The health products you DON’T really need – including £2 vitamin shots that cost as much per liter as Moët & Chandon champagne (despite it being mostly just fruit juice!)
According to one review, so-called “health products” like collagen creams and detox teas can be a waste of money.
Consumer Champion Which one? also focused on vitamin shots and discovered that their main ingredient is “typical fruit juice.”
This is despite the fact that the products claiming to boost 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 of six types of wellness products and supplements.
He warned that ‘slick packaging’ and ‘premium prices’ are not always a sign of good quality and that many wellness products are overpriced
Experts were also asked for an opinion on the effectiveness of the items.
The review said: ‘While the slick packaging may promise a world of health benefits, our research suggests that in many cases there isn’t currently enough robust evidence to justify the price.
‘Or you could just as easily get the same benefits elsewhere, for less money.’
The review concluded that vitamin injections were not necessary for people who already eat a healthy and balanced diet.
Additionally, the vitamins the juices contain, including vitamin C and zinc, can be purchased elsewhere at a more affordable price.
It said the immunity drink from popular brand Moju ‘contains a range of vitamins that you could get much cheaper elsewhere’.
Detox teas aren’t worth your money either, the review concluded. The ASA, which regulates advertising claims in Britain, says there is no herbal tea that can ‘detox your body’.
Our kidneys, liver and digestion ‘already do that for us’, says Which?’s review. about detoxifying our body. It named Twinings as it continued to market its detox tea.
Experts have also said that it is ‘impossible’ to create targeted painkillers that can specifically help headaches, period pain or joint pain, and that you often pay a higher price for the ‘packaging’.
Pain specialist Dr Andrew Moore, a former senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, explained that paying extra for ibuprofen-lysine could be worth it, but emphasized that there is no need to pay more for branded products intended for a specific pain be placed on the market.
Which? found 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 pack of Nurofen migraine relief pills with the same active ingredient costs £4.
Regarding functional mushrooms such as reishi, lion’s mane and chaga: Which ones? said ‘there is not yet enough evidence to suggest they work’.
Which? noted that some health claims may be made about reishi mushrooms as this ingredient is currently under review.
However, claims about other types of mushrooms are “often based on several well-established ingredients, such as omega-3 and vitamins B12 and D, rather than the mushrooms themselves.”
Expensive vitamin shots 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 extras and the packaging claims it can ‘support nerve and brain health’.
Last year, the ASA banned a number of the brand’s social media ads for suggesting the product could prevent, treat or cure conditions such as anxiety and dementia, according to Which?.
Dirtea said it is committed to “supporting rigorous scientific research to further understand and validate the health benefits of (functional mushroom) products.”
While there are some studies claiming that collagen creams and supplements are good for healthy bones, joints and skin, these studies are generally funded by brands and many of the benefits have not been proven by large-scale independent studies.
Experts also informed Which? that when collagen is applied to the skin, the molecules are too large to even penetrate the outer layer of the skin.
Even if the products are broken down into peptides, they are unlikely to reach the deeper layers of the skin and have a long-lasting effect. It mentioned Absolute Collagen in its review.
Research has also shown that collagen creams often contain other ingredients, such as glycerin for hydration and retinol for rejuvenation, which could explain any achievable improvements to the skin.
Anti-hair loss shampoos have also come under fire in the Which? judgement.
Because hair loss can be caused by a range of factors, from genetics, illness and stress to pregnancy, hormonal changes and poor diet, there cannot be one solution that helps everyone.
For example, caffeine shampoo claims to be able to help people whose hair is sensitive to the hormone dihydrotestosterone, which can shrink hair follicles and stem growth.
However, large-scale studies have not proven the effectiveness of caffeine shampoos.
The ASA ruled that caffeine shampoo brand Alpecin could not advertise its ability to reduce hair loss in 2018, after the ASA rejected eight studies the company submitted to prove its effectiveness.
Which? said: ‘Since then, claims about caffeine shampoos have been relatively vague, with the benefits being ‘energises hair’ and ‘stimulates roots’.’