Our theme today is Dubious Medicine.
The Vitamin Myth: Why We Think We Need Vitamins. I grew up in a rather Vitamin C-affirmative household, and it’s only just recently that I learned how much if it was from the influence of Linus Pauling and his strong — if unscientific — advocacy for Vitamin C megadosing.
Multivitamin researchers say “case is closed” after studies find no health benefits. I’ve heard of doctors prescribing low-sodium V8 instead of vitamins for people with certain diseases because vitamins can stress the liver. Confession: I still take a gummy vitamin every morning but it’s mainly because I got diagnosed with a Vitamin D deficiency over the winter.
Whole Foods: America’s Temple of Pseudoscience. I occasionally go to Whole Foods for organic meat and vegetables but still shake my head when I walk by the aisles with homeopathic and naturopathic remedies. Same deal at Trader Joe’s and Mom’s Organic Market.
Seeing Even More Quackery in Your Facebook Feed? Natural News Is to Blame.