Adding a dietary supplement into your diet for health or fitness reasons has become a common practice with a lot people in this country.

I would like you to read "Dietary Supplements: A Consumer Dilemma" article listed below and read Table 4.3 on pages 108 and 109 in your book.

This gives you some insight to over-the-counter health/fitness supplements.

I would like you to discuss what your perception was before reading this short article, and what you think of health/fitness supplements now?

Do you still think some supplements can be good for your body compared to others, and why?

Dietary Supplements: A Consumer Dilemma Wading through manufacturers' claims can be tricky when you are considering taking a dietary supplement. Although drugs and food products undergo stringent government testing, dietary supplements can be freely marketed without testing for safety or effectiveness.

There is no guarantee that advertisements about dietary supplements are accurate or true.

What's the difference between a drug—which must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—and a dietary supplement?

In some cases, the only real difference is in how the product is marketed. Some dietary supplements are as potentially dangerous as potent prescription drugs. But because dietary supplements have a different classification, manufacturers do not have to prove they are safe and effective before being sold; the FDA can, however, take action against any unsafe supplement product after it reaches the market.

Supplement manufacturers often make glowing claims about their products, such as “Builds lean muscle fast” or “Burns fat and gives you energy.” With all the hype, how can you determine if a particular supplement might be helpful?

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you really need a supplement at all? - Nutritional authorities agree that most athletes and young adults can obtain all the necessary ingredients for health and top athletic performance by eating a well-balanced diet and training appropriately. No dietary supplement outperforms wholesome food and a good training regimen.

• Is the product safe and effective? - The fact that a dietary supplement is available in your local store is no guarantee of safety. As described earlier, the FDA doesn't regulate supplements in the same way as drugs. The only way to determine if a supplement really works is to perform carefully controlled research on human subjects. Testimonials from individuals who claim to have benefited from the product don't count. Few dietary supplements have undergone careful human testing, so it is difficult to tell which of them may actually work.

• Can you be sure that the product is of high quality? There is no official agency that ensures the quality of dietary supplements. There is no guarantee that a supplement contains the desired ingredient, that dosages are appropriate, that potency is standardized, or that the product is free from contaminants. (See Chapter 8 for more information on dietary supplement labeling.