More 'Education'

This is just so ridiculous. Sorry to break it to you Milos (I think that's what he called himself), but I doubt there are many farmers anywhere near any freeways in Ringwood. It's madness. Also, please stop referring to the products as 'plant based', as anyone who has actually read the ingredients would find it easy to spot number of synthetically manufactured vitamins.

Regarding the 'decline' in quality of vitamins and minerals - please see this report conducted by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Or you could read the conclusion:


"The results of this study do not indicate that there have been significant changes in the mineral content of common types of fruits and vegetables available in Australia."


Click here for sensible advice about food and nutrition that you can trust: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/n33.pdf

Red Flags of Quackery

An excellent poster and article from sci-ence.org on using your brain when confronted with pseudoscience:

Enzyme Quackery

I feel it important to have a quick look at this particular slide from the YOR Health presentation:

So I thought it wise to get a second opinion on the enzyme claims.

'Stephen Barrett, M.D., a retired psychiatrist who resides near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has achieved national renown as an author, editor, and consumer advocate. In addition to heading Quackwatch, he is vice-president of the Institute for Science in Medicine and a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. In 1984, he received an FDA Commissioner's Special Citation Award for Public Service in fighting nutrition quackery. In 1986, he was awarded honorary membership in the American Dietetic Association. From 1987 through 1989, he taught health education at The Pennsylvania State University. He is listed in Marquis Who's Who in America and received the 2001 Distinguished Service to Health Education Award from the American Association for Health Education. His research library, pictured below, houses more than 6,000 books and 100,000 documents and recordings collected over a 40-year period (source).'

The most important quotes I found from Dr. Barretts research on enzymes are stated below:

"The enzyme content of food has no relevance to health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which collects voluminous data on our food and nutrient intake, does not measure "food enzyme consumption" because it has no nutrition or health significance"

"The digestion of food is not an energy drain on the body."

“Enzymes in food cannot remedy a lack of cellular enzymes. All plant and animal products contain enzymes. They are responsible for both growth and post-harvest deterioration (wilting, discoloration, rancidity, etc.). They have nothing to do with the digestive process after food is consumed.”

“Raw food contains no enzymes needed for digestion. All the enzymes needed for human digestion are made in the body.”

"'Food enzymes' are not needed by the body, either for digestion or for any other purpose."

"Food supplements are not necessary for human nutrition."

Based on Dr. Barrett's extensive knowledge resulting from valid and reliable research, I would be more likely to believe his side of the story.

Twenty-Six Ways to Spot Quacks and Vitamin Pushers

Twenty-Six Ways to Spot Quacks and Vitamin Pushers

Stephen Barrett, M.D.
Victor Herbert, M.D., J.D.

How can quacks and vitamin pushers be recognized? Here are 26 signs that should arouse suspicion.

1. When Talking about Nutrients, They Tell Only Part of the Story.

Quacks tell you all the wonderful things that vitamins and minerals do in your body and/or all the horrible things that can happen if you don't get enough. Many claim that their products or programs offer "optimal nutritional support." But they conveniently neglect to tell you that a balanced diet provides the nutrients most people need and that government guidelines makes balancing your diet simple.

2. They Claim That Most Americans Are Poorly Nourished.

This is an appeal to fear that is not only untrue, but ignores the fact that the main forms of bad nourishment in the United States are obesity in the population at large (particularly the poor) and undernourishment among the poverty-stricken. Poor people can ill afford to waste money on unnecessary vitamin pills. Their food money should be spent on nourishing food.
It is falsely alleged that Americans are so addicted to "junk" foods that an adequate diet is exceptional rather than usual. While it is true that some snack foods are mainly "naked calories" (sugars and/or fats without other nutrients), it is not necessary for every morsel of food we eat to be loaded with nutrients. In fact, no normal person following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is in any danger of vitamin deficiency.

3. They Recommend "Nutrition Insurance" for Everyone.

Most vitamin pushers suggest that everyone is in danger of deficiency and should therefore take supplements as "insurance." Some suggest that it is difficult to get what you need from food, while others claim that it is impossible. Their pitch resembles that of the door-to-door huckster who states that your perfectly good furnace is in danger of blowing up unless you replace it with his product. Vitamin pushers will never tell you who doesn't need their products. Their "be wary of deficiency" claims may not be limited to essential nutrients. It can also include nonessential chemicals that nobody needs to worry about because the body makes its own supply.

4. They Say That Most Diseases Are Due to Faulty Diet
and Can Be Treated with "Nutritional" Methods.

This simply isn't so. Consult your doctor or any recognized textbook of medicine. They will tell you that although diet is a factor in some diseases (most notably coronary heart disease), most diseases have little or nothing to do with diet. Common symptoms like malaise (feeling poorly), fatigue, lack of pep, aches (including headaches) or pains, insomnia, and similar complaints are usually the body's reaction to emotional stress. The persistence of such symptoms is a signal to see a doctor to be evaluated for possible physical illness. It is not a reason to take vitamin pills.

5. They Allege That Modern Processing Methods and
Storage Remove all Nutritive Value from Our Food.

It is true that food processing can change the nutrient content of foods. But the changes are not so drastic as the quack, who wants you to buy supplements, would like you to believe. While some processing methods destroy some nutrients, others add them. A balanced variety of foods will provide all the nourishment you need.
Quacks distort and oversimplify. When they say that milling removes B-vitamins, they don't bother to tell you that enrichment puts them back. When they tell you that cooking destroys vitamins, they omit the fact that only a few vitamins are sensitive to heat. Nor do they tell you that these vitamins are easily obtained by consuming a portion of fresh uncooked fruit, vegetable, or fresh or frozen fruit juice each day. Any claims that minerals are destroyed by processing or cooking are pure lies. Heat does not destroy minerals.

6. They Claim That Diet Is a Major Factor in Behavior.

Food quacks relate diet not only to disease but to behavior. Some claim that adverse reactions to additives and/or common foods cause hyperactivity in children and even criminal behavior in adolescents and adults. These claims are based on a combination of delusions, anecdotal evidence, and poorly designed research.

7. They Claim That Fluoridation Is Dangerous.

Curiously, quacks are not always interested in real deficiencies. Fluoride is necessary to build decay-resistant teeth and strong bones. The best way to obtain adequate amounts of this important nutrient is to augment community water supplies so their fluoride concentration is about one part fluoride for every million parts of water. But quacks usually oppose water fluoridation, and some advocate water filters that remove fluoride. It seems that when they cannot profit from something, they may try to make money by opposing it.

8. They Claim That Soil Depletion and the Use of Pesticides and
"Chemical" Fertilizers Result in Food That Is Less Safe and Less Nourishing.

These claims are used to promote the sale of so-called "organically grown" foods. If an essential nutrient is missing from the soil, a plant simply doesn't grow. Chemical fertilizers counteract the effects of soil depletion. Quacks also lie when they claim that plants grown with natural fertilizers (such as manure) are nutritionally superior to those grown with synthetic fertilizers. Before they can use them, plants convert natural fertilizers into the same chemicals that synthetic fertilizers supply. The vitamin content of a food is determined by its genetic makeup. Fertilizers can influence the levels of certain minerals in plants, but this is not a significant factor in the American diet. The pesticide residue of our food supply is extremely small and poses no health threat to the consumer. Foods "certified" as "organic" are not safer or more nutritious than other foods. In fact, except for their high price, they are not significantly different.

9. They Claim You Are in Danger of Being "Poisoned"
by Ordinary Food Additives and Preservatives.

This is another scare tactic designed to undermine your confidence in food scientists and government protection agencies as well as our food supply itself. Quacks want you to think they are out to protect you. They hope that if you trust them, you will buy their "natural" food products. The fact is that the tiny amounts of additives used in food pose no threat to human health. Some actually protect our health by preventing spoilage, rancidity, and mold growth.

10. They Charge That the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs)
Have Been Set Too Low.

The RDAs have been published by the National Research Council approximately every five years since 1943. They are defined as "the levels of intake of essential nutrients that, on the basis of scientific knowledge, are judged by the Food and Nutrition Board to be adequate to meet the known nutrient needs of practically all healthy persons." Neither the RDAs nor the Daily Values listed on food labels are "minimums" or "requirements." They are deliberately set higher than most people need. The reason quacks charge that the RDAs are too low is obvious: if you believe you need more than can be obtained from food, you are more likely to buy supplements.

11. They Claim That under Everyday Stress, and in Certain Diseases,
Your Need for Nutrients Is Increased.

Many vitamin manufacturers have advertised that "stress robs the body of vitamins." One company has asserted that, "if you smoke, diet, or happen to be sick, you may be robbing your body of vitamins." Another has warned that "stress can deplete your body of water-soluble vitamins . . . and daily replacement is necessary." Other products are touted to fill the "special needs of athletes."
While it is true that the need for vitamins may rise slightly under physical stress and in certain diseases, this type of advertising is fraudulent. The average American—stressed or not—is not in danger of vitamin deficiency. The increased needs to which the ads refer are not higher than the amounts obtainable by proper eating. Someone who is really in danger of deficiency due to an illness would be very sick and would need medical care, probably in a hospital. But these promotions are aimed at average Americans who certainly don't need vitamin supplements to survive the common cold, a round of golf, or a jog around the neighborhood! Athletes get more than enough vitamins when they eat the food needed to meet their caloric requirements.
Many vitamin pushers suggest that smokers need vitamin C supplements. Although it is true that smokers in North America have somewhat lower blood levels of this vitamin, these levels are still far above deficiency levels. In America, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of death preventable by self-discipline. Rather than seeking false comfort by taking vitamin C, smokers who are concerned about their health should stop smoking. Suggestions that "stress vitamins" are helpful against emotional stress are also fraudulent.

12. They Recommend "Supplements" and "Health Foods" for Everyone.

Food quacks belittle normal foods and ridicule the food-group systems of good nutrition. They may not tell you they earn their living from such pronouncements—via public appearance fees, product endorsements, sale of publications, or financial interests in vitamin companies, health-food stores, or organic farms.
The very term "health food" is a deceptive slogan. Judgments about individual foods should take into account how they contribute to an individual's overall diet. All food is health food in moderation; any food is junk food in excess. Did you ever stop to think that your corner grocery, fruit market, meat market, and supermarket are also health-food stores? They are—and they generally charge less than stores that use the slogan.
By the way, have you ever wondered why people who eat lots of "health foods" still feel they must load themselves up with vitamin supplements? Or why so many "health food" shoppers complain about ill health?

13. They Claim That "Natural" Vitamins are Better than "Synthetic" Ones.

This claim is a flat lie. Each vitamin is a chain of atoms strung together as a molecule. With minor exception, molecules made in the "factories" of nature are identical to those made in the factories of chemical companies. Does it make sense to pay extra for vitamins extracted from foods when you can get all you need from the foods themselves?

14. They Suggest That a Questionnaire Can Be Used
to Indicate Whether You Need Dietary Supplements.

No questionnaire can do this. A few entrepreneurs have devised lengthy computer-scored questionnaires with questions about symptoms that could be present if a vitamin deficiency exists. But such symptoms occur much more frequently in conditions unrelated to nutrition. Even when a deficiency actually exists, the tests don't provide enough information to discover the cause so that suitable treatment can be recommended. That requires a physical examination and appropriate laboratory tests. Many responsible nutritionists use a computer to help evaluate their clients' diet. But this is done to make dietary recommendations, such as reducing fat content or increasing fiber content. Supplements are seldom necessary unless the person is unable (or unwilling) to consume an adequate diet.
Be wary, too, of questionnaires purported to determine whether supplements are needed to correct "nutrient deficiencies" or "dietary inadequacies" or to design "customized" supplements. These questionnaires are scored so that everyone who takes the test is advised to take supplements. Responsible dietary analyses compare the individual's average daily food consumption with the recommended numbers of servings from each food group. The safest and best way to get nutrients is generally from food, not pills. So even if a diet is deficient, the most prudent action is usually diet modification rather than supplementation with pills.

15. They Say It Is Easy to Lose Weight.

Diet quacks would like you to believe that special pills or food combinations can cause "effortless" weight loss. But the only way to lose weight is to burn off more calories than you eat. This requires self-discipline: eating less, exercising more, or preferably doing both. There are about 3,500 calories in a pound of body weight. To lose one pound a week (a safe amount that is not just water), you must eat about 500 fewer calories per day than you burn up. The most sensible diet for losing weight is one that is nutritionally balanced in carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Most fad diets "work" by producing temporary weight loss—as a result of calorie restriction. But they are invariably too monotonous and are often too dangerous for long-term use. Unless a dieter develops and maintains better eating and exercise habits, weight lost on a diet will soon return.
The term "cellulite" is sometimes used to describe the dimpled fat found on the hips and thighs of many women. Although no medical evidence supports the claim, cellulite is represented as a special type of fat that is resistant to diet and exercise. Sure-fire cellulite remedies include creams (to "dissolve" it), brushes, rollers, "loofah" sponges, body wraps, and vitamin-mineral supplements with or without herbs. The cost of various treatment plans runs from a few dollars for a bottle of vitamins to many hundreds of dollars at a salon that offers heat treatments, massage, enzyme injections, and/or treatment with various gadgets. The simple truth about "cellulite" is that it is ordinary fat that can be lost only as part of an overall reducing program.

16. They Promise Quick, Dramatic, Miraculous Results.

Often the promises are subtle or couched in "weasel words" that create an illusion of a promise, so promoters can deny making them when the "feds" close in. False promises of cure are the quacks' most immoral practice. They don't seem to care how many people they break financially or in spirit—by elation over their expected good fortune followed by deep depression when the "treatment" fails. Nor do quacks keep count—while they fill their bank accounts—of how many people they lure away from effective medical care into disability or death.
Quacks will tell you that "megavitamins" (huge doses of vitamins) can prevent or cure many different ailments, particularly emotional ones. But they won't tell you that the "evidence" supporting such claims is unreliable because it is based on inadequate investigations, anecdotes, or testimonials. Nor do quacks inform you that megadoses may be harmful. Megavitamin therapy (also calledorthomolecular therapy) is nutritional roulette; and only the house makes the profit.

17. They Routinely Sell Vitamins and Other
"Dietary Supplements" as Part of Their Practice.

Although vitamins are useful as therapeutic agents for certain health problems, the number of such conditions is small. Practitioners who sell supplements in their offices invariably recommend them inappropriately. In addition, such products tend to be substantially more expensive than similar ones in drugstores—or even health-food stores. You should also disregard any publication or Web site whose editor or publisher sells dietary supplements.

18. They Use Disclaimers Couched in Pseudomedical Jargon.

Instead of promising to cure your disease, some quacks will promise to "detoxify," "purify," or "revitalize" your body; "balance" its chemistry or "electromagnetic energy"; bring it in harmony with nature; "stimulate" or "strengthen" your immune system; "support" or "rejuvenate" various organs in your body; "unlock your body's healing ability"; or stimulate your body's power to heal itself. Of course, they never identify or make valid before-and-after measurements of any of these processes. These disclaimers serve two purposes. First, since it is impossible to measure the processes quacks allege, it may be difficult to prove them wrong. Moreover, if a quack is not a physician, the use of nonmedical terminology may help to avoid prosecution for practicing medicine without a license—although it shouldn't.
Some approaches to "detoxification" are based on notions that, as a result of intestinal stasis, intestinal contents putrefy, and toxins are formed and absorbed, which causes chronic poisoning of the body. This "autointoxication" theory was popular around the turn of the century but was abandoned by the scientific community during the 1930s. No such "toxins" have ever been found, and careful observations have shown that individuals in good health can vary greatly in bowel habits. Quacks may also suggest that fecal material collects on the lining of the intestine and causes trouble unless removed by laxatives, colonic irrigation, special diets, and/or various herbs or food supplements that "cleanse" the body. The falsity of this notion is obvious to doctors who perform intestinal surgery or peer within the large intestine with a diagnostic instrument. Fecal material does not adhere to the intestinal lining. Colonic irrigation is done by inserting a tube into the rectum and pumping up to 20 gallons of water in and out. This type of enema is not only therapeutically worthless but can cause fatal electrolyte imbalance. Cases of death due to intestinal perforation and infection (from contaminated equipment) have also been reported.

19. They Use Anecdotes and Testimonials to Support Their Claims.

We all tend to believe what others tell us about personal experiences. But separating cause and effect from coincidence can be difficult. If people tell you that product X has cured their cancer, arthritis, or whatever, be skeptical. They may not actually have had the condition. If they did, their recovery most likely would have occurred without the help of product X. Most single episodes of disease end with just the passage of time, and most chronic ailments have symptom-free periods. Establishing medical truths requires careful and repeated investigation—with well-designed experiments, not reports of coincidences misperceived as cause-and-effect. That's why testimonial evidence is forbidden in scientific articles, is usually inadmissible in court, and is not used to evaluate whether or not drugs should be legally marketable. (Imagine what would happen if the FDA decided that clinical trials were too expensive and therefore drug approval would be based on testimonial letters or interviews with a few patients.)
Never underestimate the extent to which people can be fooled by a worthless remedy. During the early 1940s, many thousands of people became convinced that "glyoxylide" could cure cancer. Yet analysis showed that it was simply distilled water! [1] Many years before that, when arsenic was used as a "tonic," countless numbers of people swore by it even as it slowly poisoned them.
Symptoms that are psychosomatic (bodily reactions to tension) are often relieved by anything taken with a suggestion that it will work. Tiredness and other minor aches and pains may respond to any enthusiastically recommended nostrum. For these problems, even physicians may prescribe a placebo. A placebo is a substance that has no pharmacological effect on the condition for which it is used, but is given to satisfy a patient who supposes it to be a medicine. Vitamins (such as B12 shots) are commonly used in this way.
Placebos act by suggestion. Unfortunately, some doctors swallow the advertising hype or become confused by their own observations and "believe in vitamins" beyond those supplied by a good diet. Those who share such false beliefs do so because they confuse coincidence or placebo action with cause and effect. Homeopathic believers make the same error.

20. They Claim That Sugar Is a Deadly Poison.

Many vitamin pushers would have us believe that refined (white) sugar is "the killer on the breakfast table" and is the underlying cause of everything from heart disease to hypoglycemia. The fact is, however, that when sugar is used in moderation as part of a normal, balanced diet, it is a perfectly safe source of calories and eating pleasure. Sugar is a factor in the tooth decay process, but what counts is not merely the amount of sugar in the diet but how long any digestible carbohydrate remains in contact with the teeth. This, in turn, depends on such factors as the stickiness of the food, the type of bacteria on the teeth, and the extent of oral hygiene practiced by the individual.

21. They Display Credentials Not Recognized
by Responsible Scientists or Educators.

The backbone of educational integrity in America is a system of accreditation by agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which is a nongovernmental coordinating agency. "Degrees" from nonaccredited schools are rarely worth the paper they are printed on. In the health field, no nonaccredited school can qualify people to give trustworthy advice.
Unfortunately, possession of an accredited degree does not guarantee reliability. Some schools that teach unscientific methods (chiropractic, naturopathy, acupuncture, and even quack nutritional methods) have achieved accreditation. Worse yet, a small percentage of individuals trained in reputable institutions (such as medical or dental schools or accredited universities) have strayed from scientific thought.
Since quacks operate outside of the scientific community, they also tend to form their own "professional" organizations. In some cases, the only membership requirement is payment of a fee. We and others we know have secured fancy "professional member" certificates for household pets by merely submitting the pet's name, address, and a check for $50 [2]. Don't assume that all groups with scientific-sounding names are respectable. Find out whether their views are scientifically based.
Some quacks are promoted with superlatives like "the world's foremost nutritionist" or "America's leading nutrition expert." There is no law against this tactic, just as there is none against calling oneself the "World's Foremost Lover." However, the scientific community recognizes no such titles. The designation "Nobel Prize Nominee" is also bogus and can be assumed to mean that someone has either nominated himself or had a close associate do so.
Some entrepreneurs claim to have degrees and/or affiliations to schools, hospitals, and/or professional that actually don't exist. The modern champion of this approach appears to be the lateGregory E. Caplinger, who claimed to have acquired a medical degree, specialty training, board certification, and scores of professional affiliations—all from bogus or nonexistent sources.
Even legitimate credentials can be used to mislead. The American Medical Association's "Physician's Recognition Award" requires participation in 150 hours of continuing education over a three-year period and payment of a small fee. Most practicing physicians meet this educational standard because it is necessary to study to keep up-to-date. Accredited hospitals require this amount of continuing education to maintain staff privileges, and some states require it for license renewal. However, most physicians who do this don't bother to get the AMA certificate. Since the award reflects no special accomplishment or expertise, using it for promotional purposes is not appropriate behavior.

22. They Offer to Determine Your Body's Nutritional State
with a Laboratory Test or a Questionnaire.

Various health-food industry members and unscientific practitioners utilize tests that they claim can determine your body's nutritional state and—of course—what products you should buy from them. One favorite method is hair analysis. For $35 to $75 plus a lock of your hair, you can get an elaborate computer printout of vitamins and minerals you supposedly need. Hair analysis has limited value (mainly in forensic medicine) in the diagnosis of heavy metal poisoning, but it is worthless as a screening device to detect nutritional problems [3]. If a hair analysis laboratory recommends supplements, you can be sure that its computers are programmed to recommend them to everyone. Other tests used to hawk supplements include amino acid analysis of urine, muscle-testing (applied kinesiology), iridology, live-cell analysis (also called dark-field video analysis, nutritional blood analysis, vital hematology, and biocytonics), genetic testing, blood typing, "nutrient-deficiency" and/or lifestyle questionnaires, and "electrodiagnostic" gadgets.

23. They Diagnose Their Favorite Diseases in Virtually Everyone Who Consults.

At least 25 diagnostic labels classifiable as fads have been in vogue during the past fifty years [4]. Some unscientific practitioners apply one or more of these diagnoses to almost every patient they see. The common ones includde adrenal fatigue, candidiasis hypersensitivity, hypothyroidism, "leaky gut," chemical sensitivity, electrical hypersensitivity, amalgam toxicity, Lyme disease, "parasites," hypoglycemia, vertebral subluxation complex, and even "magnetic deficiency." [5] Some refer to actual disease (which the patients do not have), whereas others are not recognized by the scientific community. In many cases, nonstandard tests are used to "diagnose" them and recommend "dietary supplements," "detoxification," and/or various procedures to treat them. A small percentage of physicians and large percentages of chiropractors, naturopaths, and bogus "nutritionists" are involved in this process. Others may also profit by selling educational materials promoting these alleged conditions and supplement concoctions claimed to help them.

24. They Claim They Are Being Persecuted by Orthodox Medicine
and That Their Work Is Being Suppressed Because It's Controversial.

The "conspiracy charge" is an attempt to gain sympathy by portraying the quack as an "underdog." Quacks typically claim that the American Medical Association is against them because their cures would cut into the incomes that doctors make by keeping people sick. Don't fall for such nonsense! Reputable physicians are plenty busy. Moreover, many doctors engaged in prepaid health plans, group practice, full-time teaching, and government service receive the same salary whether or not their patients are sick—so keeping their patients healthy reduces their workload, not their income.
Quacks also claim there is a "controversy" about facts between themselves and "the bureaucrats," organized medicine, or "the establishment." They clamor for medical examination of their claims, but ignore any evidence that refutes them. The gambit "Do you believe in vitamins?" is another tactic used to increase confusion. Everyone knows that vitamins are needed by the human body. The real question is "Do you need additional vitamins beyond those in a well-balanced diet?" For most people, the answer is no. Nutrition is a science, not a religion. It is based upon matters of fact, not questions of belief.
Any physician who found a vitamin or other preparation that could cure sterility, heart disease, arthritis, cancer, or the like, could make an enormous fortune. Patients would flock to such a doctor (as they now do to those who falsely claim to cure such problems), and colleagues would shower the doctor with awards—including the extremely lucrative Nobel Prize! And don't forget, doctors get sick, too. Do you believe they would conspire to suppress cures for diseases that also afflict them and their loved ones? When polio was conquered, iron lungs became virtually obsolete, but nobody resisted this advancement because it would force hospitals to change. And neither will scientists mourn the eventual defeat of cancer.

25. They Warn You Not to Trust Your Doctor.

Quacks, who want you to trust them, suggest that most doctors are "butchers" and "poisoners." They exaggerate the shortcomings of our healthcare delivery system, but completely disregard their own—and those of other quacks. For the same reason, quacks also claim that doctors are nutrition illiterates. This, too, is untrue. The principles of nutrition are those of human biochemistry and physiology, courses required in every medical school. Some medical schools don't teach a separate required course labeled "Nutrition" because the subject is included in other courses at the points where it is most relevant. For example, nutrition in growth and development is taught in pediatrics, nutrition in wound healing is taught in surgery, and nutrition in pregnancy is covered in obstetrics. In addition, many medical schools do offer separate instruction in nutrition.
A physician's training, of course, does not end on the day of graduation from medical school or completion of specialty training. The medical profession advocates lifelong education, and some states require it for license renewal. Physicians can further their knowledge of nutrition by reading medical journals and textbooks, discussing cases with colleagues, and attending continuing education courses. Most doctors know what nutrients can and cannot do and can tell the difference between a real nutritional discovery and a piece of quack nonsense. Those who are unable to answer questions about dietetics (meal planning) can refer patients to someone who can—usually a registered dietitian. Like all human beings, doctors sometimes make mistakes. However, quacks deliver mistreatment most of the time.

26. They Encourage Patients to Crusade for Their Treatment Methods.

A century ago, before scientific methodology was generally accepted, valid new ideas were hard to evaluate and were sometimes rejected by a majority of the medical community, only to be upheld later. But today, treatments demonstrated as effective are welcomed by scientific practitioners and do not need a group to crusade for them. Quacks seek political endorsement because they can't prove that their methods work. Instead, they may seek to legalize their treatment and force insurance companies to pay for it. One of the surest signs that a treatment doesn't work is a political campaign to protect the practitioners who are using it.

via (http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/spotquack.html)

Vitamin Analysis

According to Stacey J. Robinson, MD, an actual expert doctor with actual medical facts to back up her claims, there are three major factors to look at when you are evaluating supplements:

1. What forms of vitamins they contain;
2. Whether they contain potentially harmful, unnecessary ingredients; and
3. Whether the manufacturing process is monitored and the product is tested for quality

I have decided to have a look at a small number of the ingredients in the YOR Essential Vitamin (please note that the serving sizes listed on this product are 6 tablets, which is the recommended dosage per day. Six tablets per day!).


The very first example Dr. Robinson uses is Vitamin B-12. She states that "for vitamins to be effective, it is essential that the vitamin is in a form that is recognized and utilized by the body." She lists 4 forms of Vitamin B-12:

• Cyanocobalamin: a synthetic form of B12 that DOES NOT occur in nature. In order for your body to use it, you have to cleave off the cyanide and convert it to methylcobalamin or adenosylcobalamin.
• Methylcobalamin: the main form of B12 used by the human body and most commonly found in food.
• Adenosylcobalamin: also found in the human body primarily in the liver.
• Hydroxycobalamin: a natural form produced by bacteria."

She then states that the best form of Vitamin B-12 is:

"methylcobalamin, since it is utilized by the body and is the form in the foods that we eat. Almost all over-the-counter vitamin manufacturers use cyanocobalamin, the synthetic form, because it is cheap and has a longer shelf life. If your multivitamin lists “B12″ on the label and doesn’t specify the form, it is cyanocobalamin. Most physicians when giving B12 shots use cyanocobalamin, again because it is very inexpensive, costing pennies per dose."

Let's see what form of Vitamin B-12 YOR Essential Vitamin contains:

Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin)

Ouch.

Dr Vivian V. Vetrano explains that "Cyanocobalamin is in every vitamin B12 supplement known because it is stable and less costly to manufacture. But it is not usable in the body. If the body has sufficient energy it may be able to offload the cyanide and benefit from the useful component. Mainly, what people experience after taking cyanocobalamin supplements is stimulation. The toxic effect of the cyanide triggers a rush of energy as the body works hard to excrete the poison, and this fools people into believing that the supplement has “worked” to heal them. Meanwhile, if their blood tests show an increase in B12, it mainly reflects the amount of the CYANOCOBALAMIN in the blood stream. The usable forms are carried into the cells and can’t be discovered by testing the blood as is the current practice. Blood tests are often inaccurate and, as previously stated, in the case of cyanocobalamin supplementation and B12 injections, about 90% of it has been eliminated from the body in 24 hours."

That sounds like some quality product right there. Moving on.

In 2000, the National Academy of Sciences established the following Recommended Dietary Allowances for vitamin C:

• 1-3 years: 15 milligrams
• 4-8 years: 25 milligrams
• Males 9-13 years: 45 milligrams
• Males 14-18 years: 75 milligrams
• Males 19 years and older: 90 milligrams
• Females 9-13 years: 45 milligrams
• Females 14-18 years: 65 milligrams
• Females 19 years and older: 75 milligrams
• Pregnant females 18 years: 80 milligrams
• Pregnant females 19 years and older: 85 milligrams
• Lactating females 18 years: 115 milligrams
• Lactating females 19 years and older: 120 milligrams

YOR Essential Vitamin contains 1000mg of Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid - which is a synthetic form of Vitamin C, prepared industrially from glucose), and there have been a number of studies on the ill-effects of taking large amounts of both synthetic and natural Vitamin C.

"Synthetic thiamin is usually marketed as thiamin hydrochloride or thiamin mononitrate" and is a "coal tar derivative" (most synthetic vitamins are petroleum derivatives). No thiamin hydrochloride or thiamin mononitrate is naturally found in any food." (see here). Surprise surprise, YOR Essential Vitamin contains Thiamin (vitamin B1) (as thiamin HCl). "Eating high dose synthetic B vitamins is like trying to make a computer when you only have 90% of the pieces with many of those pieces being larger than normal size; eating natural B vitamins is like trying to make a computer with 100% of the parts with all the parts the correct size. Which of the ‘computers’ would work better? Obviously the one with 100% of the right parts!"


I could go on and on here and I'm not even a health expert! I have probably missed so many important faults. The point of this post is to encourage people to open their eyes to products with such powerful claims. Dr. Robinson asks that consumers compare supplements with pharmaceutical-grade vitamins such as Xymogen Active Nutrients, and you can easily see the difference in quality. 

I don't doubt some of the ingredients in YOR Essential Vitamin are beneficial/natural, however it seems to me a pretty sub-par product for such a high price (which is $57.78 RRP, and $43.88 wholesale - prices have been recently taken down from the YOR Health website and you are only able to view by logging in).

Removal of Legal Documents

Has anybody noticed YOR Health has removed 50% of their legal documents in the past couple of weeks?

Here is a cached screenshot of the Legal Documents & Disclosures page as it appeared on the 14th March 2013:

I count 12 documents total.

Here is a screenshot of the Legal Documents and Disclosures page as it appears today:

6 documents removed! What kind of company removes 50% of their legal documents? Interesting that these were updated a day after my 'Questionable Documents' post. What has happened to Registered Retail Customers? Do they exist anymore? I do hope they were informed.

Bulletproof company likes to keep you on your toes.

Boring Business Basic Training

I'm not going to spend much time on this video, honestly, because it's just that boring and carefully executed that there's really not much to say.

I do want to to draw your attention to the textbook lying gesture (nose touching) at around 29:48 when he mentions pyramid schemes. So appropriate.

At least Dave was exciting enraging to watch. I can just imagine the webinar these leaders had after viewing my blog for the 726th time:

"Alright Cam, you're in charge of the updated business training video - but make sure you speak slowly and concisely, DO NOT linger on pyramid schemes (we don't want to seem like we need to defend our bulletproof company), and never ever mention the word 'naysayers'".

How YOR Health conduct business

Let me just draw your attention to an email I just received:

Is this how business is done at YOR Health? Is this how you deal with naysayers? I can't believe anyone would have anything bad to say about your company!

Straight to the bin where you belong.

Warrior Training with David Nelson YOR Health

*Edit - Wow, unfortunately I am not going to be able to complete my review... this video was made private in under an hour of my post! Thanks for paying attention Dave Nelson ;)



In honour of Dave's deletion of  'Dealing with the naysayers' video, I thought I would briefly touch on another in the hope we can rid the internet of advice such as this:
 

First cab off the rank, Dave briefly mentions 'working for yourself', although I feel he may be a little confused here. What I believe Dave meant to say was "working for YOR". Because, as an Independent Representative of YOR Health, that is exactly what you are doing. You do not own your own business. YOR Health does not hide this from you; it's right here in the Terms and Conditions

"MLM is not true self-employment. 'Owning' an MLM distributorship is an illusion. Some MLM companies forbid distributors from carrying additional lines. Most MLM contracts make termination of the distributorship easy and immediate for the company. Short of termination, downlines can be taken away with a variety of means. Participation requires rigid adherence to the 'duplication' model, not independence and individuality. MLM distributors are not entrepreneurs but joiners in a complex hierarchical system over which they have little control."

Dave has some tips for us plebs, or 'band terminology' as he likes to call it:

1. Time

Basically, we all have the same amount of hours in a day, so if you aren't devoting your hours to posting about YOR Health on Facebook, attending daily meetings/webinars/training sessions, preaching/recruiting etc etc, you've "just gotta get better". Dave suggests keeping a diary (to keep track of your downline/prospects I'll assume), squeezing hours out of the day (just take some Berry Blast and you'll be up all night, trust me), leveraging, and just general time management. Dave has never met anyone who has not had enough time in the day. I'm just theorising here but, perhaps Dave, that's because you haven't really spent a lot of time with people who are not only busy in their careers (aka the devil), but understand the importance of a balance and separation between relationships and money. Crazy huh. And my favourite quote here: "you're probably busy being broke". I don't even need to comment on this. You've done it again with your beautiful execution of language.

2. Interest

Once again, Dave has some seriously impressive statistics of the values of every person on this planet. Let's list these values in order of importance (as this is incredibly telling of Dave's intrinsic goals:

1. Freedom (I'm guessing he is referring to financial freedom)
2. Health
3. Development
4. Friendship
5. Working for 'the self'

Silly Dave, believing that everyone has the same life principles. Guess what Dave, if I had to rearrange your list, it would certainly have Friendship as number 1. I guess that's probably because I actually have friends, and not mainly 'prospects'.

3. Being a salesman

Guess what? If you don't like selling, you're basically going to work in a dead-end job for a very long time, at the bottom of the food chain because those are the choices you have. Forget university, TAFE, private college, and other occupations, you can either sell, or be doomed to lowly employment working for the man.  However, I found a list of 501 income and business opportunities, and the majority of them don't involve selling at all, let alone selling to your friends and family:

81 Businesses You Can Start With Under $1,000

Airbrush Artist
Animal Registration/IDServices
Apartment Preparation Service
Arts Festival Promoter
Athletic Recruiter/Scout
Auction House
Auto Paint Touch-Up Professional
Automotive Loan Broker
Band Manager
Bankruptcy Services
Bar tending Services
Barter Systems
Blade-Sharpening Service
Boardinghouse Operator
Book Indexer
Bounty Hunter
Cake Decorator
Calligrapher
Candle Maker
Caning Specialist
Cartoonist
Child Care Referral Service
Childbirth Instructor
College Application Consultant
Comedy Writer
Commercial Plant Watering Service
Coupon Distributor
Doll Repair Service
Etiquette Adviser
First Aid/CPR Instructor
Garage Sale Coordinator
Genealogical Service (Family History Writer)
Gerontology Consultant
Graphologist
Handbill Distribution
Handyman Network
Home Schooling Consultant
Horse Trainer
Hospitality Service
Ice Sculpting
In-Home Mail Service                                             

Incorporation Service for Businesses
Jewelry Designer
Knitting/Crocheting Lessons
Lactation Consultant
Laundry/Ironing Service
Law Library Management
Lawn Care Service
Literary Agent
Magician
Makeup Artist
Mall Promotion
Merchandise Demonstrator
Mobile Book/Magazine Distributor
Mortgage Loan Broker
Motor Vehicle Transportation
Movie Site Scout
Multilevel Marketing – but 99% lose money!
Mystery Shopper
Notary Public
Nutrition Consultant
Packing/Unpacking Service
Parapsychologist
Party Planner
Personal Instructor/Fitness Trainer
Personal Menu Service
Personal Shopper
Pet Psychologist
Private Tutor
Professional Organizer
Real Estate Agent/Home Researcher
Reminder Service
Roommate Referral Service
Scanning Service
Silk Flower Arranger
Storyteller
Stress Management Counselor
Taste Tester for Food Companies
Toy Cleaning Service
Vacation Rentals Broker
Wellness Instructor 

136 businesses you can start with $1,000-$5,000

 Abstracting Service
Accountant
Adoption Search Service
Advertising Sales Representative
Alterations/Seamstress Business
Arbitration Service
Art Broker/Corporate Art Consultant
Association Management Services
Audio Recording for Trade Show and Seminars
Auto Maintenance
Background Music Leasing
Boat Maintenance/Cleaning Service
Book Binder
Book Packager
Bookkeeping Service
Bridal Consultant
Broadcast Sales/Advertising Broker
Bulletin Board Services
Business Broker
Buyer's Information Service
Calendar Service
Carpet/Upholstery Cleaning
Chimney Sweep
City Planner
Clip Art Service
Clipping Service
College Internship Placement
Color Consultant
Commercial Actor
Commercial Photographer
Conference Call Facilitator
Construction Management Services
Consumer Researcher
Cooking Class Instructor
Counselor/Psychologist
Credit Cardholders' Service
Credit Card Merchant Broker
Credit Consultant
Dance Instructor
Data Retrieval Service
Day Care Service
Desktop Publisher: Community-Based Coupon Books
Direct Marketing/Sales
Disability Consultant
Dog Trainer
Economic Development Consultant
Emergency Response Service
Employee Harmony Consultant
Environmental Consultant/Contractor
Factory Locating Consultant
Fan Club Management
Farm-Sitting
Farmer of Fruits or Vegetables
Feed Consultant/Broker
Financial Aid Consultant
Flea Market Organizer
Food Delivery Service
Food Item Manufacturer
Food Manufacturing Consultant
Forensic Consultant
Freelance Writer/Editor/Illustrator
Fund-Raising Firm
Government Contract Consulting
Grants/Proposal Writer
Herb/Flowers Farming
Image Consultant
Interior Designer
Internet Marketing Specialist                                    

Interviewer
Invention Consultant/Broker
Investment Broker/Club
Jewelry/Clock/Watch Repair
Labor Relations Consultant
Licensing Agent
Liquidator
Lobbyist
Manufacturer's Representative
Massage Therapist
Medical Management Consultant
Meeting Planner
Meteorological Consultant
Mobile Hair Salon
Money Broker
Motivational Speaker
Mover
Murder Mystery Producer
Newspaper Delivery Service
Oil and Gas Field Services
On-Line Job Search
On-Line Services Consultant
Paralegal
Parenting Specialist
Payroll Administrative Services
Personality Analysis/Testing Service
Personalized Check Service
Personnel Safety Consultant
Pharmaceutical Returns Consulting
Political Campaign Management
Pollster
Printing Broker
Product Developer
Profit Sharing Plan Consultant
Property Management Service
Recreation Activities Consultant
Recycling
Referral Service
Relocation Consultant
Respiratory Equipment Repair
Resume Service
Retail Bakery/Specialty Food Store
Retirement Planner
Reunion Organizer
Sales of Novelty and Promotional Products
Seamstress/Alterations Business
Secretarial Service
Software Conversion Service
Speechwriter
Standardized Test Preparatory Services
Stenciling
Stenography Service
Systems Integrator
Taxidermist
Time-Management Specialist
Trademark Agent
Translation Services
Travel Agent
Tree Service
Tropical Fish Servicing
Upholsterer
Vending Machine Owner
Venture Capitalist
Water Pumping Service
Window Treatment Specialist
Window Washing Service
Wood Splitter
World Wide Web Home Page Creator

149 businesses you can start with $5,000-$15,000

Accident Reconstruction Service
Acoustical Services
Advertising Agency
Agricultural Marketing
Ambulatory Services
Animal Broker/Dealer
Archaeological Services
Art Restoration Services
Art/Photo Representative
Auditing Specialist
Auto Swap Meet Promotion
Automobile Window Stickers
Automotive Detailing
Automotive Marketing and Training Services
Balloon Delivery Service
Bicycle Rental
Boudoir Photography
Bridal Show Promotions
Business Plan Writer/Packager
Career Counselor
Carpet Installation
Casting Director
Classified Advertising Newspaper
Coffee Bar/Tea Salon
Collectibles/Memorabilia
Collection Agency
Computer Consultant
Computer Maintenance Service
Computer Software Sales
Computer Trainer
Construction Services
Corporate Insurance Broker
Corporate Trainer
Cost Reduction Consultant
Database Consultant
Dating Service
Decks/Outdoor Furniture
Designer/Retail Items
Doula/Midwife
Draftsman/Blueprinting Service
Drive-by Broadcasting
Efficiency Expert
Electrical Contractor/Electrician
Employee Benefits Consultant
Executive Search Firm
Expert Witness
Fabric Coverings
Fax-on-Demand Service
Financial Planner
Firewood Service
Fisherman
Franchise Idea Center
Furniture Refinisher
Gardening Consultant
Gift Basket Business
Graffiti Removal
Graphic Designer
Greeting Card Sender
Hauling Service
Herbal Products Distributor
Home Entertainment System Service
Home Office Consultant
Human Resource Services
Incentive Programs/Promotional Material
Information Consultant
Insurance Agent
Inventory Control
Invisible Fencing Sales/Installation
Irrigation Services
Job Hot Line
Lead Exchange/Business Networking Service
Legal Cost Control/Litigation Management Services
Lie Detection Service
Lock Box Service
Locksmith

Maid Service
Mailing List Service
Management Consultant
Manicurist
Market Mapping Service
Marketing Consultant
Mediator
Medical Claims Processing
Medical Products Manufacturer
Medical Transcriptionist
Middleman
Mini-Blind Cleaning Service
Mobile Disc Jockey Service
Modeling School/Agency
Money Order Service
Monogramming Service
Motion Picture Research Consultant
Networking Services
New Product Researcher
Newspaper Features Syndicate
Noise Control Consultant
Office Equipment Leasing
On-Line Internet Researcher
Outdoor Adventures
Packaging Consultant
Paging Services
Patient Gift Packager
Personalized Children's Books
Pet Breeder
Pet Grooming/Care
Photocopying Service
Political Marketing Consultant
Portrait Photographer/Artist
Private Detective/Intelligence Specialist
Public Pay Phone Services
Public Relations
Public Speaking Consultant
Rare Book Dealer/Search Service
Real Estate Appraiser
Recreational Coupon Distributor
Remanufacturing:Laser Printer Cartridges
Rental Business
Residence for the Elderly
Restoration Services
Rubber Stamp Business
Sales Trainer
Security Systems Consultant
Seminar (Speakers) Service
Shipping/Customs Consultant
Short-Term Auto Rental Service
Sightseeing Excursions
Small Business Consultant
Snow Plow Service
Software Development/CD-ROM Packaging
Software Engineer/Programmer
Surveyor
Talent Agency
Tax Preparation Service
Technical Writer (Documentation and On-Screen Text)
Telecommunications Consultant
Telemarketing Service
Television Program Distributor
Textile Broker
Theatrical Lighting Service
Traffic Control Consultant
Used Boat Sales
Used Computer Sales
Used Industrial Equipment Sales
Vacuum Cleaner Repair
Video Transfer Service
Water Quality Services
Wilderness-Based Therapeutic Programs
Word-Processing Service
Workers' Compensation Consultant 

58 businesses you can start with $15,000-$40,000

 Aerial Applicator
Antiques Dealer
Architect
Art Gallery
Automotive Parts Rebuilder
Banquet Facility
Biofeedback Therapist
Boat Operation Instructor
Building Maintenance Service
Bungee Jumping Instructor
Business Form Sales and Service
Catalog Retailer
Caterer
Child ID Products
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Service
Computer Composer
Computerized Special Effects Designer
Concert Promoter
Consulting Engineer
Damage Restoration Service
Desktop Publisher
Digital Imaging Service
Educational Product Development
Employee Leasing
Entertainment Directory Publisher
Fish Restocking
Floral Shop
Health Centers for Corporations
Home Inspector                                        

Horse/Cargo Trailer Service
Hot Air Balloon Rides
Importing/Exporting
International Business Consultant
Landscape Designer
Lawyer
Mail-Order Computer and Component Sales
Message Retrieval Service (Answering Service)
Mobile Car Inspection/Repair
Mobile Paper-Shredding Service
Motor Vehicle License Bureau
Multimedia Service
Nanny Service
Occupational Health Care Services
Outplacement Services
Overnight Delivery Service
Paramedical Services
Pest Control Service
Pet Taxi Service
Pool Maintenance
Power Wash Service
Recording Studio Rental
Television Repair
Ticket Broker
Transportation Provider (Limousine/Van)
Videotext Service
Voice Messages Service Center
Voice-Activated Home Automation
Winery

77 businesses you can start with $40,000+

 Air Charter Service
Arcade/Party Rentals
Assembly Work
Audiobook Producer/Distributor
Automotive Testing Equipment
Bed & Breakfast
Beer Brewery
Boat Tours
Canoe Livery
Car Wash
Child Development Center
Coin-Operated Laundry
Color Separation and Film Assembly Services
Commodities Broker
Creative Arts Day Camp
Custom Embroidery
Day Spa
Demolition/Wrecking Contractor
Diaper Service
Distributor
Drug Testing Service
Dry Cleaning Service
Earthquake Products/Services
Fiber Optic Transmission Systems
Fitness Rental Equipment.
Framing Service
Franchisee
Freelance TVProducer
Funeral Home
Geologic Drilling Service
Ground Water Assessing
Health Club
Home Health Care Service
Indoor Playspace
Instant Signs
Key Control Systems Manufacturer/ Distributor
Leak Detection Service
Long-Distance Phone Services
Machinery Rebuilding/Repair

Mailbox Rental Service
Manufacturer of Licensed Products
Manufacturer of Self-Adhesive Printed Labels
Manufacturer/Retail Item
Map Publisher/Distributor
Messenger Service
Miniature Golf Course
Musical Instrument Leasing
900-Number Service
Pilot/Flying Lessons
Pinball/Electronic Game Arcade
Prefab Home Sales/Construction
Professional Diver
Real Estate Investor
Repair Service
Resale Shop
Restaurant
Restaurant Equipment and Supplies
Retailer
Satellite Equipment/Systems (Wholesale)
Shipping/Freight Forwarding Service
Specialty Paper Producer/Distributor
Sports Equipment Sales/Service
Stock Photo Service
Storage Service
Tanning Booth Operation
Taxi Service
Temporary Employment Agency
Tow Boat Operator
Trophy/Engraving service
Trucking Broker
Uniform Service
Used Car Leasing
Video Production Company
Video-on-Demand
Weight Loss Center
Wholesaler
X-Ray Inspection Service

Source: http://mlm-thetruth.com/tools1/1357ways/lists-income-opps/

4. It's not for me

"You wouldn't have signed up if it wasn't for you". Hey Dave, ever thought of the people who felt pressured to sign up? Maybe their friend was using techniques such as 'looping'? Maybe they trust that their friend knows what they're talking about (even though they're passionately speaking from the 'heart' and not the brain). There are a multitude of reasons why people sign up and change their minds once they step away from the constant distraction of carefully executed techniques and activities that cause a lack of critical thinking. Telling people to "man up" when they naysayers (what is a naysayer again Dave?) get too much just further displays your total lack of compassion and understanding of basic human needs.

5. The company needs to do 'that' (?) & 6. Leg stacking

I don't even know where to begin here, or even what he is talking about. I did hear him swear again, which is always lovely.

6. I can't afford it

Dave laughs at those that can't afford to throw away a couple of hundred dollars on a product you have to keep buying month after month. Because if you want your friends to buy it, you've got to be using it (so they can see that it MUST be good). So all that money you are making on commissions? Is it more than the amount you are spending each month? Maybe, if you're a the very very top of the food chain.

7. People don't want to be wealthy (aka "poor person's mentality")

Here we go with the naysayers again. Money = good. No money = evil. Let me tell you, I would happily join YOR Health to lose all (or substantially all) of my money as long as I got to keep my brain. I value happiness, friendships and intelligence far more than I value money. I guess this is why we can never be friends, Dave Nelson.

8. It doesn't work

Dave is sure the system works! It's the wave of the future! Soon, most products will be sold in this way! He said so (he really did).

9. I don't know anyone

Dave says you do know people! Get out there! Just get better! It's a form of ego to be shy. Let me tell you Dave, I've studied the ego (in the real way), and I've spent the past week studying one of the most egotistical specimens (on this great planet) to date.

I'm going to pause this here, because let's face it, listening to Dave Nelson talk for 7 minutes without a break is something I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. I shall continue this discussion after I've recharged.

Until next time