According to Business Insider, a survey done by BI Intelligence found that “Half of millennials think YouTube has the most annoying ads.” While these ads are mostly annoying for interrupting the video you’re trying to enjoy, others say these ads are too loud and “in your face,” or that they claim things about their brand that are very far from the truth. So what about you? What ads annoy you the most? Well, have you ever seen ads on Social Media promising to give you your dream body without exercising or making big changes to your diet? These ads often set people off because they provide plenty of misinformation for people desperately trying to lose weight. I’m sure you’ve seen fifteen second clips of this super ripped dude, Vince Sant, talking about all the things you’re doing wrong to lose weight, or by following his programs and premium formulas, you could be in the best shape of your life. After actually clicking on one of his ads and watching the hour-long video of him trying to give you the best tips, I found a ton of false claims. The video, “Watch This Video to Learn Which Foods are Decreasing Your Testosterone,” claims that the hidden solution to all your weight loss problems are simple ingredients that lower cortisol. Conveniently, his Test Boost Max formula includes every ingredient he lists.

1. “When cortisol levels remain high… the effects of testosterone are permanently lost” (13:48)

In his claim, he calls the hormone, cortisol, a dangerous hormone that kills testosterone. While it may lower testosterone levels, this hormone alone isn’t dangerous to your body, unless, like everything else, it is in high amounts. Cortisol actually has an important role in a number of bodily functions. V Shred wants you to believe that you need to block cortisol altogether to increase testosterone levels, which is almost entirely false. According to an article reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy published only a few months ago, “[Cortisol] manages how your body uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins… It regulates your blood pressure, increases your sugar (glucose), controls your sleep/wake cycle, and boosts energy so you can handle stress and restore balance afterwards.” While it is true that dangerously high amounts of cortisol is harmful and “can derail your body’s most important functions,” there are also problems when your body doesn’t create enough of the hormone. This condition is called hypocortisolism and it is very dangerous. In a post that was medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, “People who have Addison’s disease may experience the following symptoms: muscle weakness, fatigue and tiredness, darkening in skin color, weight loss or decreased appetite, a decrease in heart rate or blood pressure, low blood sugar levels, etc.” Like everything in life, you need to find balance, but don’t let a salesperson scare you into buying their products without doing your research. If you want to naturally lower your cortisol levels, you don’t need to buy some supplement you found online. According to a post on Medical News Today, “By making simple lifestyle changes to live a healthier, more active life, people can reduce the amount of stress they experience, and keep their cortisol levels normal.” Unless directed by your doctor, there is no reason to buy cortisol-reducing supplements, unless you feel like wasting your money.

2. “We know that the 8-Testosterone increasing agents in TESTBOOST MAX are SO powerful, that you will absolutely achieve rapid results.” (36:22)

This video claims that the TestBoost Max has a premium formula of high-quality testosterone promoting ingredients. After looking at multiple reviews of TestBoost Max, I came across a post by Christina Swords. In her review, she goes through each ingredient Vince claims to be extremely effective in lowering cortisol and increasing testosterone. While some ingredients, including Longjack Root and Ashwagandha Root, were proven to have an effect on reducing levels of cortisol, the other seven ingredients included in the video were not. The ingredient, Tribulus Terrestris, was said in the video by V Shred to have properties that increases muscle mass, increases strength, and boosts testosterone levels. According to Swords, “This herb [Tribulus Terrestris] has been found to increase testosterone levels in animals, but there is no conclusive evidence to support it having the same effect on humans.” On the Muscle & Fitness website, Courtney Anaya, a Nutrition Content Specialist, writes: “A 2007 study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research indicated that tribulus terrestris doesn’t produce any huge gains in strength or lean muscle like manufacturers claim and that testosterone levels don’t increase.” The other ingredients, American Panax Ginseng, Cordyceps mushroom, and Hawthorn berry extract have barely been tested enough to know if it actually affects testosterone levels in humans or if it’s even safe for consumption. 

3. “Testosterone levels don’t decrease as you age, they are suppressed.” (14:01)

Saying Testosterone doesn’t decrease as you age is simply not true. In this video, Sant tries to convince the audience that by decreasing your cortisol levels, you can have as much testosterone as you did when you were in your early twenties. In an article called “Testosterone Levels by Age,” which was medically reviewed by Daniel Murrel, M.D., the author specifically states that, “As you grow older, the level of testosterone in your body gradually decreases.” This is just a known fact. It’s a natural part of aging. Cortisol may be a part of blocking testosterone, but there is simply no way a person could naturally reverse their testosterone levels back to when they were young, like V Shred promises. In a review by Mason Johnson, a professional trainer and a customer of V Shred’s TestBoost Max, he pointed out this claim and argued that, “There are a number of governmental studies that indicate the decline in natural testosterone levels with age.” Given that Johnson had done the trial for the full 6 month period, his review on this should be pretty accurate, but of course, everyone reacts differently to supplements. However, one thing is true, if there was a way to stay young forever, you wouldn’t find it in an hour long ad off of YouTube.

4. “Test Boost Max is the only testosterone maximizing supplement available specifically designed to support healthy testosterone while minimizing the effects of cortisol. Nothing like it!” (46:40)

Vince claims that the formula for Test Boost max is very unique and that no other company has the same powerful effects. This is obviously just a brand trying to sell its product, but this is very exaggerated. The ingredients listed in the Test Boost Max supplement label are pretty similar to many other testosterone-boosting supplements. In an article published by Healthline and medically reviewed by Femi Aremu, “A common ingredient in testosterone boosters is Ashwagandha, which is an herb used in ancient Indian medicine.” V Shred’s formula isn’t as unique as they want you to believe. A review by Mason Johnson, the same customer who tested the product for six months, lists testosterone boosters that he thought worked better for him. The top alternative product, TestoPrime, includes Panax Ginseng and Ashwagandha extract, which are both main ingredients in the Test Boost Max formula. Continuing his claim of this ‘unique’ product, Sant says that “This is the only supplement that boosts testosterone while minimizing the effects of cortisol.” Plenty of other supplements give the same argument. It’s not hard to look up “supplements that block cortisol and increase testosterone,” and find plenty with it in their description. 

5. Vince Sant says, “As a fitness expert who specializes in rapid fat loss, maximizing muscle growth, and optimizing male hormones…” (1:02)

This Test Boost Max ad was hosted by a trainer named Vince Sant. Sant Co-founded the fitness brand and channel on YouTube called “V Shred” that gives advice on losing weight, gaining muscle, and good workouts for certain areas you want to target. His videos are pretty much like any other workout video you find on YouTube and he has plenty of workout plans and supplements found on the Sculpt Nation website. According to Much Feed, “It’s one of the fastest growing online fitness brands in the world.” The V Shred channel on YouTube currently has 2.22 million subscribers with growing numbers. While they have a huge following, they still fail basic company needs. Also from Much Feed, “They don’t have a phone number for customer support, there is no step-by-step process after sign in if you’re not using their custom plan, some of the information is incomplete, all the mill recommendations are based in the USA, and if you add on something to the custom diet plan, the “30 Days Money Back’ doesn’t apply.” These are key needs to a trustworthy company and it’s pretty shocking that it’s even an issue, given how many customers they have. Another site, Highya, allows the public to give ratings and descriptions of work-out programs. The overall rating for V Shred was 2.2 out of 5 stars. On the positive side, V Shred gave “Comprehensive fitness plans for a variety of health goals,” but the pros were very outweighed by the cons. The cons listed on the Highya review site include, “lots of user complaints that the plan is too simple and not unique, and you are pressured to purchase additional products.” There really isn’t anything special to the programs and supplements V Shred sells. The supplements aren’t even evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, which is only written to customers in fineprint. There are plenty of free workout videos all over the internet, paying for an online trainer doesn’t seem super effective. The summary for this review is pretty much that users experienced real results, but other people thought their programs are too expensive for its generic advice. 

If you come across an ad like this on any of your social media sites, make sure you do your research. Cortisol is an important hormone that needs to be controlled, and it could play a part in struggling with weight loss, but you shouldn’t trust everything you see. Annoying ads like this want to get your attention and they want you to buy their product, even if it means sprinkling in a bunch of lies. While it seems there is an easy solution to all your weight loss problems by listening to the hidden secrets in an hour long “short, free video,” the best way to improve your fitness is by listening to your doctor.

Featured Image from video.