Did you know that over half of Americans take multivitamins and dietary supplements every day? However, many healthcare professionals argue that these products are often a waste of both money and time. In a revealing TikTok video, pharmacist Amina Khan shared with her 271,000 followers the three types of supplements she believes everyone should avoid—and the reasons might surprise you!

1. Gummy Vitamins

First on her list are gummy vitamins. While they may seem like a fun, tastier alternative to traditional vitamins, these gummies are commonly filled with sugar—approximately three to five grams per serving. Since the recommended dose is usually two gummies a day, that can quickly add up! The American Heart Association advises women to limit sugar intake to no more than 25 grams a day and men to 36 grams. Khan bluntly stated, "These are basically just sugar pills—you might as well have a candy instead." She warns that consuming these sugary vitamins excessively can even lead to mineral toxicity.

2. Multivitamins

Next up are multivitamins. Despite their popularity, Khan argues that they often deliver negligible amounts of the essential nutrients your body truly needs. A large-scale study conducted by Johns Hopkins, which involved around 450,000 participants, found that multivitamins do not effectively prevent heart disease. Another study involving 1,700 individuals who had experienced heart attacks showed that multivitamin consumption had no impact on preventing further heart problems or mortality. “Study after study comes back negative, yet people continue to take them at record rates,” said Dr. Edgar Miller, an internal medicine specialist at Johns Hopkins University.

3. Hair, Skin, and Nail Supplements

Finally, let's talk about those trendy hair, skin, and nail supplements. Khan insists that rather than improving your appearance, they're largely ineffective. Most people don’t actually suffer from deficiencies in the vitamins and supplements commonly included in these products. Instead, targeted supplements are far more effective—such as vitamin B8 for hair thickness or vitamin D for skin regeneration.

The daunting reality is that the vitamin and supplements industry is booming, with a staggering market size of $146.14 billion in 2023. Yet, the lack of FDA regulation raises significant concerns. Many supplements aren’t subjected to rigorous oversight, meaning there's no guarantee that you're receiving what the label claims—or that the ingredients won’t interact harmfully with other medications.

With these important insights, it may be time to rethink the supplement aisle. If you truly want to improve your health, consider discussing with a healthcare provider to find effective, targeted solutions instead of relying on popular but ineffective multivitamins and gummies. Are you ready to make a change?