plants and Asparagus. A popular supplement even contained wheat, while advertising on the label that it was "Gluten Free."
The same people who go INSANE over labeling GMOs and Labelling where our Ground Meats come from... Seem to care less about what is in the supplement they put in their bodies! Why is that?
Especially considering that...
2. There is No Regulation AT ALL on Supplements.
According to the FDA (Source found >>HERE<<) The Industry does not need approval from the Food and Drug Commission to begin selling a product. In fact:
"A firm DOES NOT have to
provide evidence of
Safety or Effectiveness of
a Product and The Manufacturer
is Responsible for Ensuring the
Accuracy and Truthfulness
of Product claims."
The FDA does provide a set of guidelines "They Would Recommend" the Supplement Industry to Follow, However because of continued lobbying for deregulation, These guidelines are unenforceable. The FDA supposes that 70% of all Supplement Providers do not listen to their guidelines. And according to unbiased, unpartisan studies like the one presented in reason #1. I'm inclined to believe it.
We don't let "Big Parma" get away with regulating themselves on what is in our vaccines and medications... Yet for some reason we give the Supplement Industry a pass.
3. YOU DON'T NEED THEM!!!
In a conversation with the Director of the Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research (Organization Link found >>HERE<<), He went on a tirade about the consideration and proclamation by the Supplement Industry that we need, for some reason, to supplement ANYTHING at all. Stating:
"Believe it or not... The Truth of the Matter
is that MOST Americans have a totally
Balanced Diet as Far as getting their Vitamin Needs.
The Human Body is not meant to Take in
any Excess Vitamins or Supplements...
Your Body doesn't even Process Them."
He went on to state that if there was a need for this kind of supplementation, Evolution would have pushed us and other animals to EAT more of this stuff. You're basically conditioned internally to get about the right amount of this stuff... Anymore, you just pee out.
So yes, It would seem the Only Benefit to Buying Supplements is REALLY expensive Urine.
4. They can... and HAVE harmed people.
The Ambiguity and Wild Wild West Mentality of this business has caused some pretty serious injury. Herbs commonly sold as "Detox" supplements have caused severe liver damage in people. And media reports have uncovered over-the-counter supplements, including those purporting to build muscle, aid weight loss, and reduce anxiety, that were secretly laced with dangerous prescription medications. CBS news found (Source for your Reference >>HERE<<) that even individuals found at the pinnacle of human health can die of:
"Internal Bleeding,
Severe Liver Damage
and Even Strokes."
5. The Industry is as Corrupt as the Oil Industry.
The Supplement Business is a 33 BILLION DOLLAR a year Industry! And As Hinted at in #2, They Spend large amounts of money to lobby for it's continued deregulation. According to Open Secrets, a Nonpartisan and non-profit organization committed to informing citizens how money in politics affects their lives (Link for your Reference Found >>HERE<<), The supplement industry gives Millions of dollars to House and Senate representatives to ensure this, as evidenced in the graphs below.
Given there is No evidence Supplements Work, No Evidence they are Needed, PLENTY of evidence that they Lie to us and a myriad of examples that this has harmed people... How is the Supplement Industry any different than the Tobacco and Oil Industry? Especially when you couple these with their Lobbying Efforts.
6. They're Expensive.
This Last one feels like a bit of a cop out. With all of the serious information I given above, Money is probably the least important one to consider. I feel However it is an important reminder that premium protein products can sell for nearly $70 for a months supply. A ton of companies will even force you (Surreptitiously in some cases) onto an "Auto-Ship" program that will continually bill you and ship you their supplements month after month... regardless whether you have finished the supply. Reminding you of their cost, I hope, forces you to look at what you are paying for... and compare it to what you are actually getting.
If you're looking to lose weight and lead a better life, Spend your money doing active things that you actually enjoy... Like Martial Arts Classes or Dance Classes. If, despite this, you think you need help with your vitamin intake, all you need is better food choices... Go to Built Magazine's online program at >>WWW.BUILTMAG.COM<< where help is about 2 Bucks a month, instead of paying a boat load of cash on something that doesn't work.
Mike O'Laskey is a Welterweight Champion MMA fighter and Owner of O'Laskey Martial Arts in Burbank, CA.
1312 W. Magnolia Blvd Burbank Ca
91506
818-480-7810
olaskeyma@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment