by David J. Eloi

Created on: June 22, 2009   Last Updated: July 01, 2009

Approximately 29,000 dietary supplements are currently available to health conscious Americans. About 1,000 new dietary supplement products enter the U.S. consumer market each year equating to sales in excess of $15 billion. Dietary supplements are increasingly becoming an integral part of the daily health regimen.

Researchers studied the popularity of dietary supplements over a six-year period. The report identified the following five supplements as dominating consumer choice:

1. Garlic

2. Ginkgo

3. Echinacea

4. Soy

5. Saw Palmetto

The following lists each of the five most popular supplements, their supposed health benefit, and possible debunked claims:

Garlic

Allium sativum - garlic is thought to be a diuretic, antifungal and antibacterial. Garlic has been used in treating colds, fevers, coughs, earaches, bronchitis, signus congestion, headaches, stomachaches, diarrhea, arteriosclerosis, dysentery, and high blood pressure.

Warning: The essential oils of garlic are highly concentrated and can cause irritation and chemical burns on the skin.

Recently, research has laid claims to garlic's ability to lower cholesterol yet the results are mixed. In a recent Stanford study researchers concluded that the addition of garlic to one's diet provides no significant effects on lowering cholesterol. Still, scientists with the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade group in Washington, DC., argue that other studies indicate that garlic is very complex and does lower cholesterol.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba is used in treating health disorders such as memory problems, confusion, depression, anxiety, dizziness, tinnitus, and headaches. Some believe ginkgo works by increasing the body's blood supply, dilating blood vessels, and reducing free radicals.

Warning: Ingesting large quantities of the ginkgo seed may lead to skin disorders or mucous membrane irritation.

Ginkgo is used to treat mild cases of Alzheimer's dementia. One study found that ginkgo performed just as well as the recently developed pharmaceutical drug, Donepezil, used to treat Alzheimer's dementia. Yet, the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study provided evidence that ginkgo does not prevent dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Currently, no modern medication or alternative remedy has shown to actually diminish the effects of dementia.

Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea is used by one third of the U.S. population to treat the common cold. Echinacea is also known to contain a natural

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