During the process of compiling the Cardiology Quackery Hall of Shame, the skeptical cardiologist has recognized that the #1 red flag of quackery is the constant promotion of useless supplements.
Such supplements typically:
-consist of “natural” ingredients
-are a proprietary blend of ingredients or a uniquely prepared single ingredient, and are only available through the quack
-have thousands of individuals who have had a dramatic improvement on the supplement and enthusiastically record their testimonials to its power
-have no scientific support for efficacy or safety
-despite the lack of scientific data, the quack is able to list a series of seemingly valid supportive “studies”
-aren’t checked by the FDA
-apparently, cure everything from heart disease to lassitude
I received an email today from a reader complimenting me on my post on the lack of science behind Dr. Esselstyn’s plant-based diet. The writer thought I would be interested in the work of Dr. Gundry.
I found on Dr. Gundry’s website an immediate and aggressive attempt to sell lots of supplements with features similar to what I described above.
Dr. Gundry’s bio states “I left my former position at California’s Loma Linda University Medical Center, and founded The Center for Restorative Medicine. I have spent the last 14 years studying the human microbiome – and developing the principles of Holobiotics that have since changed the lives of countless men and women.”
Need I mention that “holobiotics” is (?are) not real.
Bonohibotically Yours,
-ACP
After writing this, I googled “red flag of quackery” images in the foolish hope that I might find a useable image. Lo and behold the image I featured in this post turned up courtesy of sci-ence.org. Here it is in all its glory, courtesy of Maki