Today’s wellness world is packed with wellness trends and flashy supplements—but how much of it is actually worth your money? As it turns out, many popular supplements may not be worth shelling out the big bucks for. Registered dietitian Abbey Sharp (@abbeyskitchen) recently shared a TikTok video calling out the supplements she would never take, whether it’s because the nutrients they offer are easy to get from food or they just don’t live up to the hype.
“Don’t waste your money,” Sharp warns. Here are her biggest no-gos to stay away from: Vitamin C, Biotin, Vitamin E, and Apple Cider Vinegar gummies. Learn why below.
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1. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is undeniably crucial to your health, especially when it comes to your immune system. However, Sharp says most people simply don’t need to supplement it. "Vitamin C is in so many wellness shots and products right now,” she says. “But unless you’re like straight up carnivore and eating zero fruits or veg, you’re very likely well exceeding your needs from food. And you’re just gonna pee out anything more that you take."In other words, if you’re eating a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables, extra vitamin C isn’t doing much—except maybe giving you expensive urine.
2. Biotin
Biotin is basically known as the ultimate beauty vitamin. You'll find it in everything from hair gummies to skincare capsules. But according to Sharp, it's essentially "just window dressing." As she says, "If you don’t have a biotin deficiency—which is super rare because it’s in a lot of different kinds of foods—there is no evidence that supplementing will do anything remarkable for your hair." So, unless your doctor has confirmed a deficiency, chances are biotin supplements won’t live up to their beauty promises.
3. Vitamin E
Like biotin, vitamin E is another supplement that certainly seems beneficial—but is only really necessary if you’re deficient, which is rare. "Supplementing is unlikely to have any benefit if you’re not deficient," Sharp says. "In contrast, overdosing on supplements is linked to cancer and higher chances of mortality. So this one is a no for me unless you have been carefully instructed by your physician." Good to know! It's always important to be aware of recommended doses, as excessive amounts of any supplement can lead to dangerous effects.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies
Apple cider vinegar has become a wellness staple, especially for weight loss. But Sharp notes that while this elixir does have its benefits, the gummy versions are mostly just hype. "This is not dangerous, it’s just really an assault on your wallet," she says. "Most of these [products] claim to promises of weight loss, appetite suppression or detoxing," but "gummies are notoriously not the best vessels for these things and there is nowhere near [a] clinical dose in most of the products." Heed her advice: "Please do not waste your money on this." Noted!
