Don't Fall for these Common Wellness Misconceptions

I was recently sent a reel that included a ton of different brands/products that the wellness influencer did not recommend due to one or more of the following: 

• bought out by Big Food or Pharma

• uses synthetic formulas

• are marketed as "clean," but misses the mark on function

The comments were full of hysteria. "I use xyz every day. I had no idea there were toxic!!!" Many of the products listed I agreed with, but there were plenty that are wonderful options. It made me sad to see so many people believing they now needed to throw out perfectly fine products due to misinformation and lack of context. 

Let's break each of these points down. I'm also going to throw in "tested positive for heavy metals" at the end. This wasn't one of the points, but it is one I see often. 

 

Bought out by Big Food or Big Pharma

When a small brand you know and love gets acquired by a big corporation—whether it's Big Food or Big Pharma—it can definitely feel a little unsettling. But honestly? I don’t think it’s something to stress about right away.

Here’s why:While I totally support and admire small, independent businesses staying true to their roots, sometimes being bought out can actually be a really good thing—for the brand and its founders. It can open doors for them financially, help them scale their mission, and give them resources they didn’t have before. In many cases, the original team remains actively involved and continues to influence how the brand operates. Of course, that’s not always how it plays out, but it also doesn’t automatically mean things will go downhill.

Also worth noting: an acquisition doesn’t mean the product you love is suddenly going to change. A bigger budget might even mean better ingredients or improved sourcing. Again, no guarantees—but it’s not a given that the quality or values will decline.

So my take? When a small brand you trust joins a larger company, just take a breath and give it time. See how it unfolds. Sometimes nothing changes—or things even get better. But if the quality or values shift in a way that doesn’t sit right with you, it’s totally fair to move on and find something else. Until then, there’s no need for panic.

Uses Synthetic Formulas

I think this one was about multivitamins. I used to feel the same way, honestly. But after working with an amazing nutraceutical expert, I realized how much I didn’t know. Here's what I’ve learned:

Synthetic vitamins aren’t inherently harmful. In fact, they can actually be more beneficial for certain people. For those with specific health conditions or genetic variations that affect nutrient absorption or conversion, synthetic forms — especially in higher, more bioavailable doses — can make a big difference.

What many people don’t realize is that synthetic vitamins can be nearly identical to their natural counterparts in chemical structure, but often come with a lower cost and fewer pills to take. For example, synthetic vitamin A can be derived from compounds like beta-ionone (found in acetone), and the final product is isolated and purified to remove any unwanted residues. Reputable suppliers rigorously test these ingredients to ensure safety and efficacy.

Even when we extract nutrients from “natural” sources, those original compounds typically aren’t present in the finished supplement either — just the isolated, active form we need.

Now of course, if you’re generally healthy with no deficiencies, the best way to get your nutrients will always be through a whole-food, organic diet. And if you still want to take a multivitamin, a whole-food-based option would probably be your best bet.

But let’s not dismiss synthetic vitamins entirely. For many people, they can be a better choice.

Marketed as "Clean," but Miss the Mark on Function

I'm not entirely sure what she meant here — maybe she was referring to greenwashing, where something is marketed as "clean" or "natural" but really isn’t. Or maybe she meant it’s marketed for a specific benefit but doesn’t actually deliver. I think that’s probably what she was getting at.

Either way, this is where it’s so important to do your own research. If you’re seeing chatter online and you're not sure what's true, take a look at the ingredients and don’t be afraid to reach out to the brand directly for clarification.

Poppi Soda is a great example of this. I know I’ve talked about them before, and yes — a lot of people have written them off because of their class action lawsuit. But here’s the thing: anyone can file a class action lawsuit. It doesn’t automatically mean the claims have merit (sometimes they do, of course!), but that’s exactly why I like to look into things for myself before forming an opinion.

In Poppi’s case, the issue was about marketing. They claimed their soda was “gut healthy” because it contains probiotics, and the lawsuit argued that the amount included wasn’t enough to provide real benefit — so, it’s a mis-marketing issue, not necessarily an ingredient concern.

Ingredient-wise, I’d still consider Poppi one of the “better” sodas. Is it healthy? No. Does it still contain sugar? Yes. Is it better than Spindrift? No. Is it better than Dr. Pepper? Absolutely. At the end of the day no one should be relying on a soda — even a “gut health soda” — as their main probiotic source. That’s a whole different conversation. But, if it’s a fun little treat you enjoy, and you see someone online telling you to toss it forever because it doesn’t live up to its claims — I wouldn’t necessarily agree.

Now, if a brand is knowingly misleading people and intentionally marketing themselves as something they’re not? That’s a different story. But many times, it’s not that black and white — and it’s worth looking into the full picture before jumping to conclusions.

Tests Positive for Heavy Metals

There are quite a few accounts out there dedicated to testing products for heavy metals, and it can feel like there’s an endless stream of class action lawsuits—especially against baby food companies. While it’s absolutely important for consumers to do their own research, make informed decisions, and hold companies accountable, it’s equally important not to let fear and anxiety take over.

Let’s keep a few things in mind:

Like I mentioned above, anyone can file a class action lawsuit. That doesn’t always mean there’s merit behind the claims. Second, when it comes to heavy metal testing, context matters. There are many variables that influence the results, and oversimplified posts can lead to unnecessary panic.

Some of these accounts seem to find heavy metals in just about everything, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and start wondering: “Is anything safe anymore?”

If you see a concerning result involving a brand you love and trust, I always recommend reaching out to the company directly. How they respond—how transparent they are, how clearly they communicate—can tell you a lot. I personally believe in giving brands the opportunity to explain and take action before writing them off completely. The integrity and intention behind a company often says more than a single test result.

And here’s the truth: there are so many questions that should be asked before drawing conclusions from any test.

• Were actual numbers shared, or just vague claims?

• Were full lab reports provided?

• What testing methods were used?

• How were the samples handled?

• Did this person test in a reputable lab, or just in their home?

• Was there any possibility of contamination?

• How many batches were tested, and how were those samples handled?

  • A lot of times, just one sample is tested. But because heavy metals naturally exist in the environment (air, soil, water), there’s always the possibility of incidental contamination. Ideally, multiple batches should be tested to get an accurate, trustworthy picture.

Fear-based decisions rarely serve us. Keep asking questions, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to reach out and advocate for clarity.