Unfortunately, health experts say that this awareness doesn’t seem to match the desire to be steadily engaged in health-building activities, as some people want to be in good physical shape with the least effort.

These people argue that they have limited time to exercise so they seek the quickest way to gain the best results.

Thus, it is no surprise that health products with fantastic claims, like detoxifiers and supplements, are becoming widespread. These products are promoted with claims of having special qualities that supposedly help maintain health and cure illnesses. Various foods claimed to be natural, organic and free from preservatives are also offered at far higher prices than the actual value of similar products.

Despite their exorbitant prices, these kinds of products are in high demand among urban people obsessed with health. The purchase of these products has also been influenced by role models making claims of the effects they enjoyed. And if such statements come from within their closest circle, people tend to be more convinced.

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However, nutritionist Jansen Ongko suggests that consumers should always be critical and question everything connected with supplements and nutrients.

“Although the people promoting or benefiting from certain products are close friends, physical conditions respond in different ways,” he said.

He explained that what worked well for one person would not necessarily work for another.

Marius Widjajarta from the Health Product Consumer Empowerment Foundation regretted the promotional campaigns for certain supplements and drugs that sometimes go beyond propriety. He referred to a Food and Drug Monitoring Agency regulation stipulating that supplements and drugs should not be promoted by doctors or people dressed like doctors.

“The public isn’t aware of this and the authorities seem to take no action,” he said.

Jansen and Marius agreed that to be smart consumers, people needed to have sufficient knowledge.

Be skeptical and use common sense, they said when asked on separate occasions.

For example, it’s illogical to expect health supplements to be effective for different complaints.

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“Even drugs now widely sold are only targeted at a specified number of diseases,” said Marius, appealing for caution against so-called super drugs being hyped to cure a wide range of illnesses.

Marius also argued that supplements should belong to the category of dietary supplements rather than drugs. “Also included in this group are herbal and home industry products such as juice, yoghurt and the like,” he explained, believing that products that are not listed as drugs should not be claimed to cure illnesses.

While feeling happy to see people being health conscious, Jansen and Marius still saw the need to provide direction.

“It takes time and perseverance to be healthy, which can’t be brought about all at once,” said Jansen.

Exercise and wholesome foods are the key to health and nobody can lose much weight quickly just by regularly taking a supplement or replacing a meal with a drink, for example.

Although one is on a diet for weight loss, the body’s food intake should be complete, with carbohydrates, protein, fiber and fat. Only the food quantity has to be adjusted, they said.

A single-food diet is only to be followed as instructed by a physician for the cure or prevention of a particular disease.

Expecting the government to proactively deal with violations in the marketing sector, Marius and Jansen also hoped that the public could carry out self-education in health matters.

It would be better to ask your doctor upon finding supplements or drugs with bombastic promises, they advised.

“If you have no personal health counselor, health websites can be consulted as some of them have reliable specialists,” added Jansen.