Now that we live in a full-blown MAHA land where being more proactive about our health is all the rage, I’ve been paying closer attention to a huge challenge to my wellbeing and my wallet: health product advertisements. Indeed, if aliens were to scan our TV and social media, they would assume we were either the sickest or healthiest species in the universe.
One day, when my wife was watching a rom-com, she decided to keep track of all the health-related commercials. In a two-hour period, she realized she could lower her A1C, reverse joint pain and damage, boost her brain, max out her muscles with protein shakes, relieve her dry eyes, help clear her skin, screen for colon cancer and breathe a lot easier. She almost suffered an ad-induced overdose.
Focusing on living as well as we can for as long as we can, now referred to as a good “healthspan,” is a worthy pursuit. We’ve heard countless times that the best thing to do for our well-being is to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and keep down the sugar, carbs and processed foods. But such simple suggestions remain elusive for those with busy lives or who lack the required discipline, and so we look for the “quick fix” to problems, even if it really doesn’t fix anything.
I get the desire to live healthier, and with a growing market of mid-lifers and older people, we are relentlessly saturated with pitches promising to make us feel and look better. Just swallow this pill, inject that drug, drink this mix, apply that cream or wear this mask emitting tiny red lights. The market for such over-the-counter products is huge, with Americans spending billions a year on dietary supplements alone. This shouldn’t be surprising. Most people are willing to try anything to help themselves that doesn’t appear harmful or would break the bank. I’m one of those… to an extent.
Unfortunately, gimmicks abound. I’ve learned to beware of pitches like “try this hack” or “try this trick,” which leads you to believe something simple can fix a problem with little effort or cost. These disingenuous phrases pop up in numerous ads on platforms like YouTube or Rumble, giving the viewer a ten-second countdown before they can be turned off. Some might appear to hawk something as common as a bottle of vinegar (a magic cure-all) or baking soda (another one).
When encountering a product ad peddling its wondrous outcomes, be aware how often words like “may,” “might,” “can,” “could” and “possibly” are injected in the pitch. These are qualifying terms that get manufacturers and advertisers off the hook for unfulfilled promises and false assertions about product effectiveness. Doing your research on credible healthcare sites like healthline.com or webmd.com helps separate the hype from reality. And be careful about reading product reviews, especially on company websites. Even third-party sites can be hit with planted positive reviews. Be mindful that just because something works out for some people doesn’t mean it will help you. Everyone reacts differently because our bodies and health challenges are unique.
Finally, remember when the term “subscription” applied only to newspapers and magazines? Now, any product for those desperate to feel or look better asks customers to “subscribe” to receive the best price. But do you really want to give a company routine access to your bank account? It’s the product marketer’s goldmine! I tried this with a supplement company once, and the next thing I knew, I had extra bottles I didn’t need. And no, I wasn’t given a courtesy “heads up” that they were hitting my account. I cancelled. When I did, I suddenly felt my stress level, blood pressure and overall well-being improve!
