Supplements for the diet are frequently used to improve health and wellness. These supplements could comprise herbal extracts, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from plants. Taking dietary supplements might have hazards, despite the fact that they could seem safe.
The possibility for interactions with prescribed medications is one of the main dangers associated with taking nutritional supplements. Some dietary supplements can interact with some medicines, reducing their effectiveness or producing negative side effects. For instance, birth control pills and St. John’s Wort can mix, resulting in an unexpected pregnancy. St. John’s Wort is a popular supplement used to treat depression.
The possibility of an overdose is another concern associated with dietary supplement use. Dietary supplements are not subject to FDA regulation like prescription drugs are, so there is no standard dosage or quality control. A supplement used in excess might have negative effects, such as liver damage from taking too much vitamin A.
Additionally, there is a chance that dietary supplements could be contaminated. It has been shown that some supplements include dangerous elements including lead, mercury, or prescription medications. These toxins have the potential to seriously harm your health.
Anyone selling supplements in the UK is required to abide by certain rules. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) oversees supplement sales and necessitates business registration. To sell supplements in the UK, though, there is no specific authorization needed.
Online sellers, drugstores, and health food stores all sell vitamins and other dietary supplements. You must adhere to the rules established by the FSA, which include appropriate labeling and promotion, in order to sell vitamins.
Herbalife is a multi-level marketing business that offers items for weight loss and dietary supplementation. Mark Hughes established the business in 1980, and a number of investors, including Carl Icahn, now own it.
Because Herbalife products fall under the category of dietary supplements, which are exempt from the same stringent testing and approval requirements as prescription medications, they are not FDA-approved. However, Herbalife products are created in facilities that are FDA registered and must adhere to FDA rules for labeling and advertising.
Some detractors and former distributors have claimed that Herbalife is a pyramid system, however the firm has refuted these charges and settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over these claims in 2016. Herbalife was ordered to alter its business methods as part of the settlement and pay a $200 million fine, but the company was not labeled a pyramid scheme. It is significant to remember that the legality of Herbalife’s business strategy may change based on the region and how the legislation is interpreted.