First and foremost, if you’re experiencing symptoms or have concerns about your health, please speak to a medical professional before turning to supplements.

TikTok Shop is absolutely booming right now.

And alongside the clothes, gadgets and things you definitely didn’t need but somehow ended up buying 😂… there are A LOT of supplements.

Fat burners.

“Metabolism” gummies.

Testosterone boosters.

Hormone-balancing supplements.

Sleep aids.

Greens powders.

Gut health supplements.

You name the problem and there’s probably someone online selling you something that claims to fix it.

Now, I’m definitely not saying all supplements are bad.

There are supplements with plenty of good evidence behind them and situations where supplementation can be really useful – take Creatine for example.

What I do have an issue with is when clever marketing makes us believe we need something without really understanding what we’re buying.

An influencer telling you a product completely changed their energy, hormones, digestion or weight doesn’t mean it’ll do the same for you.

Before buying something, ask:

What is actually in it?

Is there good evidence behind it?

Is the dose appropriate?

Could it interact with medication I’m already taking?

And probably the biggest one…

Do I actually need it?

If you’re experiencing persistent tiredness, changes in your mood, unexplained changes in weight, low libido, changes to your menstrual cycle or anything else that doesn’t feel right, don’t let clever online marketing diagnose the problem for you.

Speak to a medical professional and get the appropriate advice first.

Supplements should do exactly what their name suggests…

Supplement.

They shouldn’t replace a balanced diet, regular movement, good sleep or appropriate medical care.

By all means use TikTok Shop to buy that ridiculous kitchen gadget you absolutely don’t need…

Just maybe don’t use it as your doctor. 😂

Erin Grant
Head of Gyms | MNU Certified Nutritionist