When it comes to treatments for health conditions, it can be tough to tell useful products from those that don’t work as claimed. Dietary supplements may seem like harmless health boosters. But while some have proven benefits, many don't.

Looking for a product to help you lose weight? Ask some questions before you plunk down any money. For example: “Will I really lose a pound a day if I squirt a few drops of homeopathic hCG weight loss drops under my tongue before I eat?” No, you won’t, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s recent settlement with HCG Diet Direct, LLC, a company that marketed and sold the drops.

Adults living at home, in an assisted living facility or a nursing home may use portable bed rails for help getting in and out of bed. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have new resources for consumers, caregivers, and health care providers about bed rails — how to shop for them, how to install and use them safely, what risks they may create, and where to report a problem.

The most reliable way to lose weight and keep it off? Consume fewer calories and get more exercise.