Denialism

Mercola—still lying after all these years

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by

MarkH
in , ,

It’s no secret that I have no respect for Joe Mercola. Every time I read one of his promotional emails or make a visit to his website, I see more fantastic claims. Usually, I don’t see blatant lies…until now…

This guy likes to claim that he’s in the woo-peddling business to help people…it’s not about profit. This is clearly untrue. But other than his dissembling about his motives, I’ve never really checked his site for lies in particular…just silly, illogical falsehoods.

Today I got an email from Joe:

Why I Believe You Should Take Action NOW to Help Remove Potential Toxins from Your Body*…

Discover How this Green Food-Based Supplement Can Help You Reduce Toxins and Energize Your Health at the Same Time*

OK, this statement has so many modifiers that one can hardly call it a “lie” as such. Not only that, but those asterisks direct the reader to the usual “Quack Miranda Warning”. They aren’t the only asterisks on the page. He starts with the toxin/detox myth, with a patina of “green-ness”:

Despite most people’s best intentions, we still live in a very toxic world… we’re surrounded by toxins of all kinds, some worse than others.

The good news is — there are many “green” efforts underway around the globe to help us all make better life choices… to cause less impact to the earth.

Let’s face it, you’re continuously bombarded with toxic influences in your environment. That’s why it’s crucial for you to use environmentally-friendly products that cause less impact to our planet.

But even if you try to “go green” environmentally, you may still end up with unwanted toxins inside your body.

Going forward, I recommend that you commit yourself to eating all-natural unprocessed foods as much as possible. This should help limit your future exposure to environmental toxins.

Plus, it’s important for you to start removing as many impurities from your body as possible.

When it comes to removing toxins already in your system, I believe you need a smart treatment protocol to begin to detoxify your body as soon as possible.

First, it is not “important…to start removing…impurities.” That’s just imaginary bullshit. Of course, even if it were true, it can’t be as simple as eating right and exercising. Nope, he’s got something to sell us. His lawyers must be pretty good, because he did use “I believe” as a modifier, making it an opinion rather than a statement of fact.

Of course this statement:

“How You Can Detoxify with a Well-Researched Green Food-Based Formula”

…is also subjective; “well-researched” can mean anything, really. In this case, it means, “not really researched in any scientific way.”

Nearly every detox claim that follows has an asterisk, which is good, because it’s all bull. But he does footnote his claims, which is where he screws up.

His best example is this:

Boosts your immune system* Chlorella [his expensive extract] provides your body with an added defense mechanism*(4)

This claim, that Chlorella somehow “boots the immune system”, adds to the detox myth by layering on the “immune booster” myth. Not only does this statement rely on a myth, but his footnote completely contradicts his claim.

Footnote: (4)Halperin SA, et al, “Safety and immunoenhancing effect of a Chlorella-derived dietary supplement in healthy adults undergoing influenza vaccination: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” CMAJ. 2003 Jul 22;169(2):111-7 http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/abstract/169/2/111–abstract:

Interpretation: The Chlorella-derived dietary supplement did not have any effect in increasing the antibody response to influenza vaccine in the overall study population, although there was an increase in antibody response among participants aged 50-55 years. Adverse events were similar among those receiving the supplement and the placebo. Further studies are warranted to explore the range of clinical effects resulting from ingestion of this dietary supplement.

Given that everything on Mercola’s site is a load of crap (albeit crap that has modifiers and disclaimers), why focus on one little lie?

Because that’s the one I caught. Anyone can make ridiculous medical claims. Anyone can try to sell you snake oil. And with all of the “I believe”s and “In my opinion”s, hey, it’s all good. But this type of sloppy research and/or outright deception escaped the proofreader. The fact that he would try to support his false claims with real medical literature, and get one easily verifiable fact wrong means that he holds you, the pigeon/reader in complete contempt.

He thinks you will buy his claims, mirandized, asterisked, modified and all, without bothering to look down at the bottom of the page. He thinks you are an idiot whose only purpose is to send him money. He is no better than a cult leader.

So be a sucker, if you want. Buy the algae. But don’t look to me for sympathy. Mercola warned you, gave you the tools to figure out his lies, and is counting on you to be stupid.

Caveat emptor, illegitimi non carborundum, and zie gezunt.

Comments

  1. D. C. Sessions

    No, he’s (narrowly) telling the truth. The results show a minor increase in response for 50-55 yos. I’m too old, you’re too young, but there is a positive response group.

    And, yes, it’s obvious that if you divide up your study population into small enough subgroups it becomes inevitable that one of those subgroups will manage a p less than 0.05

    Reply
  2. Lemon Curry

    I have a better way to rid the body of toxins: grow a liver and a pair of kidneys.

    Works like a champ, and you can’t argue with the price.

    Reply
  3. Mr P

    “Green food”? Soylent green is people!

    P

    Reply
  4. jre

    Some time back, a much-loved and extremely intelligent family member introduced me to the miracle food Blue-Green Algae. I was curious enough to track some of BGA’s claims to their source, and discovered that the whole thing was a colossal, steaming crock of pond scum. When I shared this information with said family member, it had no discernible effect. He is now a devoted follower of Joseph Mercola, and the gulf between our world-views has grown so wide that we just can’t talk about these things anymore — which saddens me greatly. So my advice now is to steer clear of family discussions of politics, religion and alternative medicine. No good can come of it.

    Reply
  5. Marilyn Mann

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/25/AR2008082501492.html

    Annoying article by credulous Washington Post reporter on her experience with being on a “detox diet.” In the “health” section of the Post.

    Reply
  6. PalMD

    Oy, Marilyn…bringing the bad news around!

    Reply
  7. Rogue Epidemiologist

    Joe Mercola is the leading reason I decided against applying to osteopathic medical school. I couldn’t deal being in the same profession as a flagrant shill like him. I don’t throw the shill card around lightly since I am often accused of being one. But if there ever was a shill that shilled, it would be Mercola.

    Reply
  8. DavidCT

    Rogue,

    Joe Merquacka may be lower than the pond scum he is selling but he is not typical of DOs. I live in Maine and there are more DOs here than in other parts of the country. My GP is a DO and his practice is indistinguishable from the MD I had previously ( the change was a matter of geography not philosophy). Actually the DO is a bit less of a quick draw with the prescription pad, but this is more likely the result of personality not training.

    Everybody in your current field lilly white?

    Reply
  9. Denice Walter

    While written woo is constrained by the legal protectors of the woo- provider, the radio or live variety has so much more spontaneous lying ooze through, limited only by the degree of megalomaniac braggadocio of the woo- meister.I’ve described some of my experiences with “Live Woo” here (and in White Coat Underground:”Null and Void”).Attending one of these book store woo-fests,I intended to challenge some of the ridiculous claims being foisted upon the public in my own area of study, or at least, challenge the so-called academic credentials listed.Alas, I couldn’t do it: there were over 100 people enraptured by this rant, applauding,and buying books.Hey, I’m not that brave.I suggest to readers that if one of these quacks/cranks makes a Barnes and Noble appearance nearby:go and ask a question.The audience only asked for help, advice, and about treatment options: there was no questioning of the material or its purveyor.

    Reply
  10. Rogue Epidemiologist

    DaveCT, I know, not all DO’s are like Mercola. A DO covers for my PCP when she’s out of town. Even my parents (MD and RN) told me I should still consider DO school. But like I said, Mercola was a leading reason — but not the sole reason — I figured that osteopathic medicine wasn’t for me.

    As for the other epidemiologists out here, we’re practically above reproach 🙂 Probably ’cause nobody knows or cares about what we do. *smirk*

    That’s why I’m the rogue. I’m just a smartass who crunches the data.

    Reply
  11. Steve

    Dr. Mercola talks a lot of sense. To dismiss all his work out of hand is a sure sign of lunacy.

    Reply
  12. LanceR, JSG

    Okay, the first lie here is obvious: “to dismiss all his work out of hand…” Out of hand implies “without even examining his claims”, and that is just false. The idea that the body needs “detoxification” is just wrong. The body does a great job of dealing with toxins. We have several systems in our body that do nothing but detox. If any of these fail, all the special foods and colon cleansings in the world won’t help you… you need an ICU immediately or you will die.

    The sure sign of lunacy is believing oft-discredited tripe without any understanding of anatomy, physiology, and how the body actually works.

    Reply
  13. Nat Green

    This Mercola guy may or may not be a douche (I am new to this debate so I only am aware of him since following this thread.) Furthermore, I agree that leading vulnerable people to believe that a product will cure or treat or mitigate any disease they may have is exploitative and unethical and just mean.
    However, I was wondering about Chlorella. I got interested in Spirulina and Chlorela recently, not because I expect that it is a panacea that will cure or prevent any diseases, but simply because I read that it has a high protein content (with all the a.a.’s) and an abundance of other nutrients, along with a little fiber.
    I take about 2g per day in a bitter green smoothie that I make with frozen banana and o.j. Do you think that the chlorella is bad, even as a source of calories and nutrients… or are you just saying that it is bad as a “drug”… or are you not saying it is bad at all and just that mercola is a douche?
    Do you advise against taking a multi-vitamin? Or a protein powder? Because that is how I look at chlorella…
    I am not attacking your claims at all, especially about Mercola’s douchiness… I am sure it is undeniable. I just want to know if you are advising against taking it… or just not advising to take it.

    Reply
  14. Ivan Pointer

    It was three years before I realised that the only reason I was taking an anti-hypertention drug was because when I even think about visiting the doctor’s office my blood pressure goes up. That was evidence enough for me that the doctor’s first treatment is always via the prescription pad. Drug company lackeys! Is the medical practitioner who reaches for the prescription pad when natural remedies fail less of a doctor?
    Do you look as critically at the ‘scientific evidence’ supporting G.M. crops as mankind’s panacea? Where is your ‘attack’ on Monsanto, a source of true evil. The G.M.O. fiasco makes Mecola look like a saint.

    Reply
  15. Cid

    This is so typical of folks who are completely uneducated in nutrition and just buy into the medical party line. The irony being that the medical school curriculum doesn’t include any kind of formal training in nutrition. I can’t think of one doctor I’ve ever gone to that even bothered to ask about diet, exercise, or environmental influences before breaking out their prescription pad. Oh but wait…. I forgot…. those same doctors get such fabulous kick backs from the pharmaceutical companies, of course, it only makes profitable sense for them to give you drugs rather than take the time to find the cause of your problem. Yet, you call Mercola a quack because he sells his products openly?! MD’s are just as guilty…. they’re just more covert and dishonest about it. At least Mercola isn’t pushed around by the billion dollar pharmaceutical industry when he makes a recommendation or puts out his information. I’m certainly not saying that Mercola is correct in all his assertions, but neither is traditional medicine. At least he’s thinking outside the box (a box that clearly is profit driven not health driven). How many bogus medical practices or faulty medications have harmed and/or killed patients? And your making an issue out of Chlorella?

    Some of the research practices of the Medical profession are laughable… since when does a rat have anything to do with the human body. Yet that is how pharmaceutical drugs are tested. As discussed in Scientific American, the physiological make up of the human body is vastly more complex than that of a rat; and yet, when it’s profitable to the medical industry, the FDA’s approval or disapproval hinges on that very thing.

    Truth is, it just doesn’t earn dollars for the Medical and Pharmaceutical Money Machine to even consider natural methods of dealing with health issues. Healthy people don’t generate profits. If optimal health were really the issue here, and the ultimate goal of the medical industry, there would be real, unbiased research into the supposedly dangerous and irresponsible claims of the Natural food and health food industries – but by in large that is not the case. So, in a way – you are really just the pot calling the kettle black.

    With learning challenges, cancer, and heart disease at an all time high…. obviously something is not working. OBVIOUSLY there are many environmental and food born toxins that affect the human body and are stored in the human body. Lead is a great example… as is iron, pesticides, arsenic, and other toxins. Yeah, it would be great if our liver could process these poisons, the problem is that with the current industrial and farming practices, the quantity of toxins many people are exposed to is too great for our natural defenses to handle. So please…. it’s insulting when you say it is not “important…to start removing…impurities.” That’s just imaginary bullshit”.

    Reply
  16. LJS

    Bravo Cid!

    Very well said.

    Reply

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