Expensive Supplements: Pros & Cons

Updated on January 24, 2011
M.R. asks from Edmonds, WA
5 answers

In the past I have tried Juice Plus...and did not see much of a difference, but we already eat healthy and fresh and products similar to Juice + abound in health food stores.

Recently, I've had many people recommend Green Vibrance and now Reliv.....???

I am post babies and nursing, but still have the demands of raising a young family and of course would like to improve my energy levels. I live in a cold, snowed in climate and feel like hibernating. Would these supplements make a difference?

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B.F.

answers from Chicago on

I personally don't use any supplements for me and my family. I cook from scratch every day and I try to buy healthy foods and have them eat fruit and veggies and not a lot of processed foods. They are rarely sick and I just don't think there is a point in changing anything.
I started going to the gym a while back and it energizes me a lot. I feel so much better after a quick workout. Even a short walk in the sunshine helps me get energized.

2 moms found this helpful

S.G.

answers from Austin on

never heard of these before.
but to be honest, supplements are generally a waste of your money if they are claiming to burn fat or increase energy. some will work (like healthe trim etc) but only SHORT TERM. you can't take them more than a month or so before they RUIN your metabolism, which means that once you stop taking them your metabolism is shot (slow) and you gain it all back and then some. so stuff like that is a short term solution to help you jump start some weight loss but i highly rec' taking them for maybe a month, definitely no more than 6-8 weeks.

if you need energy, increase your B vitamins bc they turn food into energy. find foods rich in B (green veggies etc). or take a B supplement.

2 moms found this helpful

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

Price means nothing. You must check to make sure that the company has published peer-reviewed research on the actual product. A red flag should go up if they say something like: "studies show..." or "studies have shown that the ingredients in this product..." They are trying to use someone else's research.
The products must be shown to be safe and effective. One example, there are 11 types of echinacea, but only one of them is effective in boosting the respiratory immune system. Also, if the raw ingredients are not free of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, they can be dangerous.
I use Shaklee and they have more peer-reviewed published research than all other companies combined.
The comments made by another about Shaklee are not true. No one has the same "capsules." No one else does over 300 tests on just one product before it goes out the door!

1 mom found this helpful
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B.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

There are a lot of great supplements out there. What you have to look at is how well are they absorbed into the body. Liquid supplements have a great absorption rate, whereas hard pack pills like Centrum are around 7%.
Supplements are NOT a waste of money, and the ones that boost metabolism do just that. Your metabolism will not be slower than before if you do not take them, you have to do things to make sure your metabolism stays at a higher level, like adding lean muscle to your body. Our whole family is taking supplements, including our 4 year old daughter. Her health has improved a lot since we have started her on a chocolate shake supplement from Hi5. Her pediatrician took a look at it and she says that here results speak for themselves. Is it a little pricier than for other products? Sure, but you have to pay a little more for quality products, and my families health is worth it.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I have not heard of those. The supplements that I know that are supposed to make a difference are Vitamin D, Fish Oil, Probiotics. If you have a Vitamin Shoppe or something similiar those are a great place for information.

1 mom found this helpful
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