A Bitter Pill

The former health editor of the Guardian takes an investigative look at the food supplement industry, in the same vein as Ultra Processed People.

Food supplements have become a fundamental part of our daily lives. They are add-ons to our diet, as easy and ubiquitous as a latte or a packet of crisps. All the marketing tells us we can be fitter, healthier, stronger and more beautiful if we pop a few daily pills, chew a few gummies or mix various powders into our drinks. Most people in the western world are taking them in one form or another. It's a fascinating phenomenon rooted in the desire to be our best selves and fuelled by enthusiasts across the internet and social media. But how much can we believe of what we are told about the power of packets, potions and pills? What works? And what doesn't?

In this book Sarah Boseley sets out to find the answers, probing the research evidence and talking to those who know across the scientific community, from nutritionists and doctors to psychologists and regulators, as well as manufacturers, influencers and those who take supplements, to piece this tricky jigsaw together and find out whether we are really being given safe supplements that can rejuvenate us, keep us well and transform our lives for the better.