Life in the 21st Century
Let’s face it – life in the 21st century races by at a sometimes-frenetic pace, leaving us searching for ways to streamline everything. In an era where convenience is king, purchasing dietary supplements from online marketplaces like Amazon has become a way to capitalize on convenience. With just a few clicks, consumers can access a wide array of supplements promising various health benefits. However, this convenience comes with significant risks that consumers should be aware of.
A Risky Business
Consumer purchases of supplements have increased significantly since 2019. During the pandemic, online shopping became the norm, which left the door open for third party sellers to profit from a market with significant sales increases. Some of these unscrupulous sellers exploited consumers in the process. Third party sellers, and sellers who flood any online marketplace, aren’t subject to any verification processes, leaving consumers vulnerable to a myriad of risks. Some of those risks include:
- Lack of regulation and quality control: Many products on the market do not undergo strict testing for safety, efficacy, or quality. On platforms like Amazon, the issue is exacerbated by the sheer volume of sellers, some of whom may be dishonest and/or unfastidious in their manufacturing practices.
- Counterfeit and adulterated products: The anonymity and vast reach of online marketplaces make them fertile ground for counterfeit and adulterated products. Reports have surfaced of supplements containing harmful substances, which can pose serious health risks. Contaminated supplements may cause allergic reactions, toxicity, or interactions with other medications.
- Misleading labels: Another significant danger is the prevalence of misleading labels. In a 2022 study, 17 out of 30, or 57% of supplements tested were found to have inaccurate labels. Some of the mislabeling included incorrect ingredients, lower-than-advertised dosages of active ingredients, inactive ingredients that weren’t included on the labels, and even misbranding.
- Variability in Product Quality: Even among legitimate products, there is considerable variability in quality. Differences in manufacturing processes, ingredient sourcing, and storage conditions can lead to significant inconsistencies in the potency and purity of supplements. Two bottles of the same brand of vitamin D purchased from different sellers may have different efficacy due to these variations.
Knowing the source of your supplements is vital to your health.
HEBE Aesthetics and Vitality
HEBE Aesthetics and Vitality, serving those in Atlanta, GA, and the surrounding areas, purchases and only works with professional grade supplements from reputable pharmacies and health care providers that delivery nutritional solutions with tested and guaranteed efficacy, whose practices we’ve researched, and whose ethics and integrity align with ours. This allows us to provide you with the highest quality, most effective and cost-effective treatments we can find, so you can look and feel your best. We’re here to help you regain your youth and vitality safely and effectively! Contact us for more information.
Disclaimer: The information contained here was not written by a medical doctor and is intended for informational purposes only. This is not a substitute for medical advice.
