Last week at the YMCA I had a 300+ lb clearly obese member ask me for my opinion on the supplements CLA and VPX. He said he'd been to a health food store and the clerk recommended those two to help him lose weight. My advice was pretty simple, for the most part.
1. Do an internet search on CLA. And don't just search "CLA". If he does that the first twenty searches will be websites selling it. I told him to search "CLA doesn't work". Doing that generally leads to more complete research based articles like: CLA supplements offer slight boost to weight-loss plans
2. Supplements are not regulated by the FDA, so be wary of supplements that have a bunch of different substances (like VPX). Often the claims are based on shoddy research or no research at all. Before you take a supplement do thorough research. It's your body, you need to know what's going in it.
3. In my opinion the minimal fat loss benefit is not worth the money. His money would be MUCH better spent on buying a lot of vegetables. The two supplements together were over $50. You can buy a lot of PROVEN healthy vegetables and fruits with that much money.
4. Supplements can provide the psychological boost to motivate someone to workout or eat better. If you're spending $50 on supplements you have made an investment in your health. That investment may motivate you to eat better and workout more. Why waste your $50? In that case, assuming the supplement is safe, it can be worth the money even if the actual physiological benefits are minimal.
I'd spend the $$ on a training session with Matt. You get more than your money's worth.
ReplyDeleteOur daughter (6) was coughing and uncomfortable over the weekend - so off to the Doctors on Monday, suspected pneumonia, off to hospital, X-Ray. Pneumonia confirmed. So Mum and daughter in hospital means visits, food parcels, looking after son at home and keeping up with food, washing etc.Luckily she was not feeling too bad and recovered quickly - two nights in hospital, I was on the night shift for the second one. She quite enjoyed it - plenty of attention and a fun bed that goes up and down at the press of a button were the highlights, but inevitably training, work and diet all get deprioritised. I am not complaining it is just the reality of doing it all at once - kids and work always take priority.And of course we are both tired now with all the extra work - so back to training after a good nights sleep tonight - hopefully.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the definition set by food and drug administrations in different countries, drugs are chemicals that can prevent, prolong the life, treat other effects of a health condition, improve the quality of life, and/or cure ailments and diseases, or alter the function of any part or chemicals inside the body. These drugs have approved therapeutic claims. For example, paracetamol is a drug given to bring down the body temperature in fever. Ascorbic acid is indicated for the treatment of scurvy. Iron supplements are given to treat mild cases of anemia.Herbal supplements are not classified as drugs but as dietary supplements. The main difference is that they do not have approved therapeutic claims unlike in the case of drugs. Moreover, dietary supplements could either contain vitamins, minerals, herbals, or amino acids, all aimed to add to or supplement the diet of an individual. They are not intended to be taken alone as a substitute to any food or medicine.
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