Health Food Shops. Are They Good Value ?

[Canary42]

The Health Food business seems to be thriving fairly successfully. I admit to being an occasional user myself (although not for what I term drug-type products).

But I do sometimes wonder whether the whole thing is just a major hoax. After all I have no evidence that purchases I make there are any better than (say) standard supermarket fare.

I am interested in the distribution of opinion on this. What do you all think ?

[It would be nice if we could continue this thread without recourse to stereotypical unpleasant epithets]

[ummmm]

I don't think they are good value in general but I'm healthy.

[wolf63]

Some of the products are very helpful. I used to get a 'little' grumpy before my period and my doctor directed me to the health food shop for Vitamin B6 tablets. They made a lot of difference and I no longer felt the urge to kill people.

But there is a lot of rubbish too and the fact that the products are natural or organic does not mean that they are safe.

Information is available on the internet for all sorts or lotions or potions but I find that the information given is not reliable or is biased one way or the other.

Vets seem to be more open minded about these products than doctors.

[Sqad]

If you are happy and feel better using "health foods" then for you they are "good value."
Your money....your choice.
Me? Never been in a health shop.

[Canary42]

Never been in a health shop sqad ? Why am I not surprised :-)

I take your point re a placebo effect, but because of misgivings I decided to air the issue here. I am a bit disappointed that the takeup has (so far) been so limited.

[Sqad]

Canary......LOL.
I only implied the placebo effect.........;-)

[Zacs-Master]

I really don't know what you want us to say. I have been in one maybe 4 times in my life. I have no scientific way, nor do you seem to, in evaluating the benefits or otherwise.

[hereIam]

I use a health shop from time to time and they often have a brilliant offer whereby I can get my usual pills and pay only 1p for another bottle. The pills work fine for me.

[yogi-bear]

Like Sqad, never been in one.....In answer to your question, Canary....No, as I think overpriced and there are things that are healthy that you can buy elsewhere at a fraction of the cost....A good diet such as Fish, vegetables, bran, low fat yogurts, certain meats, fruits etc are sufficient.

Having said that, anyone who thinks getting supplies from health shops is doing them good, is their choice and opinion, so nothing wrong with that.

[pastafreak]

I'd say they are more better or worse than supermarkets or pharmacies for what they stock,though I tend to believe that independents will carry better products that their high street counterpart.
I do take supplements...Vitamin d,vits B6 and 12,and magnesium. As we get older,our body finds it more difficult to absorb vitamins from our food, and- there are certain ones like vitamin d that many of us will be low in.( But not sqad...living in the sun ;-)
I tend to buy online as it's cheaper.

[ethandron]

If you get your various vitamin levels checked by your gp then you'd know whether or not you're lacking. If you are, then a trip to the supermarket or Boots will be a lot cheaper than going to a 'health food shop'.
A well know person...so well known I can't remember her name...has today said she has very expensive pee, because most excess vitamins are excreted in our pee, and most of us don't need vitamin supplements so we just pee them out.

[Tilly2]

We have a lovely Health Food shop in Bedford. I like going in there to have a potter about but I rarely buy anything because it all seems so expensive.

I did get some Cherry Juice for MrT recently and that was in the sale. £9.99 instead of £14.99.

It's cheaper in Holland and Barrett, I have since discovered.

[Arrods]

Never used a Health Shop but do take a couple of supplements. Slightly off topic, this reminds me of Lee Nelson, describing a high street after major rioting and destruction. Pointing to the shops, he listed them as "looted, looted, looted, Holland & Barrett, looted, looted etc".

[Tilly2]

:-)