On a Lighter Note

Jon Oliver is a funny, plentifully "snarky" and also likable fellow. What a non controversial thread to start here on the holistic forum.  I could write a script, though it would not be nearly as hilarious and have far fewer ratings about doctors who claim that some of these chemotherapy and other medicines will help people be healthier, and live longer, when in actuality many of these medicines often cause dire and often fatal complications. Would love to openly scrutinize the FDA in a similar fashion on national television.

It is interesting & points of the danger of buying into the idea that you get something for nothing. When I was younger I remember the fen/fen craze....several friends who took it have permanent heart damage, but even then I guess I was smart enough to think, 'DUH.....you can not lose weight without some combination of diet & exercise....there has got to be a catch." And today I know lots of young athletes today who are taking unproven supplements to boast their performance.....with who knows what long term results? And I know quite a few people who are taking this/that/and the other thing on the advice of friends, celebrities (who are generally making money off their endorsements) or something they read online or in an advertisement. So it is a serious issue & to have a medical doctor (whom one might possibly trust as knowing what he is taking about) toting 'miracle' products is especially distasteful to me.

I do worry about the unregulated supplement industry because I know many people who are adding so many supplements to their body without knowing what they are even taking...all on testimonials. Just recently, a lady I know has gotten into selling a green powder to add to water and drink it multiple times throughout the day (I can't remember the company, but it seemed like a pyramid scheme to me) to 'boast vitality'. She is a good salesperson and had gotten lots & lots of people to buy into it. When I looked at the ingredients, one of top ones was flax. Now the jury is out as to whether or not flax should be avoided by women with BC....but if it turns out, as some suspect, that flax does feed cancer, then it would be really stupid for me to add a lot of it to my diet. So it worries me that the claims can be made with no backup & people can spend a lot of their money for nothing and, worse yet, potentially do a lot of harm to themselves too (think steroid use by athletes).

momine,

Thank you! Despite stage IV, you know I find humor in almost everything (the secret to my survival?). And am even laughing about the Femara induced neuropathy because I just to Femara from Arimidex which made my feet and ankles not so much fun. I know my humor is not everyone's cup of tea but most of it is directed at myself or public figures

Ruthbru,

I can state with certainty, that a proven health enhancement is gin and tonic!

Caryn

Yes, exbrnxgrl and I can attest to the holistic value of gin & tonic!!!!!!!

Jeg kan snakker litt norsk. Kan du?

Har det bra og god kveld,

Caryn

Thanks for the laugh, Momine!   Unfortunately, that "Dr. Oz effect" that Oliver mentions is real.  Time and again, the most outrageous things are perpetrated on us, if not by charismatic pitch alone, then by the wishful thinking of the desperate.

ruthbru,

 Mei bestefar komme fra Rumania og snakker yiddish! I have spent a good part of my life learning random things and norsk  is one of them. Norsk er kjempebra! 

Momine,

I know you wanted to keep this on a lighter note. I'm still laughing!

Caryn

We are going to hijack momine's thread! (Momine snakker dansk.) I became interested in Norwegian after studying Norse mythology. I was at least practical enough not to study old Norse. Through that same path of interest, I am learning nålbinding and lucet (nålbinding is a precursor to knitting, lucet is a way to make braided cord).  Both use beautiful bone or wood tools. I still want to learn Latin but regret that there would be no native speakers

Caryn