GNC

I am researching my next post, so I’ll just write a blurb about a visit to GNC. It seems like this blog has become all about supplements lately, and Happyman said he thinks supplements often do make wild claims, which seems to go against the DSHEA rule I cited in my post “BLANK MD II”, which basically forbid saying they can treat or mitigate a disease, unless the FDA has stated they can.

So I went to GNC to take a look for myself at some of the labels.

Turns out this was a waste of time.

For anyone who hasn’t been to a GNC lately, here’s what I learned:

1) They have a smoothie/energy drink bar, similar to what you find in the lobby of gyms and health clubs, or a typical jamba juice. You can get all kinds of additives, and the calories are listed.

2) The owners were all Indian or Pakistani. I’m not sure if this is just in New York or everywhere, but I got the feeling they were laughing at the customers.

3) Their supplements are all GNC labeled, so there isn’t a good representative sample for supplement labels. As far as their own products go, however, their labels were very vague, and always carried the disclaimer at the bottom about how the stuff isn’t regulated, etc etc.

4) Abut 90% or more of what they sell is geared toward gigantic muscle bound gym rats. The back of the store (and front) is FILLED with huge canisters of powdered muscle “milk” with labels that have lightning bolts and lettering that looks EXTREME!!! There is also a large shelf of power bars and the like.

I think I’ll have to visit the Vitamin Store or InVite to get a better sampling. The GNC labels were very fair.