According to one review, so-called “health” products like collagen creams and detox teas can be a waste of money.
Consumer champion Which one? He also pointed to vitamin injections and discovered that their main ingredient is “usually fruit juice.”
This is despite products claiming to increase energy and fatigue cost around £2 for 60ml, around the same price per liter as Moët & Chandon champagne.
Which? examined the ingredients, price, and health claims promoted by six types of wellness products and supplements.
Which warned that “stylish packaging” and “premium prices” are not always a sign of good quality and that many wellness products are overpriced.
He also asked experts to comment on the effectiveness of the articles.
Their review said: “While the elegant packaging might promise a world of health benefits, our research suggests that in many cases there is currently no strong enough evidence to justify the price.”
“Or, you can easily get the same benefits elsewhere for less money.”
the revision He concluded that vitamin injections were unnecessary for people already eating a healthy, balanced diet.
Additionally, the vitamins contained in juices, including vitamin C and zinc, can be purchased at a more affordable price elsewhere.
He said the popular Moju brand’s immunity drink “contains a variety of vitamins that you can get much cheaper elsewhere.”
Detox teas are also not worth it, the review ruled. The ASA, which regulates advertising claims in the UK, says there is no herbal tea that can “detoxify the body”.
Our kidneys, liver and digestive system “already do that for us”, says the Which? review. regarding the detoxification of our body. He named Twinings for continuing to market its detox tea.
Experts have also said that it is “impossible” to create specific pain relievers that can specifically help with headaches, menstrual pain or joint pain, and you often pay a premium price for the “package.”
Dr. Andrew Moore, a pain specialist and former senior researcher at the University of Oxford, explained that it might be worth paying more for ibuprofen lysine, but stressed that there is no need to pay more for brand-name products marketed for a specific pain. .
Which? He discovered that Tesco’s own brand ibuprofen lysine costs £2.25 for 12.
The supermarket’s Migraine Relief costs £2.35 for the same, while the equivalent packet of Nurofen migraine relief tablets with the same active ingredient costs £4.
As for functional mushrooms like reishi, lion’s mane, and chaga, which ones? He said there is “not enough evidence yet to suggest they work.”
Which? noted that some health claims about reishi mushrooms are allowed because this ingredient is currently under review.
However, claims made about other types of mushrooms “are often based on different common tested ingredients, such as omega-3s and vitamins B12 and D, rather than the mushrooms themselves.”
Expensive vitamin injections that claim to boost immunity are far from a panacea for all your health problems.
For example, Dirtea Lion’s Mane powder (£39.99 for 30 servings) contains no added extras and the packaging claims it “may support nerve and brain health”.
Last year, the ASA banned several of the brand’s ads on social media for implying that its product could prevent, treat or cure conditions such as anxiety and dementia, Which? said.
Dirtea said he was committed to “supporting rigorous scientific research to better understand and validate the health benefits of [functional mushroom] products.”
Although there are some studies that support claims that collagen creams and supplements are good for bone, joint and skin health, these trials are generally funded by brands and many of the benefits are not proven by independent studies. on a large scale.
Experts also reported Which? that when collagen is applied to the skin, the molecules are too large to even penetrate the outer layer of the skin.
Even when products are broken down into peptides, they are unlikely to reach the deeper layers of the skin to have lasting effects. He named Absolute Collagen in his review.
The research also highlighted that collagen creams often contain other ingredients, such as glycerin for hydration and retinol for rejuvenation, which could explain any viable improvements in the skin.
Anti-hair loss shampoos have also been criticized in Which? review.
Because hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, from genetics, illness and stress to pregnancy, hormonal changes and poor diet, there can be no one solution that helps everyone.
For example, caffeine shampoo claims to help people whose hair is sensitive to the hormone dihydrotestosterone, which can shrink hair follicles and slow growth.
However, large-scale studies have not proven the effectiveness of caffeinated shampoos.
The ASA ruled that caffeinated shampoo brand Alpecin was unable to advertise its ability to reduce hair loss in 2018 after the ASA dismissed eight studies the company provided to prove its effectiveness.
Which? He said: ‘Since then, claims about caffeinated shampoos have been relatively vague, with ‘energizing hair’ and ‘stimulating roots’ among the purported benefits.’
