Random Common Placebo Products That Don't Actually Do Anything (12 items)

(#4) Weight Loss Wraps

You've likely seen ads for these pop up at some point while scrolling through Instagram. But save your money, because it's all in the fine print: "These claims have not been clinically proven or evaluated by the FDA." That means there haven't been any clinical trials which support the claims these products make.

To be fair, there haven't been any clinical trials that disprove their claims, either, but many experts believe that any weight loss resulting from a body wrap is temporary.
(#9) Barefoot Running Shoes

In 2014, Vibram, makers of FiveFingers running shoes, paid out $3.75 million in a class action lawsuit which accused the company of deceptive marketing. Vibram marketed its FiveFingers shoes as being able to help reduce foot injuries and strengthen foot muscles. Those claims were not backed up by any proven science.

In fact, one study in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise journal showed that transitioning too quickly from regular running shoes to minimalist running shoes could actually cause foot injuries.
(#12) Rental Car Insurance
You should check with your insurance agent to be sure you're covered, but many times, you don't need to pay for rental car insurance. If you have comprehensive and collision auto insurance, your policy should cover rental cars as well.
(#6) Shea and Cocoa Butter Creams for Stretch Marks

There's no such thing as reducing the appearance of stretch marks with cocoa or shea butter, either in oil or lotion form. A double-blind study found no difference in the appearance of stretch marks on women who used cocoa butter lotion and those who used a placebo. Laser therapy and a prescription topical cream called Tretinoin have shown early signs of possible stretch mark improvement, but there is not enough scientific evidence yet to conclusively prove either method reduces their appearance.
The single most effective way to reduce the appearance of stretch marks? Let them fade with time.
(#8) Green Coffee Bean Extract

You've probably seen ads for green coffee bean extract (GCBE) all over the Internet, claiming that it causes significant weight loss. Shockingly, it doesn't. In 2014, Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) was fined $3.5 million by the FTC for its involvement in commissioning a study about GCBE that was so flawed it was retracted. AFS used the overwhelmingly positive results of its very bad study to market its green coffee bean extract product to retailers, who in turn used those results to market GCBE to consumers.

Just because a company claims the benefits of its product are supported by scientific research doesn't mean that research is any good.
(#7) Magnet Therapy

Magnet therapy is touted as a method of pain relief, supposedly increasing blood flow through tissues. Yet according to EMF Science, "Many well-conducted studies [like this one and this one] over the past three decades have shown that static magnetic devices offer no more or no less benefit than sham devices devoid of a magnet, in essence demonstrating the placebo effect magnets have on their users."

If you suffer from chronic pain, there are legitimate options out there - but magnet therapy isn't one of them.