Traversing the dangerous landscape of health products is a difficult task. All well-intentioned consumers have to be cautious about the beneficial claims of some sneaky hucksters who are out for a quick buck… even if it’s at the expense of your health.
While the Internet has made it easier for said scammers to try to pull the wool over your eyes, it’s also a great tool for researching their claims. You just need to be willing to take a few minutes of your time to do so. And if anything is worth your time, isn’t it your health?
Forbes.com developed a list of “the most egregious, dangerous, aggressively marketed health scams,” according to an article by Jacqueline Detwiler.
They used a panel of experts that included Richard Cleland, assistant director for the division of advertising practices at the Federal Trade Commission; Dr. Robert Baratz, M.D., D.D.S., Ph.D., president of the National Council Against Health Fraud; and Andrea Giancoli, R.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, who is an expert on supplements and diet fads. The group got together and pointed out the most damaging scams they’ve seen in the last five years.
The picks were based on the amount of harm done to you and your wallet, the vulnerability of the targeted patients, and the scientific inaccuracy of the claims. You’ll see things like those magnetic bracelets and ephedra diet pills.
Unfortunately, some of the products on the slideshow over at Forbes.com don’t come with much detail as to why the claims are dangerous or faulty, but it’s worth a quick look.