Why Some Health Enthusiasts Choose to Avoid Certain Supplements
In the world of health and wellness, supplements are often touted as essential additions to a balanced diet and lifestyle. From vitamins and minerals to performance enhancers and probiotics, there seems to be a pill or powder for every need. However, not everyone in the health community is quick to jump on the supplement bandwagon. Some individuals, despite their deep commitment to optimizing their health, consciously choose to avoid certain supplements. Their reasons vary, but they often share a common belief in the power of whole foods, natural lifestyle practices, and a cautious approach to supplementation.
Siim Land has publicly shared his reasoning for steering clear of several popular supplements.
- 1. Resveratrol – lowers VO2 max, animal studies disappointing
- 2. Spermidine – supplemental form hasn’t shown any benefits in humans that I’ve seen
- 3. Ca-AKG – it’s interesting but the current evidence is limited to bone density, which is very high for me
- 4. Glutathione – I have no issues with inflammation or immunity and I’m getting a ton of precursors
- 5. Multivitamin – I find it to have limited evidence for my age group and calorie intakea
Andrew Huberman
Melatonin is one of the most popular sleep supplements available, but Huberman personally avoids it. He explains that this is because it can affect sex steroid hormones, specifically the pathways related to testosterone and estrogen, which he prefers not to disrupt. In a conversation with sleep expert Matthew Walker, they discussed a recent meta-analysis that found melatonin only increased sleep duration by an average of 3.9 minutes and sleep efficiency by about 2% in healthy adults who are not elderly. Walker suggested that the most significant benefits of melatonin are observed in people over 60, as aging can lead to calcification of the pineal gland, reducing natural melatonin production and making supplementation more beneficial.
5-HTP, Tryptophan & Serotonin
Huberman has found that when he takes 5-HTP, tryptophan (serotonin precursors), or serotonin itself, he falls asleep quickly and experiences vivid dreams, but wakes up fully alert about three hours later. This disruption then negatively impacts his sleep for several days afterward.
Tribulus Terrestris. As he does not see long term effect