Scams abound in the nutrition supplement industry. Since the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act (DSHEA) came into being in 1994 nutritional supplements have escaped federal intervention and accountability. This allows many companies to make certain claims of their products because of the lack of chemicals in the products.
Fat burning pills and muscle building supplements have produced the largest number of bogus claims. Many times these over-hyped and over-priced products have nothing in them to help the consumer get what he needs or wants. They take your money and don't deliver.
The only way to tell if you are getting what the label says you're getting is if the company selling the product submits to testing by an independent lab that they must pay for themselves. The consumer can feel more confident in the product when a company goes this far to prove their products are legitimate.
Any product that claims to be a miracle cure should raise the scam flag. Any product that claims instant results or will help you win the Mr. Universe competition 8 weeks from now is certainly a scam. The ads are written by professional copywriters who know which words to use to push the right buttons. The average consumer is so desperate for an answer that they try "just one more time" to alleviate the pain of a skinny or fat body.
Most supplements are not in the form the body needs to easily absorb the nutrients. Many of the vitamins are made of artificial ingredients that the body rejects because they can't be digested. There is very little good advice about nutritional supplements. Even if you go to a local nutrition retailer you will find people working there with no knowledge of the products they sell. They are there to take your money and ring up the sale. Some retailers have an in-store computer that you can access with very few answers to your questions.
The obvious fact that everyone misses is supplements are not needed if you're eating the right foods! If you are eating a balanced diet of whole natural foods that are unprocessed and are rich in nutrients then you get all that you need through your diet. The problem is very few people eat this way so they look for supplements to fill in the gaps. You only need to research thoroughly where you buy your supplements to avoid scams.