General Discussion

longship

(40,416 posts)

58. Science is like that.

Fri Dec 20, 2013, 08:52 PM

Dec 2013

But people like to think that their personal experiences are the rule. A few centuries of science says no. One doesn't get to make stuff up. Nature is what nature is. And the human body is exquisitely adapted to fit into its place on this planet via some millions (dare I say billions) of years of evolution. So while your liver quietly removes your body of toxins as it does in all mammals and many quadrupeds since time immemorial, there will still be people who foolishly pay fancy Spa prices for a coffee enema to flush out toxins. And there will be many more who think the American diet is somehow insufficient so everybody needs these supplements to live a longer, more healthy life, none of which is supported by research. But it is supported by the anecdotes in the commercials on the televisionary set and on the Intertubes.

So have at it, Hoss.

Myself? I'll trust the science.

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Supplements: Flushing your money down the toilet in expensive urine [View all] SidDithers Dec 2013 OP

I haven't had a cold since 2010 Nye Bevan Dec 2013 #1

I take a multivitamin since I do not eat a regularly balanced diet. Rex Dec 2013 #3

Bet you routinely wash you hands, too Brother Buzz Dec 2013 #5

Yes. And the other thing I do, is that when someone shakes my hand, Nye Bevan Dec 2013 #6

I routinely wash my hands when I come into the house from shopping or wherever... CTyankee Dec 2013 #15

but you no longer need to use hot water to do that job...cold water hand washing saves energy! VanillaRhapsody Dec 2013 #34

I choose to wash my hands with warm water in the winter Brother Buzz Dec 2013 #46

and wasting electricity! VanillaRhapsody Dec 2013 #47

Yes, I choose to wash my hands in light Brother Buzz Dec 2013 #51

Not only coincidental, but anecdotal. longship Dec 2013 #11

A lot of pipi_k Dec 2013 #84

A big mistake here. longship Dec 2013 #88

Well said...nt SidDithers Dec 2013 #91

I don't think all supplements are useless. But the majority most likely are. nomorenomore08 Dec 2013 #24

Same here with the C - whole family takes it... fadedrose Dec 2013 #93

Gorski is great. As an academic he knows the research. longship Dec 2013 #2

Gorski rips Mike "The Health Ranger" Adams a new one in the Orac blog linked above... SidDithers Dec 2013 #4

Mike Adams is a common source for woo on DU. MineralMan Dec 2013 #7

Will read it. longship Dec 2013 #12

Adams is a young RWNJ. People think they are dying out. Wrong, they're recruiting youth. freshwest Dec 2013 #65

I agree alarimer Dec 2013 #83

I have not had a cold in about 10 years or more. RebelOne Dec 2013 #8

Taking actual vitamins - B-12, Vitamin E, etc. - is probably harmless at worst, helpful at best. nomorenomore08 Dec 2013 #25

I take Vitamin B-12 for protein because I am a vegetarian. RebelOne Dec 2013 #54

I believe that. Especially the B-12. I'm not a vegetarian but I respect the choice not to eat meat nomorenomore08 Dec 2013 #60

After developing a variety of symptoms from too high prescribed doses of simvastatin HereSince1628 Dec 2013 #9

Right. And the industry works hard to suppress the accumulation of anecdotal evidence BlueStreak Dec 2013 #100

"If you eat a well-rounded diet..." cbdo2007 Dec 2013 #10

Exactly. Rex Dec 2013 #13

Special pleading. longship Dec 2013 #14

As Michael Pollan says, "Eat food, mostly plants, and not too much." CTyankee Dec 2013 #16

Our overall level of obesity in this country? Our easy access to fast food, etc.. Rex Dec 2013 #17

So the obese are lacking in supplements? longship Dec 2013 #18

You asked about proof of American having bad eating habits, nothing about supplements. Rex Dec 2013 #19

Ahem! The OP is about supplements. longship Dec 2013 #20

Yes but your question was not. Rex Dec 2013 #21

My question was "So the obese are lacking in supplements?" longship Dec 2013 #23

Seems like FUD in the OP, but have at it. Rex Dec 2013 #49

Science is like that. longship Dec 2013 #58

FUD is what it is, but you know that already. Rex Dec 2013 #59

Anecdotes are by definition FUD. longship Dec 2013 #69

Aren't fertile women "normal" people? Funny, I thought we were. pnwmom Dec 2013 #22

Just folic acid. longship Dec 2013 #29

The CDC is still recommending a multivitamin containing folic acid. pnwmom Dec 2013 #30

The main thing is folic acid. longship Dec 2013 #41

No, a folic acid supplement is necessary for ALL women who pnwmom Dec 2013 #43

LOL! Good show! Rex Dec 2013 #53

... SidDithers Dec 2013 #61

Without vitamins the body would die, but you keep pushing your FUD. Rex Dec 2013 #62

Well I agree with you. longship Dec 2013 #73

Are you a doctor? gollygee Dec 2013 #68

So you mean they didn't kill millions while healing via placebo? NoOneMan Dec 2013 #26

Awww, what is it, Sid? Jamastiene Dec 2013 #27

Proponent of woo? bitchkitty Dec 2013 #28

The CDC is a proponent of woo, also, because they advocate pnwmom Dec 2013 #31

Hey, what does the Center for Disease Control know? bitchkitty Dec 2013 #33

Oh boy! longship Dec 2013 #52

Don't believe the hype. If you aren't getting enough of something, DO take supplements. JaneyVee Dec 2013 #32

And if you're a fertile female, DO follow the CDC advice -- take a daily multivitamin pnwmom Dec 2013 #36

Yup, I still take prenatal vitamins 2 years after giving birth. JaneyVee Dec 2013 #38

Exactly! BuddhaGirl Dec 2013 #44

I do and will 840high Dec 2013 #81

What of medically prescribed vitamins? Pre-natal, Vitamin D and Vitamin C? freshwest Dec 2013 #35

Not to mention women Aerows Dec 2013 #55

Well. Thank goodness THAT's finally been put to rest. tjwash Dec 2013 #37

so why is Vitamin D encouraged along with fish oil if they do nothing? VanillaRhapsody Dec 2013 #39

Many people, especially darker skinned people in northern latitudes, pnwmom Dec 2013 #42

Your surgeon may "know his shit" but he's forgotten -- assuming he ever knew -- pnwmom Dec 2013 #40

He's a breast cancer researcher and surgeon... SidDithers Dec 2013 #48

He has forgotten women when he says that vitamin supplements are unnecessary pnwmom Dec 2013 #50

This debate is so stupid, the body cannot produce vitamins and without a proper diet Rex Dec 2013 #63

They think it is a simple matter for all people to get all of the vitamins pnwmom Dec 2013 #67

Yes it is a great thing to be telling people to get a balanced meal every day. Rex Dec 2013 #79

"Orac knows his shit," etherealtruth Dec 2013 #45

The studies he cites are extraordinarily narrow BlueStreak Dec 2013 #87

Big Pharma does NOT want you to stop taking supplements etherealtruth Dec 2013 #89

If you check the top 10 Big Pharma companies, I don't think you will find BlueStreak Dec 2013 #94

I think if you check further you will find many are wholly owned subsidiaries of Big Pharma etherealtruth Dec 2013 #95

Please name some names BlueStreak Dec 2013 #96

Pfizer, the Carlysle Group, Johnson and Johnson, Merck ... to name an additonal few etherealtruth Dec 2013 #97

Add DuPont to the list ... jeeze it is even worse than I had imagined etherealtruth Dec 2013 #99

None of these are in the top 10 of vitamin/supplement companies, are they? BlueStreak Dec 2013 #101

you are very invested in not believeing this is a huge industry etherealtruth Dec 2013 #103

Every Pharma company has been through a bunch of nmergers and acquisitions. BlueStreak Dec 2013 #106

I will Herbalife is right up there etherealtruth Dec 2013 #104

2nd reply (didn't want to edit to add) etherealtruth Dec 2013 #90

You can't have a narrow study and a gradiose conclusion and call it science BlueStreak Dec 2013 #98

Did you read the article and follow the links? etherealtruth Dec 2013 #102

The headline is "Supplements: Flushing your money down the toilet in expensive urine" BlueStreak Dec 2013 #105

Yeah don't take supplements lordsummerisle Dec 2013 #56

Why would you think that was even implied by the OP? etherealtruth Dec 2013 #57

Because lordsummerisle Dec 2013 #70

The supplement industry is a 30-40 BILLION/ year industry etherealtruth Dec 2013 #74

... Rex Dec 2013 #64

What is IKR?... n/t lordsummerisle Dec 2013 #71

I know, right etherealtruth Dec 2013 #92

+1 whatchamacallit Dec 2013 #72

oh lordsummerisle Dec 2013 #75

? whatchamacallit Dec 2013 #82

That loon looks like he is balancing a little loon on his head. lol Just being silly. Auntie Bush Dec 2013 #66

calcium is not a vitamin.... mike_c Dec 2013 #86

He might "know his shit," but he doesn't know his urine. ... JEFF9K Dec 2013 #76

How many of this Dr's patients have died under his treatment? brentspeak Dec 2013 #77

But doctors don't know anything! Only mothers do! Vashta Nerada Dec 2013 #78

My personal experience BlueToTheBone Dec 2013 #80

there are serious health consequences of vitamin deficiency.... mike_c Dec 2013 #85