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By David Barr
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I must preface this discussion
by saying that it is out of genuine concern for the health
of our society that I write this - and it is a concern
for us all. Even cold-hearted pragmatists, who live by the
dictum of "every man for himself", must recognize
the problem of rights violations and the economic consequences
of our serious obesity and diabetes pandemic.
If you've been following the
recent events in Europe and Canada you'll know that supplementation
is under attack. Wide restrictions are being placed on what
people are allowed to put into their bodies, and people are
paying attention to this here in the United States.
Now I'm not suggesting that
all supplements are going to be outright banned or that restrictions
are going to be implemented tomorrow. I am suggesting however
that the current practice of lies and deceit practiced by
the supplement industry is going to ultimately be it's own
undoing, and we're all the worse for it.
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"Regardless
of ones ultimate decision, people have the right
to all of the information before making a choice. You're
currently being denied that right."
The problem with the industry is three fold:
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1) Claims are patently deceptive
2) There is no call for culpability
3) Potentially harmful ingredients
are used without full disclosure
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An
Expectation of Failure
With a 98% failure rate
the sports supplement industry is particularly liable. Can you think
of any other industry with such an abysmal track record that doesn't
collapse -much to the delight of those negatively affected by it?
Now how is it that this industry not only survives, but thrives
in spite of itself?
This will not continue unchecked,
and we're all going to suffer for it.
Consider that even the cosmetics industry,
which deals with external application only, must back up
their claims. How is it that the supplement industry can essentially
claim whatever they want when we're actually putting this stuff
into our bodies?
Worse yet, known toxins like Creatoxin
(Glycocyamine)
and the uremic toxin Anticreatine (Guanidinopropionic
acid) are specifically being added to products without users
being aware of any potential effects. While there's no question
that users must accept some of the responsibility for what they're
putting into their bodies, the abhorrent practice begins with the
availability of the product and absence of full disclosure.
How This Affects You
So you're one of the smart ones. You
only used proven supplements and avoid the rest. But you're still
going to be affected, because this tenuous thread that's bearing
the weight of the industry can't hold on forever. Something is going
to give.
It's just like what happened with
ephedrine and androstenedione. Someone is going to hurt themselves,
blame a particular supplement product (with or without just cause),
and then the eyes of the entire nation will be on this "evil"
product.
And what will we have in defense?
A clean track record? Far from it.
Information disclosure? Hardly.
Absence of known toxins from products?
Strike three.
And then our supplement freedoms are
going to be in serious trouble. In the middle of a worldwide health
crisis, even products that can help with obesity and will be under
fire. Also consider that many toxins take years for the side effects
to manifest themselves, it's only a matter of time for someone who's
ingesting them (most likely unintentionally) in an athletic supplement.
If you think that this can't happen
look no further than the country of my birth: Canada. In this Eurocentric
little brother of the US, it is perfectly legal to walk around with
marijuana in the streets -actually a source of national pride for
many. But it is illegal to do the same with the supplement carnitine.
A product that actually has proven benefits for weight loss and
diabetes with a complete absence of side effects and it's illegal
(in the middle of a pandemic no less).
What You Can Do: Your Rights
Regardless of ones ultimate decision,
people have the right to all of the information before making a
choice You're currently being denied that right.
1. Demand Information
As personal hero (a term I do not
use lightly) Carl Sagan brilliantly stated: "Extraordinary
claims require extraordinary evidence."
You have the right to information
about the claims of products, particularly the evidence they are
using to support their assertions.
2. Demand Culpability
When the extraordinary claims of the
product are not lived up to you have every right to call the manufacturer
on their bluff! We've come to expect failure from this industry
and simply roll over when it happens. This is not acceptable in
any other industry! How are we letting it be so with products we're
putting into our body?
3. Demand Full Disclosure
You have the right to know if a supplement
product contains potentially harmful ingredients. It is litigious
for a company to lie about this, and just as bad for them to claim
ignorance. Know what you, and those around you, are ingesting.
4. Spread The Word
If a product doesn't live up to its
claims, tell people about it. If there are potentially harmful ingredients
in a supplement let them know! Most importantly, if you're among
those who have experienced negative side effects from toxin-containing
athletic supplements, report them to RaiseTheBarr.net
and the Consumer Protection Branch of The Federal Trade Commission
HERE.
Conclusion
We don't like seeing people lied to
or having their rights violated. Worse yet it may lead to serious
consequences -not only in the short term from individual harm, but
the more widespread damage of potentially helpful treatments for
common diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Raise your expectations. Raise
The Bar.
About The Author
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