/oss/taxonomy/term/880/all en /oss/article/aging-controversial-science-cosmetics-health-quackery-supplements/phytoceramides <p>“As seen on the Dr. Oz Show” is a claim that is guaranteed to boost sales for any product. Like the “phytoceramides” glorified by a couple of plastic surgeons on the show. Incorporated into dietary supplements, these plant derived chemicals are supposed to rejuvenate the skin. There’s no magic pill, Dr. Leif Rogers commented, but “this is pretty close.” And after Dr. Oz wondered “why we haven’t used this earlier,” marketers went to work and quickly filled websites with advertisements about how you can “fake a facelift” with phytoceramides.</p> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 01:10:10 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2163 at /oss /oss/article/news/dr-michael-greger-what-do-we-make-him <p>A while ago I came across videos by Dr. Michael Greger. I was impressed by his ability to produce these 3-4 minute features every day. The science was sound and the production values high. I started to watch every day and it soon became clear that there was an agenda here. Every video either spoke about the benefits of some plant component in the diet or the harm caused by some chemical in animal products. It turns out that Dr. Greger has swallowed the vegan philosophy hook, line and sinker; not that there's anything wrong with that.</p> Tue, 15 Oct 2013 19:06:08 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2020 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-health-news-you-asked/you-asked-should-we-worry-about-arsenic-wine <p style="text-align:justify">A story about arsenic-laced wine is panicking a lot of people. It’s all about a lawsuit brought against the producers of some wines claiming they contain unsafe amounts of arsenic. As far as I can tell, the lawsuit is an attempt at money grab by a company that performs analyses for substances such as arsenic in beverages. The idea seems to be to cash in on the public fear generated by the lawsuit. People will clamor for the testing of wines, a service the company provides. Any story about arsenic, the fabled "widow maker," is guaranteed to trigger publicity.</p> Mon, 23 Mar 2015 03:28:50 +0000 Joe Schwarcz 2244 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-food-health-quirky-science-supplements/miracle-bites-dust <p>It's frustrating, but most scientific studies end with the line, "more research is needed." But not always. We have one of these rare cases in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine about the use of niacin to improve cholesterol profile. Niacin is familiar to many as the B vitamin that prevents pellagra but when it is used to decrease LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) and increase HDL (the "good" cholesterol) it is given in far higher doses than the amount that prevents pellagra. At a dose of 1000 mg a day, niacin is a drug.</p> Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:35:11 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2169 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-health-technology-you-asked/you-asked-it-true-keeping-cell-phone-bra-can-cause-breast-cancer <p>Yesterday Dr. Oz had a 21 year old woman as a guest who believes that keeping a cell phone in her bra for four years caused her breast cancer. Oz described that the location of the tumour corresponded to the placement of the cell phone. A surgeon then described that he had seen several other similar cases in young women who had no family history of the disease. In theory a cellphone triggering breast cancer does not seem plausible.</p> Sun, 08 Dec 2013 01:24:17 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2042 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-health-news-quackery/bacopa-monnieri <p>Herbal medicine is the oldest form of medicine. When our early ancestors foraged for plants to eat, they encountered some that had benefits other than curbing hunger. Maybe it was pain relief from the mandrake root, or ginseng to boost energy, or cannabis to offer delight. By 1500 BC the Egyptians had amassed a wealth of information about medicinal herbs as documented in the famous Ebers Papyrus.</p> Wed, 24 Sep 2014 03:18:13 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2195 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-food-health-news-quackery/dr-ozs-sweet-tooth <p>Dr. Oz is talking and nutritionists are shuddering. It’s almost a daily occurrence. This time he is all excited about a sugar substitute that according to him does not have a “chemical taste,” whatever that may be. And what is that substitute? Sugar. But this sugar doesn’t come from sugar cane or from sugar beets, it is crystallized from the nectar of the coconut palm. But isn’t sugar, sugar? Oz makes a case for coconut palm sugar for two reasons.</p> Fri, 24 Jan 2014 08:27:29 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2077 at /oss /oss/article/environment-health-toxicity/we-need-rational-discussion-about-pesticides-without-rhetoric <div> <p style="text-align:justify"> </p> </div> Mon, 13 Oct 2014 02:58:30 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2204 at /oss /oss/article/food-health-technology/metal-micro <p>Because I take the odd shot at Dr. Oz (he is after all such an inviting target) people send me reports of some of his antics. Apparently he, or one of his guests, muttered something about using stainless steel containers in the microwave instead of plastic which was claimed to release "toxic chemicals." This caused quite a commotion in chat rooms with some people commenting that only someone with the IQ of plankton would suggest the use of metal in a microwave.</p> Sat, 01 Feb 2014 03:28:21 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2084 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-health-news-quackery-supplements/green-coffee-beans-give-science-black-eye <p style="text-align:justify">Dr. Oz  didn’t mince his words when he described the wondrous effects of green coffee bean extract. “Magical,” “staggering,” an “unprecedented discovery!” “Finally, a cure for obesity” he breathlessly gushed. I gasped too. Not at the results of the study that sent Oz into rapture, but at the credulity of the man. Losing 10.5% of one’s body weight and 16% of body fat in 22 weeks without any dieting or exercise? Just by taking green coffee bean extract? That would indeed be a miracle.</p> Fri, 24 Oct 2014 02:29:43 +0000 Joe Schwarcz 2206 at /oss /oss/article/environment-quirky-science-supplements/mystique-parsley-sage-rosemary-and-thyme <div> <p style="text-align:justify"> </p> </div> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 22:29:30 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2123 at /oss /oss/article/health-quackery-supplements-you-asked/dr-ozs-questionable-wizardry <p>Miracles are pretty rare events. Except on television’s “Dr. Oz Show,” where they appear with astonishing frequency. Oz of course doesn’t claim to raise the dead or part the Red Sea, but he does raise people’s hopes of parting with their flab. And he’s certainly not shy about flinging the word “miracle” about. But it seems miracles fade as quickly as they appear. Raspberry ketones, acai berries and African mango, once hyped as amazing “fat busters,” have already given way to newer wonders.</p> Fri, 19 Jul 2013 16:29:01 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1988 at /oss /oss/article/food-health-quackery/dr-ozs-two-day-holiday-detox-should-be-flushed <p>One would think that producers of the Dr. Oz show would pay at least a little attention to the widely publicized study that appeared in the British Medical Journal examining the health recommendations made on medical talk shows. The researchers looked at eighty recommendations made on the Oz Show and found that evidence supported 46%, contradicted 15%, and no evidence was found for 39%. Not exactly a stellar performance. Yet on the heels of the stinging paper, what does the Dr. Oz Show come up with? A segment that has no supportive evidence whatsoever.</p> Thu, 08 Jan 2015 00:52:08 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2228 at /oss /oss/article/news/dr-ozs-lingo-needs-be-detoxified <p>To anyone with a scientific bent, Dr. Oz continues to be a source of amazement, amusement and frustration. His most recent foray into optimizing our health takes him down the “detox” path. It’s a treacherous path, full of pseudoscientific weeds. If we the advice of the Great Oz we can can rid our body of toxins and boost our energy levels in just three days! It worked for him, and he guarantees it will work for us. Here is the actual claim: Eliminate harmful toxins, restore your system and reset your body with this detox cleanse. All you need is 3 days, a blender and $16 a day!</p> Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:46:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1896 at /oss /oss/article/news/put-sock-it-dr-oz <p>Dr. Oz is being sued. Not for dispensing silly advice about "natural" weight loss supplements. Not for shamelessly promoting "Dr.Oz's homeopathic kit." Not for having nutcase Joe Mercola on his show. Not for having guests who claim to talk to the dead. But for giving advice about improving sleep by wearing socks filled with hot uncooked rice. Apparently Oz opined that wearing rice-filled socks that had been microwaved for twenty minutes is better than counting sheep. He did warn that care has to be taken that the rice doesn't get too hot.</p> Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:02:42 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1898 at /oss