Supplement Your Diet with Snake Oil

Things have been simply awesome lately.  I've been doing more than I expected to be able to do at the gym and that has made eating the right foods pretty easy! Losing weight on easy mode feels almost like cheating (in the best way, of course!).

I'll have the bunny with the dressing on the side, please.

I sampled Chia Seeds recently and fell in love! Admittedly, I have an eclectic palette, so tiny little seeds that turn chocolate soy milk into pudding are right up my alley AND (if I'm being truthful) I was predisposed to liking them. Do you remember that weird kid who ate her chia pet like it was a home-grown salad kit? I was that weirdo before it was cool.

I'm not hopping on this for the weight-loss claims, mind you! Chia Seeds are being incorporated into my diet for their nutritional benefits and not for some bogus weight loss theory. So far, they've simply made for a tasty snack and have helped me to reach my macronutrient goals with how densely protein packed they are.

The claims that eating seeds will miraculously cause you to have a reduced appetite and effortlessly lose weight had me thinking about supplements. The most popularly taken supplements generally have value to one's diet but have had their true abilities exaggerated for increased sales.  Sometimes this is completely based on anecdotal claims, sometimes pseudo-science has a hand in it and sometimes this is based on marketing to a broader audience.

For example, B12 deficiencies can cause fatigue, depression and poor memory.  Most healthy omnivores have enough B12 stored to last them years before a deficiency could occur.  Vegans, on the other hand, may need to supplement B12 because they don't get it from the rich sources of dairy, eggs, meat and fish.  Sales increase if you leave out the bit about how unlikely it is for your average person to need a supplement and they increase further if you spin it into a supplement that gives energy, improves mood and improves memory.


I had intended on getting into the nitty-gritty of the most popular supplements, but I think it would be more helpful to simply direct you to this amazing chart. If you're more of a reader than a looker, take a peek at their data document.  The real take-away from my own research  was to make sure I'm taking a supplement for the right reasons before sinking money into what could be a costly long-term investment. I'll continue to take my vitamin B complex every morning, but I'll be doing it because I care about my heart and migraines (and not for any supposed boost in mood!).

What supplements are you taking?