“The Truth About Dietary Supplements” by Mahtab Jafari

The Truth About Dietary Supplements: An Evidence-Based Guide to a Safe Medical Cabinet

Mahtab Jafari
Archangel Ink (2021)
ISBN 9781950043330
Reviewed by Lily Andrews for Reader Views (01/2022)

“The Truth About Dietary Supplements” is a candid and cautionary medical book that may save your life. The book begins with a powerful preface that gives a hint to what readers will find within the chapters. Author Jafari works hard to make readers aware of the information surrounding dietary supplements, while also revealing clever marketing schemes and precarious health decisions that may end up shortening one’s life span. Her fundamental reason for writing this is to challenge the misconception that just because supplements are deemed to be natural, they are always safe.

Supplements may serve a purpose, but are not a quick fix for all physical problems a human endures. This book offers a road map to help all readers make better nutritional choices. At times, the author asserts that the gaudy marketing claims of certain natural products have no scientific backing. This is further accentuated by the media’s heavy influence which almost inevitably hoodwinks consumers. This true ‘eye-opener’ explores a wide range of topics on the subject, such as toxicity levels in some supplements, supplement/drug interactions, and how to find a trustworthy dietary supplement manufacturer. The writer also offers data on the need to have follow-up appointments once someone begins taking supplements in order to better monitor their progress.

In her own words, the author calls for a broader discussion of the public’s understanding of dietary supplements to enhance a healthier and happier life among the masses. With her twenty-five years of experience in researching pharmaceuticals and natural products, the writer provides an unbiased view of these supplements and provides timely wisdom that is sorely needed in these modern times. At the end of each chapter, the author provides two tables—one to highlight the key information, and another that includes resources and websites readers may want to explore.

Health and lifestyle tomes have become a significant genre over the years and “The Truth About Dietary Supplements” ranks among some of the best I have read. Hence, I give the book “5-stars.” Her analyses are sobering, jarring, and self-reflective. I tip my hat to the author for her thorough research which is clearly evident in her work.

This outstanding treatise is a must-read for everyone, as it is packed with facts and imperishable truths. Before you swallow that supplement, you definitely want to take a look at this book!