Scammed Wellness

MSG is a popular food enhancer that is responsible for giving food an umami flavor- one of the five tastes humans have. MSG was is found in many foods found in nature like meat, cheese, and vegetables. MSG is has been used in some processed foods and in popular chain restaurants like KFC. But for some people MSG can cause allergy like symptoms. For many years Asian food, specifically Chinese food in America has been blamed for the MSG intolerance some individuals experience. However, when looking deeper at the history of MSG and the research we learn that there's always more to the story. In this weeks episode we explore the story of taste, what the research actually says about MSG, and the unfortunate reality blaming a single ethnicity has led to. 

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As always, thank you for listening!

Resources:

Zanfirescu A, Ungurianu A, Tsatsakis AM, et al. A review of the alleged health hazards of monosodium glutamate [published correction appears in Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2020 Jul;19(4):2330]. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2019

We Can't Talk About MSG Without Talking About Racism. ​Frankie Haung. Men's Health. November 2021.

What if you could take a pill that reversed aging? Well, David Sinclair, a biologist and Harvard genetics professor, had high hopes when he discovered resveratrol, a molecule found in grapes could help reverse the effects of aging like inflammation and cell growth. He claimed one day there would be a pill people could take that would solve all of our aging problems. The media had a field day with his findings and soon resveratrol made its way into wellness as the new fad food. Better yet, you could find resveratrol in wine! But what happens when research studies go wrong? When the findings aren't always what they seem? The story of resveratrol is a great example of trusting the data too soon, before it's replicated over and over by other scientist. Today's story is about one scientist who got too ahead of himself which led to criticism and conflicts of interest.....all in the name of aging and fame.

Resources:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-HEB-3860

Gupta SC, Kunnumakkara AB, Aggarwal S, Aggarwal BB. Inflammation, a Double-Edge Sword for Cancer and Other Age-Related Diseases. Front Immunol. 2018;9:2160. Published 2018 Sep 27. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02160

Brenjian S, Moini A, Yamini N, et al. Resveratrol treatment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome decreased pro-inflammatory and endoplasmic reticulum stress markers. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2020;83(1):e13186. doi:10.1111/aji.13186

Martins L.A.M., Coelho B.P., Behr G., Pettenuzzo L.F., Souza I.C.C., Moreira J.C.F., Borojevic R., Gottfried C., Guma F.C.R. Resveratrol induces pro-oxidant effects and time-dependent resistance to cytotoxicity in activated hepatic stellate cells. Cell Biochem. Biophys. 2014;68:247–257. doi: 10.1007/s12013-013-9703-8.

Salehi B, Mishra AP, Nigam M, et al. Resveratrol: A Double-Edged Sword in Health Benefits. Biomedicines. 2018;6(3):91. Published 2018 Sep 9. doi:10.3390/biomedicines6030091

Jillian Epperly was not a biochemist or a medical doctor. Jillian didn't even have a background in human physiology or health, but what she did have was an idea and way to promote her idea. Jillian created the detox drink known as Jilly Juice which consists of pureed cabbage, kale, water, and a lot of salt, which she claimed could cure a list of diseases and conditions. From cancer to homosexuality the deeper into the list you get the more offensive the claims. But what comes next are the waterfalls and purging which is just a fun way Jillian likes to say you'll have extreme cases of diarrhea, headaches, stomach cramps, and more. In episode 4 we break down the story of Jilly Juice and the dangers when we put our fate into the hands of non-experts and detoxes.  

References and Resources:

Jillian's book https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Jilly_Juice_Protocol_Exposing_the_Li/K_dsDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PR3&printsec=frontcover

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf

Dr. Phil episode of Jilly Juice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOrF6wz7Y6A&t=128s

James Arthur Ray was a popular self-help guru in the early 2000s. Appearing on talks shows like Oprah and being in a popular documentary called The Secret, James’ career took off, along with his ego. In 2009 James leads a sweat lodge ceremony that ends in three deaths. In this weeks episode we break down the self-help side of wellness along with the culture appropriation that the wellness industry is famous for.

Resources:

https://www.theverge.com/2013/12/4/5038930/the-death-dealer-james-arthur-sweat-lodge-deaths-in-sedona

Welton S, Minty R, O'Driscoll T, et al. Intermittent fasting and weight loss: Systematic review. Can Fam Physician. 2020;66(2):117-125.

Books mentioned 

The Science of Success: How to Attract Prosperity and Create a Life of Balance Through Proven Principles

and Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism  

The supplement industry is another billion dollar market that’s entwined in the wellness industry. Body builders, professional athletes, to the every day person probably uses supplements. It’s even reported that half of the U.S. population is taking some type of supplement— see the end for sources. Supplements have their place, but are not a substitute for food. They’re also not regulated by the FDA. This means supplements are not held to the same quality control standards as food and drugs. Matt Cahill, the founder of Craze pre-workout, is a prime example of taking advantage of a non-regulated market. You might have heard of the meth-like substance found in Craze pre-workout back in 2012, when athletes started failing drug tests and reports of liver damage where associated with the pre-workout. If not here’s the story, and the stories of those impacted, along with my expert advice when it comes to navigating the supplement industry.

References:

Cohen PA, Travis JC, Venhuis BJ. A methamphetamine analog (N,α-diethyl-phenylethylamine) identified in a mainstream dietary supplement. Drug Test Anal. 2014;6(7-8):805-807. doi:10.1002/dta.1578 - Lab test that detected N,a-DEPEA

Chen F, Du M, Blumberg JB, et al. Association Among Dietary Supplement Use, Nutrient Intake, and Mortality Among U.S. Adults: A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170(9):604-613. doi:10.7326/M18-2478 - Observational study showing that supplements did not improve over all mortality in U.S. adults compared to nutrient intake from foods. 

Information on DEPEA and DMAA from the FDA and NSF 

https://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/articles/depea-supplements

https://www.fda.gov/food/dietary-supplement-products-ingredients/dmaa-products-marketed-dietary-supplements

USA Today articles of the story 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/14/tests-of-supplements-craze-and-detonate-find-methamphetamine-like-compound/2968041/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/08/21/criminal-case-quietly-dismissed-against-controversial-supplement-maker/32015297/ 

Belle Gibson was one of the first mega influencers in 2013. Belle launched an app called, The Whole Pantry where she falsely claimed her recipes cured her cancer. In 2015 Belle was exposed for never having any of the cancers she claimed, and soon her empire crumbled. Listen to find out why you should always be cautious when it comes to wellness influencers. For more insight check out the links below. 

References 

“The Shocking Story of the Rise and Fall of Instagram's First Super-Influencer Belle Gibson'' must have been removed from YouTube, but you can watch the 60 Minutes interview here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCN2Uvyz72k or through BBC's documentary the Bad Influencer via a paywall here https://www.bbcselect.com/watch/bad-influencer-the-great-insta-con/

Amazon review of the Whole Pantry cookbook (the book has been removed from purchasing) 

https://www.amazon.com/The-Whole-Pantry/dp/0718180410/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+whole+pantry+belle+gibson&qid=1654520160&sprefix=the+whole+pantry%2Caps%2C214&sr=8-1

Media/News Articles used for reference 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/b2538e04-87f5-4af5-bd6f-f6cf88b488c4

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/21/cancer-con-woman-belle-gibsons-home-raided-to-try-to-recoup-unpaid-fines

https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/belle-gibson-fake-online-personas/100304696

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Gibson