66 - Cutting Through the Nutritional Supplements Hype

June 27, 2024

66 – Cutting Through the Nutritional Supplements Hype

Host: Herb Weisbaum /

Guest(s): Dr. John Swartzberg - Head of the Editorial Board at the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter; Bonnie Patten - Executive Director and Co-Founder of Truth in Advertising (TINA.org); Caitlin Dow - Senior Nutrition Scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest

Many Americans are sold on supplements. They’re convinced the “natural ingredients” in these non-prescription products have powerful health benefits that can prevent diseases, make us feel better, and slow down the effects of aging.

But can you trust what’s in the bottle, and the marketing claims used to sell this stuff?

In this episode, we focus on the false claims, bad science, and marketing tricks often used to sell dietary and nutritional supplements. Plus buying advice for those who choose to take these products.

Additional Resources:

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter:

⁠A Guide to Dietary Supplements⁠

CSPI Nutrition Action Newsletter:

Why the supplement aisle is the Wild West

How supplements distort science to sell

Tricks of the trade: Are supplement companies playing you for a fool?

Truth in Advertising (TINA.org):

Jury Hands Down a Verdict in Prevagen Deceptive Marketing Case

Consumer Alert: Hair Growth Products

Cow Colostrum Supplements

What You Should Know about Apple Cider Vinegar Supplements

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Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

health

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September 19, 2024

70 – How to Save on Prescription Drugs

Host: Herb Weisbaum /

Guest(s): Lisa Gill - Consumer Reports investigative reporter; Stacie Dusetzina - Professor in the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Prescription drug costs in the U.S. are “significantly higher” than in most other countries, according to a report earlier this year from the Rand Corporation. The average American spends more than $1,400 a year on prescription medications, research shows. For many, that expense is a budget buster. Because of the high cost, more than 9 million Americans don’t take their medications as directed, the CDC reports, which could result in serious health consequences

In this episode: Why are drug prices so high, and can anything be done about it? Plus, ways you can cut the cost of your prescription meds.

About our guests: Lisa Gill is an investigative reporter with Consumer Reports who focuses on health and medicine. Stacie Dusetzina is a professor in the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Much of her research focuses on the economics related to prescription drugs.

Additional Consumerpedia podcast episodes on health.

More from Consumer Reports

How to Beat the Rising Cost of Prescription Drugs

Online Pharmacies Can Help You Save Big on Prescription Drugs

How to Find the Best Medicare Part D Drug Plan

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠.

Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

health, money

July 11, 2024

67 – Buying Eyewear

Host: Herb Weisbaum /

Guest(s): Kevin Brasler - Checkbook's Executive Editor

When it comes to buying corrective eyewear, the choices seem endless—from dozens of contacts to thousands of fashionable frames. Even so, shopping for new specs or contacts can be a major hassle, and it’s an expensive purchase.

In this episode: Which eyewear stores offer the best advice and service, where to find the best prices on glasses and contact lenses, and who should you see to get your eye exam?

⁠Read Checkbook’s full report on opticians, optometrists, and buying eyewear.⁠

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠.

Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

health

April 18, 2024

61 – Medical Data Breaches Hit Record High

Host: Herb Weisbaum /

Guest(s): Eva Velasquez - President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center; James Lee - Chief Operating Officer at the Identity Theft Resource Center

Data breaches are now an annoyingly normal part of life: You change your stolen passwords, cancel your compromised credit cards. But it can be a significantly more serious problem when hackers get your medical data. Last year, about 1 in 3 Americans had their medical records breached, according to the federal government.

In this episode, we’ll look at how hackers are getting their hands on this highly sensitive personal information, what they’re able to do with it, and how you can protect yourself.

January 11, 2024

54 – How to Shop for a Gym Membership

Host: Herb Weisbaum /

Guest(s): Kevin Brasler - Checkbook's Executive Editor

You don’t necessarily have to join a gym to get more exercise—there are scads of other workout options, many of which are free. If you decide that joining a club is the best choice for you, shop around and avoid making any long-term financial commitments. The fitness industry thrives on good intentions, but most consumers who join gyms stop using them regularly after only a few weeks or months, yet they continue paying their dues.

In this episode: Tips on how to find the best gym or fitness center, how to avoid the common marketing tricks and traps used by salespeople, and what to look for when reviewing membership contracts.

Read Checkbook’s full report on gyms and fitness centers⁠.

Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

health, leisure

September 7, 2023

46 – Health Apps & Websites Often Share Your Data

Host: Herb Weisbaum /

Guest(s): Pam Dixon - Executive Director, World Privacy Forum; Jen Caltrider - a privacy researcher at the Mozilla Foundation

Wearable devices, health apps, and online medical resources can help us stay fit and healthy. They also collect highly personal information that you might assume is confidential. In most cases, this data can be—and often is—shared and sold without your knowledge or permission.

In this episode, how to tell if your health information is protected by the federal privacy law known as HIPAA, and what to do before you use medical apps, smart devices, or go online for medical advice. We talk with Pam Dixon, executive director of World Privacy Forum, and Jen Caltrider, a privacy researcher at the Mozilla Foundation.

Additional Resource:

Health Tracking Apps and Other Tech Might Be Invading Your Privacy

Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

health

March 23, 2023

35 – Aging in Place

Host: Herb Weisbaum /

Guest(s): Kevin Brasler - Checkbook's Executive Editor; Tom Minty - Northwest Universal Design Council

For most aging adults, there really is no place like home. Surveys done by AAPR consistently find that nearly 80% of those 50 and older prefer to age in place rather than move in with relatives or into senior communities.

The aging-in-place movement can help you stay safe and comfortable in your home as you grow older. But it’s something you’ll need to plan for, the sooner, the better.

In this episode, learn what’s important when remodeling or retrofitting your house, as well an option that’s growing in popularity across the country: Neighborhood-focused networks, or “villages,” that offer social, medical, and household resources.

⁠Read Checkbook’s full report on aging in place.

health, home