TIL 46% of the medical advice from Dr. Oz is accurate; 15% of the time it contradicts the best available research; 39% of the time there is no evidence to support the advice.

As someone who used to work for GNC, which i dont mind saying because theyre perpetrators of the issue, but still work in the supplement industry but do mind saying where now, because as a company were pretty good at not ripping people off and not being perpatrators (but with the nature of this thread no one will beleive me and obviously the issue can be different from person to person. Its retail, were salesman after all) as an employee, we know exactly which supplements are fairly effective based on customer reviews and personal rreviews. What it all comes down to is judging the person that your talking to, whether or not you think they are being honest or trying to rip you off, and doing your own research. As Oliver said, yes the industry is not well regulated. That is a bonafide fact. But that doesnt mean that some of the products arent at least somewhat effective. For instance, research on creatine has been shown to be inconclusive, but i know from personal and customer reviews that it does help in what it is supposed to do, which in laymans terms, gives your body a boost at the gym to get more out of your workouts. However green coffee bean? Meh it may do "something" but that something is not enough that i would personally ever buy it. What it comes down to is that a portion of the products that are sold are more effective than a placebo effect, but some no more than a hair. But thats just enough for companys to be able to say that this pproduct MAY help. When were talking possibilities 1% counts just as much as 99% when speaking in generalities.

Moral of the story is, dont shop at gnc, theyre making money off selling you that specific product 50% of the time, the other 50% theyre doing it to keep there boss happy, little to no in between. Shop somewhere else, and do your research. You wouldn't buy a car based off only what the salesman is telling you right? Well this is something that your putting into your body, So look into it for yourself so you can make an educated decision.

/r/todayilearned Thread Parent Link - newsweek.com