#032: The Supplement Facts: Why 85% Aren’t Worth Taking - with supplement expert Kate Mahoney

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Kate Mahoney, former NTA instructor & founder of the Supplement Academy, breaks down why less than 15% of supplements are worth taking, how to read labels with confidence, & why “food first” beats chasing the next trending pill.

Kate Mahoney, is a food-first dietary supplement expert with 30 years’ experience and the founder of the Supplement Academy. She teaches health professionals and consumers how to evaluate supplement quality and effectiveness without affiliate bias or brand influence - so people can make informed, confident decisions.

Episode Description 

If you’ve ever bought a supplement because “someone said it worked”… & then it ended up in your supplement graveyard, this episode will validate your experience.

I’m joined by supplement expert Kate Mahoney - a natural health geek and food-first functional nutrition practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience who accidentally became a dietary supplement expert along the way. She shares the facts: most supplements are not worth your money, & some can quietly create imbalances if taken long-term or taken in the wrong form.

We cover the real reasons most supplement education is confusing (hint: conflicts of interest), why “recommended doses” can be misleading, & the surprising differences between US vs Australian supplement labeling.

If you’re a health-conscious consumer or a practitioner who wants to lift your standards & protect your clients, this is a must-listen.

What You’ll Learn

• Why 85% of supplements worldwide are NOT worth taking (and fatty acids 90%)
• The supplement industry’s biggest issue: profit-driven marketing disguised as education
• Why “if it’s on the shelf, it must be safe” is a dangerous assumption
• The difference between US (DSHEA) and Australia (TGA) oversight — and why it matters
• Why there is no universal “everyone should take this” supplement (bio-individuality)
• The magnesium myth: how long-term use can create mineral imbalances (calcium vs magnesium)
• Why “detox” & parasite cleanses are often backwards - & what actually supports detox
• The hidden label trap: “500mg magnesium glycinate” isn’t the same as 500mg elemental magnesium
• Why “recommended dose” depends on country rules, forms, sourcing, & what the label doesn’t say

Resources & Links

• Kate’s website:  www.thesupplementacademy.com
  Join the SQS certification course waitlist+subscribe to Kate's newsletter
• Follow Kate: @KateMahoneyNTP (and also look for @theSupplementAcademy on Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram) 
• If this episode made you rethink y

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

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