Why is there a supplement craze if they don’t even work?
6/5/202635 min
One reason the $70 billion supplement industry is set to double in the next seven years? Lax regulation.
On today's show, we tell the story of a century-long battle between the U.S. government and … you, the people, blinded by your love of a magic pill.
We’re talking about protein powders, pre-workouts, creatine, stuff for gut health, joint health, vitamin C, turmeric supplements. All that. You might not wanna hear this.
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This episode was hosted by Sarah Gonzalez and Jane Black. It was produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler, edited by Marianne McCune, and fact checked by Sierra Juarez with help with Vito Emanuel. It was engineered by Robert Rodriguez with help from Jimmy Keeley. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money*’s executive producer.*
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
This message comes from Edward Jones, where they believe rich is about taking care of what gives your life meaning. That's why your financial advisor personalizes your plan to help you preserve your progress and create something that lasts. Let's find your rich. Edward Jones, member SIPC.
Sarah Gonzalez· Host0:18
[instrumental music] This is Planet Money from NPR.
Jane Black· Host0:22
[door closing] You may have noticed we're living in the midst of a supplement craze. People are Vitamaxing, biohacking so they can live longer. Everyone's talking about gut health.
Sarah Gonzalez· Host0:35
I feel very aware of my gut health right now. It's true. Uh, the supplement industry is a $70 billion industry in the United States, and growing fast. We are talking protein powders, pre-workouts, probiotics, fat burners.
Jane Black· Host0:49
There's joint health, gut health. There's glowing skin. I love glowing skin.
Sarah Gonzalez· Host0:53
Better sleeps, stronger nails, all of that.
Jane Black· Host0:55
75% of Americans take supplements.
Sarah Gonzalez· Host0:58
A lot of people.
Jane Black· Host0:58
Yeah, like 100,000 different options you can choose from.
Sarah Gonzalez· Host1:02
Now, supplements are everything from creatine or bovine colostrum, sometimes put in a martini, to your daily vitamin C gummies or echinacea. And because there are so many supplements out there, we kinda wanted to see, like, how easy it is to get a new supplement pill or gummy on the market.
Jane Black· Host1:20
Like, could we make a supplement?
Sarah Gonzalez· Host1:22
Okay, what if we wanna make a supplement?
Frank Cantone· Guest1:25
Okay.
Sarah Gonzalez· Host1:25
Like a real NPR Planet Money