Three Supplements You Should Avoid, According to a Trusted Pharmacist

Did you know that a large portion of adults in the UK take dietary supplements regularly? In fact, nearly half consume them weekly or more often. Yet, despite their popularity, many healthcare professionals suggest that a significant number of these supplements may not be worth your hard-earned money.

One pharmacist, well-known for sharing health tips on social media, recently addressed this very issue. She pointed out that there are certain supplements she personally avoids understanding the ingredients and benefits thoroughly. If you've ever wondered whether your vitamin regiment is truly helping you, keep reading to find out which supplements might be doing more harm than good.

Gummy vitamins have exploded in popularity. You can find them in all shapes and flavors, from brightly colored gummies to those featuring natural additives like Chicory Root prebiotics or Ayurvedic herbs aimed at enhancing hair growth. Even fun minion-themed gummies for kids are now common.

However, these tasty treats might not be as healthy as they seem. Pharmacists caution that many gummy vitamins resemble sugary candies more than genuine supplements. They're often loaded with sugar and unnecessary fillers, which can tempt you to consume more than the recommended amount. Overdoing it could lead to an overload of certain minerals, risking your body's balance.

To give you some perspective, typical gummies may contain between 2 and 8 grams of sugar per serving. Considering daily advised limits on sugar intake, especially for children and adults, these hidden sugars can add up quickly. And if you find sugar-free gummies on shelves, they might still contain alternative sweeteners, such as fruit juices or sugar alcohols, which aren’t always easy on your digestion and could lead to uncomfortable side effects.

Besides the sugar concerns, many gummy vitamins actually don’t pack enough nutrients to make a real difference in your health. This raises the question: are these cute, candy-like supplements really worth it, or are they just a sugary snack in disguise?

Multivitamins are marketed as a quick fix for people who might not get enough vitamins and minerals from their diet. Despite their convenience, it’s important to know that these supplements don’t follow a strict universal standard, meaning the types and amounts of nutrients included can vary widely from one brand to another.

Because of this inconsistency, some multivitamins only offer tiny doses of each vitamin and mineral, which may be so small that they barely make a health impact. On the other hand, if you’re eating a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods and still take a multivitamin, you could end up consuming too many vitamins and minerals. Too much of certain nutrients can actually be harmful, leading to potential health issues over time.

A pharmacist’s advice is to not rely on multivitamins as a substitute for eating balanced, wholesome meals. They shouldn’t be viewed as a fix for poor eating habits, but rather as a possible small addition when necessary and recommended by a healthcare provider.

Recently, supplements designed specifically for hair, skin, and nail health have gained a lot of attention. Everyone wants radiant skin, glossy hair, and strong nails, so it's no surprise these products are booming in popularity.

However, many of these beauty-focused vitamins often contain the key ingredients in amounts that are too low to truly make a difference. While each brand and product differs in what they include and their effectiveness, scientific evidence supporting their benefit on healthy individuals without nutrient deficiencies is quite limited.

It's important to recognize that unless you have a diagnosed vitamin shortage or specific health concerns, these supplements might not deliver the improvements they promise. Sometimes, results like clearer skin and shinier hair come more from overall healthy lifestyle choices than from popping a pill.

It helps to approach beauty supplements with realistic expectations and consider focusing on a balanced diet, good hydration, sleep, and sun protection as your first line of defense for healthy hair and skin.

Consulting with a healthcare professional before starting any beauty supplement can help you avoid spending money on products that might not be necessary or effective for your unique needs.

If you’re wondering whether multivitamins truly benefit your overall health, recent research offers some valuable insights. A clinical trial involving older adults found that taking multivitamin and multimineral supplements daily for several weeks didn’t significantly change their sense of wellbeing compared to those who took a placebo.

Moreover, a major long-term study analyzing nearly 400,000 adults without serious illnesses looked into whether daily multivitamin use affects lifespan. Surprisingly, the results showed that people taking multivitamins were actually more likely to die within the study period than those who did not use these supplements. This led researchers to conclude that using multivitamins to increase longevity is not supported by scientific evidence.

What does this mean for you? While supplements can be helpful in certain cases, such as diagnosed deficiencies, relying on multivitamins without medical advice might not provide the health boost you expect and could even have unintended effects.

Always remember that the best approach to nutrition involves a balanced diet filled with whole foods—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins—and regular health check-ups to tailor any supplementation to your personal needs.

Before adding any new supplement to your routine, having a conversation with your doctor or pharmacist can protect you from unnecessary expenses and potential health risks, helping you make the safest choice for your wellness journey.