I have been noticing a lot of companies are aggressively marketing superfood items that they claim have many health benefits. For example, I got a flyer from a doctor that claims a supplement called Chlorella helps digestion, detoxification, and weight loss, and this is from a real board certified physician. Some GNC ads have doctors promoting weight loss and sleep pills. There is a yogurt being sold that claims it cures indigestion. I don't know but all of this seems like 21st century snake oil. The only product I have seen that has worked for me has been green tea, but black tea has had the same effect.

dunno about chlorella but cholera causes really rapid weight loss , maybe they found a way to market it

__________________
Sree

Don't know what a Greenbook rotation is? Click here.
Preliminary list of state licensing requirements here.

So your saying I could eat three Egg McMuffins and Hashbrowns for brekkie, Four Taco Bell Burrito Supremes for Lunch, a bag of Lays Potato Chips with Cheesy Bean Dip and 2 Liters of Coke for an afternoon snack, Three Domino's Deep Dish Pizzas with the works and wash it down with a six bottles of Budweiser, sit on my rear end playing Xbox 360 and Wii all day, and as a long as I take Chlorella I will lose weight??? I don't think so!!! You need to have a good diet and have good exercise habits to stay healthy and maintain weight. You also have to maintain good mental health, things like stress have been known to cause people to overeat.

"cholera"

...

way to point out the obvious..

__________________
Ross U. '10
Rutgers U. '05

You know….one day you may have patients who want to use more natural approaches to health. If you, the MD lack knowledge in natural products, then I suggest you educate yourself on the matter. Simply refuting information won't cut it! Just because you are not taught natural medicine in a conventional program does not justify your ignorance nor does it mean that other more natural health products do not work. It is up to each health professional to learn that which is foreign to them. Once you do this you will have more respect from your patients. I am not saying you should become adept in herbology (aka botanical medicine) either.

There are MANY studies conducted on most natural health products. There are many highly respected vitamin companies such as Metagenics in the US that have a complete scientific advisory board comprised of PhD’s and MD’s who possess the scientific fortitude to squash ignorance in the field of health products. They conduct studies on ALL of their products and I strongly advise you to look them up to gain REAL truth about reputable health products. Realize where your information in med school comes from. It is completely one-sided. This is done for one reason and only one reason. Pharmaceutical companies don’t want you to know that there are safer viable health products to theirs.

When you speak from a place of ignorance it is because you lack the knowledge. So do yourself and your patients a favor and do something about it! You will not be taught about natural medicine in your program because pharmaceutical companies have much to lose if you were!!! Think about it!!

I am sure many of you would love to know how to enhance your memory naturally and how to remove the effects of exam exhaustion immediately? It pays to have knowledge!!!

When you make unjustifiable comments it not only discourages the patient, but it allows you to actually believe yourself. You are too brilliant as health practitioners to do this!!! Never sell yourself short and please put pride aside. Never allow your actions to be dictated by anyone or any organization.

When you lack knowledge your PATIENT loses and so do YOU. Think about it!!

Please understand that my comments are not intended to upset you or create drama. Nor are they intended to invite hostility. I passionately practice alternative medicine and I see people completely recover from many ailments. Please take my advice and let it be a catalyst to your awareness and enlightenment. The fact that I have a science degree helps maintain a level of healthy skepticism. I invite you to do the same.

Doctor is a word derived from the latin word “docere”…..which means teacher. Be prepared to teach your patients. It is your job.

I included the following links for all enquiring minds…….

http://www.mercola.com/chlorella/research.htm

http://www.healingdaily.com/oral-chelation/health-benefits-of-chlorella.htm

http://www.mercola.com/chlorella/index.htm

http://www.mercola.com/chlorella/comparison.htm

http://www.evolutionhealth.com/free_report_chlorella.htm

http://www.chlorellafactor.com/chlorella-spirulina-06.html (this link lists Dr. Elson Haas, MD….his comment at the bottom is his own.) He writes a great book on nutrition and I strongly suggest you consider having it on your shelf!

In closing…I quote Einstein….. “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence”. Just because all of what nature has to offer has not been scientifically proven, should we be willing to ignore nature’s gifts and their healing potential? Pharmaceutical companies take all their raw material from nature….only to reproduce it in a lab. Are we above our creator?

I welcome all comments and concerns.

Have they been as agressive as the pharmaceutical companies in their marketing? I think that the marketing edge for natural products is based on informing the consumer since some may not have such product knowledge. You can be a consumer regardless of what profession you belong to. Perhaps the "real" board-certified physician has looked beyond the box and decided to self-educate, as some physicians choose to do. Nothing wrong with that. But what I have an issue with is when someone...without knowledge of a product, dares to criticize people who do. There is no reason for it unless you have information to adequately refute it.

As for yogurt, in case some of you may not already know, it contains acidophilus. This is a probiotic=good bacteria. It helps promote health in the intestine. It occurs and lives naturally in our intestine. When it is in abundance, our immune system is strong. When it declines, we are susceptible to illness. Yogurt is one source to help increase the acidophilus colonies along the intestine. When antibiotics are prescribed, these will not only wipe out the bad bacteria, but also these good ones. So, my suggestion to you....only a suggestion....is to consider suggesting to a patient taking an antibiotic to also have yogurt or purchase the acidophilus in capsule form. This will help to greatly reduce any secondary UTI's or yeast infections from occurring. Just a thought! But not all yogurt is created equal. The stuff with fruit in it is not the best for supporting the intestinal acidophilus. It is only the plain or vanilla versions that work.

Green tea....so much to say...but I won't. This is your homework for tonight! Suffice it to say that the catechins contained within green tea have been studied and researched extensively and the final word is that they are a cancer protective nutrient. But please don't take my word for it. Apparently that is not enough these days!

My thoughts exactly!

__________________
Mongo

Be good. If you can't be good, be careful. If you can't be careful...Name it after me.