When will people stop listening to these quacks?

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7520756.stm

"Nutritionist" my backside!

I had a friend who was told by a "Holistic Nutritionist" that she had a "yeast intolerance" and a "leaky gut" (whatever that means) and was put on a diet which basically meant she had to live on fish, rice, potatoes and vegetables. She lost so much weight she began to look like a famine victim and after passing out at work due to very low blood sugar levels her GP ordered her to start eating normally again.

These people are NOT medically qualified, their science is based on a load of new-age garbage and spurious research. Four Pints of Water a day is NOT necessary and can cause severe health problems, as can eliminating salt, fat and sugar from the diet.

These so-called "Nutritionists" need to be licensed and regulated by public safety, surely?

Answer 1

Hmmmm whatever trevor

Answer 2

I very much doubt if people will stop listening to these quacks, especially when the media give them the oxygen of publicity for free. It is a scandal that anyone, without any medical knowledge, can set themselves up as some kind of health expert.

The mass media have a lot to answer for as they give publicity to all kinds of non-scientific and spurious theories that are actually harmful.

It is ironic that, at least in the UK, we live in a society based on the application of science, have almost unlimited access to medical care and advice based on scientific principles  and people reject it to follow the latest fad.

Check out the "Bad Science" column, written by Ben Goldacre in "the Guardian" for more exposes of this kind of nonsense:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/...

Answer 3

those diets are for people who prefer convenience to logic.

as long as its easier to believe one thing than it is to find the real awnser people will do it. look at religion for example.

Answer 4

just people who wantt attention?

Answer 5

The recommended daily intake of water for a female is circa 2.2 litres.

This lady consumed over 5 litres on the day she suffered the epilepic fit which resulted in her 'brain damage' - over-consumption of water can sometimes cause serious problems:

'Though uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in a condition called hyponatremia (low sodium levels in the blood). Endurance athletes — such as marathon runners — who drink large amounts of water are at higher risk of hyponatremia. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare in healthy adults who consume an average diet.'

Seems to me that her diet, exercise and over exuberance in her consumption of water was as much to blame as the advice given by the Nutritionist.

They were BOTH to blame.

Answer 6

I believe in freedom of speech....regardless of your country. People should be free to present their own theories and practices to the world no matter how idiotic they are.

The question people need to start asking themselves is "who is responsible for my health?" And the answer....is yourself.

There is a LOT of excellent nurtitionist information out there. But obviously not ALL of it is beneficial. People need to protect their health the way they should protect their homes, finances, and belongings.

There's nothing wrong with a few laws on honest business practices requiring info presented by nutritionists to be accurate. (basically saying they're not allowed to just outright lie about their information) but people should be responsible for their own well being.

I research this exact type of stuff all the time, and I have come across a common theme. When nutrition and medicine butt heads in the treatment of a disease/disorder/illness...in the commercial and hospital fields....the medicine almost always wins. BUT in almost all those cases....the medicine is either less useful than the nutrition theropy, or about the same, but far more expensive.  In a select few cases the medicine is actually counterproductive. (namely in cancer treatment)

There ARE destructive "nutritionist" therapies out there, but a little well done research will reveal which ones are useful.

The only one research is a little hard to get through is the cancer treatment. Looking up "laetrile" or "vitamin B-17" will yeild many results posted by it's enemies at the American Cancer Society telling of how dangerous it is.

Truth is....if it were to be discovered as the cure for cancer that it is....millions of people would be out of a job. Millions of others would lose money because people could cure their cancer for around 5 grand instead of the average price of about 150 grand with poor results (almost all cancer patients die anyways)

It's a sick world in the medical research field. There are certainly evil people there.

Answer 7

When healthcare does not require you to sell your house because it's so d**n expensive

Answer 8

Omg I'm pretty much with you here. The guardian btw runs a 'bad science' article every Saturday, plus there is the Skeptics Dictionary website which should sort us all out.  I used to use state of the art wholefood shops in the 1970s to go and buy a bag of organic lentils, but increasingly you cannot do this now without being bombarded by adverts from crystal healers and the like all over the place.  I buy my lentils from my local Turkish shops now, maybe they are not 'organic' but they they sustain me and my family to be creative with vegetable soups for about a week for something like 39p for a big tin.

Answer 9

Its all a load of b*****k$ diets don't work, full stop. you need to eat properly, its that simple. lots of fruit and veg, avoid the fats.

If you take in 1000Cal's and use up 900 you will put weight on if you use 1100 you will lose weight. OK I know people have food intolerance but they are exceptions. They should see at dietitian you and do this through your GP

Answer 10

Desperate people resort to desperate tactics. Unfortunately I think the person that died has to bear some responsibility as well as the nutritionist.

Answer 11

People who are out of hope will do anything to get it back. Don't blame them, empathise with them. We've all been there.

Answer 12

Holistic Nutritionist my a*se some people need to get a real job and stop hoodwinking the vulnerable

Answer 13

Yep, a friend of mine's wife went to one - 'It was amaaaaaaaaaayzing, she put a grain of wheat on my hand, and it moved, proving I'm wheat & gluten intolerant' - absolute bullshit, but good on them for managing to make a living out of the gullibility of others!

ps Wudbizer: In the UK, healthcare is provided by the state, no credit cards required!