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You are here: Home / Supplements / Do Supplements Work (The Truth And Lies)

Do Supplements Work (The Truth And Lies)

Jamie · May 18, 2019 · 8 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclaimer for more information.

While supplementation is not a mandatory aspect of your program, it can definitely improve the overall convenience and effectiveness of your fitness plan if you go about it correctly. There is an endless number of different products out there to choose from, the overwhelming majority of them being overhyped, overpriced, and downright ineffective.

The key is knowing which specific supplements to use, the highest quality brands, along with the proper dosing and timing. I don’t want to deter you from using supplements, they definitely have a place in your routine I just want you to understand how the industry works and how to recognize what to stay away from.

There are 7.7 billion people on this planet and one-third of them are overweight or obese that equates to 256 billion potential customers the fitness industry can take advantage of. The supplement companies know that lean, muscular, impressive bodies are in extremely high demand and they’ll do just about anything to convince you that the answer lies in their new “breakthrough” product.

got ethics is written asking if you know thr truth about supplements

Table of Contents

  • What Supplements Are Actually Beneficial
  • Whey protein
  • Creatine Monohydrate
  • BCAA’s
  • Fish Oil
  • Multi Vitamin
  • Do Supplements Actually Work
  • Are Supplements A Waste Of Money
  • The Truth About The Supplement Industry
  • Supplement Companies are Great At Conning You

What Supplements Are Actually Beneficial

These are the only supplements you need to consider using. Anything else and you’re trying to substitute hard work with a short cut which will only shorten your results in the end.

Whey protein

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Double Rich Chocolate, 5 Pound (Packaging May Vary)
  • Packaging may vary - New look, with the same trusted Quality!
  • GOLD STANDARD 100% WHEY BLEND – 24g blended protein consisting of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and whey peptides to support lean muscle mass – they dont call it the GOLD STANDARD of quality for nothing
  • OVER 5G OF BCAAS ‚Äì help build lean and strong muscles with BCAAs
  • 3-4G CARBS, 1-3G SUGAR, AND 1-1.5G FAT, GLUTEN FREE, No Sucralose in Double Rich Chocolate Flavor
  • INSTANTIZED – improves mixability to prevent lumps and clumps
  • BANNED SUBSTANCE TESTED – highest quality control measures so you feel comfortable and safe consuming the product
  • 4 SIZES TO CHOOSE FROM – 1, 2, 5, and 10-pound options available
  • OVER 20 DECADENT FLAVORS TO CHOOSE FROM
  • ANY-TIME FORMULA – great before or after exercise, between meals, with a meal, or any time of day where you need extra protein in your nutrition
  • Most awarded, best-selling whey protein powder on the planet. (Provided by: Euro monitor International Limited; consumer health 2019 edition, sports protein powder category, % retail value share, 2018 data)
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Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Creatine Monohydrate

Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Capsules, Keto Friendly, 2500mg, 300 Capsules (Packaging May Vary)
  • 2.5g pure creatine monohydrate per serving
  • Supports muscle size, strength, and power when combined with high intensity activities
  • Convenient capsules 2 cap serving size makes taking creatine quick and easy without the need to mix a powder into a liquid
  • Easy to swallow capsules. Can be used for pre and post workouts
  • Available in 100, 200, 300 capsule bottles
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Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

BCAA’s

Optimum Nutrition Instantized BCAA Capsules, Keto Friendly Branched Chain Essential Amino Acids, 1000mg, 400 Count
  • BCAAs 2:1:1 ratio of leucine, isoleucine, valine
  • RECOVERY take your training efforts to the next level by supporting endurance and recovery
  • ACTIVE LIFESTYLE help your active lifestyle by supplementing with ON BCAA capsules
  • EASY TO SWALLOW CAPSULES
  • AVAILABLE IN 60 count, 200 count, 400 count BOTTLES
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Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Fish Oil

Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega, Lemon Flavor – 1280 mg Omega-3-90 Soft Gels – High-Potency Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplement with EPA & DHA – Promotes Brain & Heart Health – Non-GMO – 45 Servings
  • Why Omega-3s; Research shows that the essential fatty acids EPA & DHA in fish oil support heart, brain, eye, & immune health; Omega-3s may also help support a healthy mood
  • Doctor-Recommended Formula; Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega features high concentration omega-3 fish oil in soft gels; This formula meets the daily recommended dose suggested by the American Heart Association to support a healthy heart
  • Better Absorption, Better Taste, No Fishy Burps; All of our omega-3 fish oil concentrates are in the triglyceride molecular form (the form naturally found in fish) for optimal absorption; Great lemon taste
  • Purity Guaranteed; Every batch of Nordic Naturals fish oil is crafted from fresh, wild-caught, omega-rich fish; Nordic Naturals is committed to using only non-GMO ingredients; Gluten- & dairy-free; No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
  • Ethical Innovation; Nordic Naturals has always been at the forefront of sustainable and ethical practices in the natural products industry; Through science and innovation, we are committed to delivering safe, effective nutrients for optimal wellness
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Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Multi Vitamin

Controlled Labs Orange Triad:: Multivitamin, Joint, Digestion, And Immune, 270-Count Bottle
  • ⚡DYNAMIC TRIO: Our specially formulated and powerful multivitamins pack a powerful punch using only the highest-quality and most effective vitamins, minerals, and nutrients essential for muscle recovery so you dont miss another workout! Taken daily, this dynamic multivitamin works to support joint, digestion, and immune function-in one serving! Orange Triad helps to lubricate joints and cartilage while building resiliency for connective tissues so you can take your performance to the next level
  • ⚡TOP ATHLETE APPROVED: Orange Triad was designed and formulated for top athletes who intentionally subject their bodies to incredible amounts of stress with training and cardio. This vitamin and mineral-infused supplement works to boost your compromised immune system, while simultaneously replenishing your depleted muscles for a quicker and more effective recovery. Optimize your results when you take our Orange Triad tablets so you can breakdown, recover, and re-build effectively.
  • ⚡OUR GUARANTEE: Our goal is to bring you a multivitamin that works to support joint, digestion, and immune function so you can continue to increase your results. We made it easy for you to get the essential vitamins and nutrients you need and packed it into easy, on-the-go tablets so you can successfully recover. If Orange Triad wasn’t the most effective, supplement/multivitamin you’ve ever taken, we’ll give you your money back - guaranteed!
  • ⚡INSANE INGREDIENTS: Not only does our multivitamin contain the most effective minerals and nutrients, but we also included Chondroitin and Glucosamine which are essential for building and maintaining the connective tissues found in joints that often deteriorate from excessive amounts of stress during weight training or cardio. We also added Echinacea which is an herb commonly used to combat colds and strengthen the immune system. Replenish, rebuild, and refuel when you choose Orange Triad.
  • ⚡TIPS FROM THE PROS: Orange Triad multivitamin is a great addition to your everyday nutrition as it provides complexes that help support your joints before, during, and after a workout allowing you to maximize your results. Orange Triad has digestive aids and immune system builders so you can continue weightlifting, running, cycling, hiking, and more! Designed for serious athletes, designed for serious results. So whatever you do, we have the daily multivitamin for YOU.
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Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Do Supplements Actually Work

That depends on the type you take and what your expectations are.

When you look to buy a supplement you need to make sure it is third party tested to make sure that all of the ingredients have been proven to actually be in the product.

3rd party testing will also determine if it’s safe to consume and if it’s effective.

As far as your expectations go, a lot of people think supplements are a shortcut or a magic pill to get the results they want.

This is absurd thinking, how much muscle you build, or how much weight you lose is determined by the intensity in which you workout, how strict your diet is, and how committed you are.

In other words you have to work your ass off.

Supplements are there to help you get an edge not make it easier.

Are Supplements A Waste Of Money

A large percentage are bullshit and are a complete waste of money, but there are some that have proven their effectiveness over the years.

  • Whey protein
  • Creatine monohydrate
  • Bcaas
  • Fish oil
  • Multivitamins

Make sure before you buy a supplement that it’s 3rd party tested and that you are only using it to fortify your diet or to give yourself a boost in burning fat or building muscle.

The Truth About The Supplement Industry

Before we go any further, I will go on the record to say that supplements do work, but most of the fitness supplements available on the market are marginally effective at best, and more than not, a complete waste of money.

The supplement companies know that lean, muscular, sexy bodies are in high demand, and they’ll do just about anything to convince you that the answer lies in their next breakthrough product.

After all who wouldn’t like to pop back a few pills and instantly develop a brand new body.

All they have to do is hype up a random combination of ingredients, slap it together into a fancy bottle, place an excessive price tag on it, stick it on the shelves, and people will fork over their cash every time.

As long as there is a compelling advertisement and an uninformed consumer willing to take the bait, this unfortunate situation will continue to perpetuate itself over and over again.

See, the supplementation industry used to be highly regulated. You had to prove that your product was safe and effective before it was put on the market.

A few changes to the rules by a senator in Utah changed everything. Now, the supplement industry is no longer regulated by the FDA.

As a result of this deregulation, the supplement industry literally exploded. Anyone and everyone were free to create and sell supplements, and the marketplace began overflowing with every type of product imaginable.

Because of the intense competition. companies began employing all sorts of deceptive tactics as a means of getting ahead.

  1. Outrageously false product claims
  2. Low quality fillers
  3. Ultra low cost manufacturing methods
  4. Blatant label fraud

All of these bad habits gathered momentum and led to the current state of the industry. A state where most of the products in the marketplace are nothing more than overhyped, overpriced, ineffective fluff.

Supplement Companies are Great At Conning You

Some of the more easily influenced of you out there might be thinking…

“But I read a published article in a fitness magazine about product XYZ. How could they publish this information if it was blatantly untrue?”

It’s because fitness magazines are owned by supplement companies.

Did you ever wonder why over half of a fitness magazines content is nothing more than advertising for supplements and related products?

They don’t make their money from your monthly subscriptions, they make their money by selling supplements. And they do this by packing every single month’s publication with a gigantic mass of advertisements and bogus articles which are written purely for the purpose of promoting a particular supplement.

 picture of a sign stating reality check ahead, this is in reference  to the shady practices of supplement companies

Don’t believe me? Do the research…

  • MuscleMag and Oxygen are owned by MuscleTech.
  • Ironman is owned by MuscleLink.
  • Muscular Development is owned by Twinlab.
  • Muscle and Fitness and Flex are owned by Weider.
  • Muscle Media is owned by EAS.

Muscle magazines are not reliable sources of information, because all of the strategies you read about are specifically manipulated to get you to buy more supplements.

You need reliable information that you can trust. Building an impressive body is hard enough, but when you combine it with all the lies and fraud in the supplement industry, you have a real problem on your hands.

You work extremely hard for every pound of muscle you build and every ounce of fat you burn, and you deserve a training, nutrition, and supplementation plan that delivers the results it promises.

I’m going to get a bit more detailed now and reveal the 5 fundamental flaws that render the majority of fitness supplements out there nearly useless…

 composition of creatine monohydrate

1. They use ineffective ingredients that are not backed by reliable research

Let me ask you when was the last time you studied an actual research paper or reviewed a reliable study conducted on the latest supplement you used?

My guess is, that you never have.

Far more often than not, the research is either sorely lacking or non existent.

Although there are literally thousands of compounds being promoted as muscle building and fat burning aids, only a very small percentage of these are backed by reliable research to substantiate their effectiveness.

In the world of supplementation, marketing is everything. Take some obscure ingredient, hype it up as the next big thing, support it with some blatantly false yet convincing research, and watch the cash come pouring in.

Take NO2 (nitric oxide) supplements for example. They are promoted for their supposed ability to increase blood flow to the muscles, translating to greater pumps in the gym, improved nutrient delivery, and increased performance.

Did you know that there is currently no research clearly demonstrating that arginine AKG (the active ingredient in NO2 products) increases nitric oxide levels in the body, and that this increase in Nitric Oxide leads to gains in muscle size, strength or endurance?

Yet, NO2 products are some of the hottest selling products on the market today.

This is just one of the countless examples that have come and gone over the years. It’s a serious testament to the effectiveness of proper marketing and the power of the placebo effect,

It’s downright pathetic that companies would charge you money for products without a single shred of real evidence to back them up, but this is simply the way the industry works.

a picture of the word truth with a magnifying glass with word lies inside it, asking if supplements work

2. They provide supplements with weak dosages that produce no measurable benefits

Of course, there are several compounds that are backed by solid research and that do show safe and positive effects on body composition and gym performance.

But simply including that compound in a particular supplement is not enough. It also needs to be present in an amount that produces measurable results.

This is another area where many products fail miserably.

The average consumer sees a recognizable ingredient listed on the product label and assumes this is good enough. Little do they know that the actual amount of that ingredient that is included in the product is completely and utterly useless for building muscle or burning fat.

But because companies are not required to list the specific amount of each ingredient on their labels (they only have to list the total amount for all the ingredients combined), you have no way of knowing what’s exactly in the bottle.

Is it a potent muscle building blend or a pill full of rice flour? Believe it or not, the latter is often the case.

In the supplement industry, they call it “pixie dusting” the practice of including minimal amounts of each ingredient as a way to minimize production costs.

And at the end of the day, cutting costs is really what this is all about.

The supplement industry is ultra-competitive, and for retail stores to even consider buying the product, it must be priced very low. For the company to make any real money their production costs must be minimal. In many cases, they can develop a product for literally just a few bucks, and then sell it tom you for $50 or more.

It’s not the supplement company or the retail store that gets screwed over, It’s you.

picture of text saying fake news referring to whether or not supplements work

3. In some cases the supplement companies lie about the true ingredient amounts that are present

As if this wasn’t already enough, the sad truth is that some supplements don’t even contain what their label says.

If you’re going to get a supplement that doesn’t work, you should at least get 100% of what doesn’t work.

This is another way they cut down production costs to increase profits. If a company only includes 80% of what their label says they automatically increase their profits by 20%.

When you’re moving thousands of units per month you’re talking about a lot of profit being  made.

Label fraud is common practice for small no-name brands but it is more common than you’d expect even with the big name brand companies.

Unfortunately, there’s no way for you to know this unless you get the product tested by a third party which is completely impractical for the average consumer, so you have no choice but to take the supplement company’s word.

4. Supplements are produced using low quality manufacturing methods

Even if a particular supplement overcomes all 3 of the previous obstacles (and that is extremely rare), you still have to worry about the underlying product quality.

Most people are under the false impression that every supplement company owns its own manufacturing facility and personally develops all of its own products.

This vision of high tech machinery and scientists walking around in white lab coats is almost never the case.

Almost all companies outsource the production of their products to 3rd party supplement manufacturers. And while there is nothing inherently wrong with this, it can become a huge problem when lower quality manufacturers are used as a way to further decrease production costs.

  • Are you receiving pure micronized creatine from Germany or cheap alternatives from China?
  • Are your supplements being made in a cGMP certified facility or one that uses cheap manufacturing methods?
  • Are they 3rd party tested?
  • Are they free of harmful contaminants?

When low-quality manufacturers are used, it’s like playing Russian roulette. You’ll never know if the product you’re getting is truly effective, or even worse is it safe for you to consume.

picture of protein and bcaas

5. The true effects of their products are grossly exaggerated with outrageous marketing claims

I’m sure all of us would love to lie lazily on the couch, pop back a few pills, and see serious results, but unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that.

Achieving a truly impressive body requires time and dedication.

That’s not what many supplement companies would have you believe, though.

With misleading ads that portray the process like a walk in the park as long as you take their supplement, these companies are concocting a complete fantasy and are misleading the true effects of their products.

While this doesn’t say anything about the actual supplement itself, it speaks volumes about the integrity of the companies behind them.

Would you buy something from somebody you didn’t trust? Then why buy supplements from companies who are perfectly willing to lie straight to your face?

The right supplements can certainly assist you in building muscle and burning fat at a faster rate, but only when used in conjunction with proper training and nutrition. This is a simple fact, and supplement companies should be fully transparent about this.

Supplements

Jamie

About Jamie

Once weighing in at 305 pounds, it was along his journey to become healthier that Jamie discovered how deceptive and potentially unhealthy the fitness industry can be. Jamie's technical education as well as his personal weight loss and fitness struggles have instilled in him the confidence that he can help others reach their goals – *without* all the mistakes he once made.

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Comments

  1. AvatarSimon says

    May 30, 2019 at 2:49 AM

    Awesome article.

    Reply
    • JamieJamie says

      May 30, 2019 at 5:55 AM

      Thanks Simon
      If you have any questions in the future please don’t hesitate to ask.

      Reply
  2. AvatarMark says

    May 31, 2019 at 5:33 AM

    Relevant Information for me that I was actually looking for.

    Reply
    • NOT FOR BLOG POSTSNOT FOR BLOG POSTS says

      May 31, 2019 at 11:30 AM

      Thanks Mark I appreciate the positive comment, if you have any questions in the future don’t hesitate to ask.

      Reply
  3. AvatarFrazier says

    May 31, 2019 at 2:31 PM

    Learned some new stuff with very detailed information. Thanks for your valuable resources keep share the information like this…

    Reply
    • NOT FOR BLOG POSTSNOT FOR BLOG POSTS says

      May 31, 2019 at 3:02 PM

      Hi Frazier
      I’ll always try to be as honest as possible so that people can hopefully learn from my mistakes, please reach out if you have any questions or advice in the future.

      Reply
  4. AvatarLaura says

    June 3, 2019 at 3:55 PM

    So what products are good for you… I’m just getting started in body building and I dont really know where to start.

    Reply
    • JamieJamie says

      June 3, 2019 at 6:06 PM

      Hi laura
      If you’re completely new to bodybuilding the one tip I can give you about supplementation is that you want to receive the majority of your nutrients and protein from whole foods, supplements should only be a way for you to fortify your protein or nutrient needs or for convenience.

      That being said Optimum nutrition is one of the best companies around, they use 3rd party testing to validate all their products. Here is a link to an article listing the most popular supplements and the best brands to buy for each one https://truismfitness.com/supplements-build-muscle/

      If you are interested in something that you don’t see in this article let me know and I’ll help you out.

      Reply

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