Joel Fuhrman thinks his Nutritarian diet will increase longevity and prevent or treat most chronic diseases. He claims it is based on science, but his evidence is far from convincing. Joel Fuhrman, MD is a celebrity doctor, entrepreneur, and best-selling author whose latest book, Eat for Life, advocates his “Nutritarian” or… read more "Eat for Life: Joel Fuhrman’s Nutritarian Diet"
The Science and Pseudoscience of Aging
Some animals (such as hydras and some jellyfish) can apparently live forever, but we humans are all going to die. Longevity is desirable, but aging—a slow process of deterioration—is not. Hearing declines (half of those older than seventy-five have disabling hearing loss), as does visual acuity (by age eighty, 70… read more "The Science and Pseudoscience of Aging"
Stupid Videos and Marketing Ploys
Purveyors of so-called complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) don’t have any credible scientific evidence. If they did, their treatments would not be called “alternative” but would have been accepted into mainstream practice and would just be called “medicine.” They tend not to appreciate science or even to understand it. They… read more "Stupid Videos and Marketing Ploys"
Nuubu: Here We Go Again! Recycling Debunked Foot Detox Myths
Companies come and go, but the claims remain the same, that you can (insert claim) with (insert product) without any evidence. A new company offering magical footpads are just putting new wine in old bottles. In an ideal world, rational people would stop believing false claims that had been conclusively… read more "Nuubu: Here We Go Again! Recycling Debunked Foot Detox Myths"
Navage Promises Benefits from Cleaning Your Nose with Their Expensive Machine
Navage is a machine that uses salt water to rinse out the sinuses, allegedly alleviating the causes of congestion, allergies, colds, and more. The evidence for their claims is lacking. Navage airs its TV commercials with annoying frequency. They say: Pandemics remind us that germs invade through your nose, the… read more "Navage Promises Benefits from Cleaning Your Nose with Their Expensive Machine"
Do You Need Daily Treatment to Repair Damaged Enamel?
Does a toothpaste provide “next level” fluoride technology that you need to use every day? You know the answer. The commercial keeps airing on TV with annoying frequency. She’s a dentist, she wears a white coat, and viewers are expected to assume she is offering good advice. I find her voice… read more "Do You Need Daily Treatment to Repair Damaged Enamel?"
Two New Promising COVID-19 Drugs – Analysis and Questions
[Este artículo está disponible en español. La traducción al español apareció por primera vez en la revista Pensar.] The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over yet. Despite the success of vaccines, people continue to get the disease. Most cases are in the unvaccinated, but even those who have been fully vaccinated can have… read more "Two New Promising COVID-19 Drugs – Analysis and Questions"
Dos nuevos fármacos prometedores contra el COVID-19: análisis y preguntas
[This article is also available in English. Thanks to Pensar for the Spanish translation.] La pandemia del COVID-19 aún no ha terminado. A pesar del éxito de las vacunas, las personas continúan contrayendo la enfermedad. La mayoría de los casos corresponden a personas no vacunadas, pero incluso aquellas que han… read more "Dos nuevos fármacos prometedores contra el COVID-19: análisis y preguntas"
Virtual Reality Therapy
On November 16, 2021 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had authorized marketing of EaseVRx, which they described as “a prescription-use immersive virtual reality (VR) system that uses cognitive behavioral therapy and other behavioral methods to help with pain reduction in patients 18 years of age and… read more "Virtual Reality Therapy"
Dietary Supplements and Deception
At least half of Americans (maybe as many as 2/3) take dietary supplements. They assume the government will guarantee safety, efficacy, and truthful advertising. They couldn’t be more wrong. The very term dietary supplement is based on a fiction. Dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA but the regulations are… read more "Dietary Supplements and Deception"