Sarah Gonzalez

Okay.

Okay.

Supports metabolism.

Hello and welcome to Planet Money.

I'm Sarah Gonzalez.

And I'm Jane Black.

Jane is a food politics reporter in D.C.

She has been watching what people call big wellness get bigger and bigger and more and more powerful.

We were going to do it.

the supplement industry has been fully cashing in on our love of silver bullets and a magic pill.

And why Americans wouldn't have it any other way.

Ha ha.

Yeah, like, what do you take?

Frank, this is so many supplements.

If you're pregnant, there is evidence that folic acid decreases the risk of certain birth defects.

And if you have a condition or you're deficient in something like you're anemic or deficient in iron, then yeah, sure, an iron supplement could help with that if a doctor recommends it.

But if you're not deficient, then you probably don't need it.

Frank Cantone, the supplement maker who takes not that many supplements every day, he is a big believer in supplements.

Frank came to the supplement business from the real estate and clothing and thoroughbred racehorse trainer business.

And his social media is still pretty horse heavy.