Does it Work?Unsure if the latest product or service lives up to it's claims? From popular products to the latest scams, discuss it here before you buy!
Does anyone have any experience with/knowledge of eithe Dr. Mercola's stuff or The Maker's Diet? I have read this stuff extensively and would be interested int he opinions of others.
My opinion is that they are both just impossible to follow due to financial limitations and complexity. I have, however, gotten some decent recipes (that I usually tweak a bit) and some interesting, if not always accurate, information.
Paula, I think your gut instincts are right. Interesting, but not necessarily accurate
MrsJim recently pointed out that Mercola has been under investigation by the FDA on several occasions, for the products he sells. Here's a recent FDA warning letter - http://www.casewatch.org/fdawarning/.../mercola.shtml
I checked a few reviews of the Makers Diet. It seems very extreme, and seems to be a launching pad for a commercial venture selling everything from supplements to special soap.
From Oprah magazine
Quote:
The Maker's Diet
BY JORDAN S. RUBIN, NMD, PHD
Rubin, a naturopathic doctor, bases his diet on the whole grains, saturated fats, red meat, and unprocessed foods (such as raw, unpasteurized goat's milk and cheese) eaten during biblical times. And because hormone injections, pesticides, and other staples of today's food industry hadn't yet been introduced, he also recommends eating organic when possible. He lays out a three-phase, 40-day plan evoking Moses' journey and Lent, each phase allowing a greater choice of foods than the previous one, and suggests a partial fast every seven days with dinner as the only meal; morning and evening prayers are part of the program. Rubin also prescribes a regimen of supplements, aromatherapy, and hygiene that requires dieters to purchase a number of items, many developed by Rubin himself.
What the experts like: Economos applauds "the concept of organic, free-range meat and getting people to eat a wider variety of less-processed foods." And this, she says, is the only book of the group that emphasizes a spiritual component, which may give some readers the extra motivation they need to stick to the diet.
What they don't like: "There's an incredible amount of commercialism and product endorsement in the book," Nelson says, and purchasing the recommended pills and potions would be costly. In addition, Economos cautions that fasting, while not always harmful, can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or diabetes, both of which are common in obese individuals. "Plus," she says, "deprivation primes people for binges." Lash also takes issue with the author's superior tone: "He goes out of his way to put down various kinds of medical care other than the one he espouses." Bottom line, he says, "It's a diet I wouldn't recommend to anyone."
He recommends drinking raw goats milk, instead of pasteurized cows milk. Is that safe? He also recommends his own cod liver oil every night, along with a handful of various vitamin pills that he also sells. If the diet plan was balanced and healthy, would you need to take so many vitamin pills? It's been a long time since I read the Bible, but I don't recall any references to vitamin pills. It sounds like a fad diet. Then finish your day off with a wide variety of other products he sells (he helped found the company that makes them) including everything from toothpaste to a special cleaner for your ears.
Thanks Suzanne. I appreciate it.
You know...this is all stuff I was thinking too -- espcially how difficult it would be to stay on it -- for financial reasons, as well as because it is so tough. And since I am nursing, I could never fast. I have a friend who keeps trying to get me to go the Mercola/Makers Diet way and I just haven't been able to respond to her (or even convince myself sometimes), except to say it seems too tough. Your comments will help.
I do have to say that the one thing that intrigues me about both these approaches is the idea that fat is not the enemy -- just bad fat. They both claim that coconut oil and animal fats are healthy, provided they are the right ones. I don't plan on going out and buying a bufffalo, of course, but it does resonate with me since I tend to lose better when I eat more fat.
I believe that it is illegal to sell unpasturized cow's milk, so I can't imagine that's it's legal to sell unpasturized goat's milk. Even if it was, would you want to risk it? Especially if you have a compromised immune system.
I believe that it is illegal to sell unpasturized cow's milk, so I can't imagine that's it's legal to sell unpasturized goat's milk. Even if it was, would you want to risk it? Especially if you have a compromised immune system.
The regulations on pasturization vary from state to state - currently 22 states allow the sale of raw milk to consumers (including here in California, despite several headline incidents over the past decade or so involving death or injury due to the consumption of non-pasturized products - Alta-Dena Dairy in the late 80's/early 90's, Odwalla juice in 1996, and Jalisco cheese in the mid 80's.
Speaking of Mercola - he doesn't exactly come to the table with clean hands:
Quote:
Dr. Joseph Mercola gets FDA warning letter. The FDA has ordered Joseph Mercola, D.O., of Schaumburg, Illinois, to stop making illegal therapeutic claims for products sold through his Web site. The warning letter states:
* Living Fuel Rx™, which he claims offers an "exceptional countermeasure" against cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, etc.
* Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil, which he says will reduce the risk of heart disease and has beneficial effects against Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and many infectious agents
* Chlorella, which he says can fight cancer and normalize blood pressure.
Mercola.com, for which Google retrieves more than 45,000 pages, is one of the Internet's largest and busiest health information sites. Mercola states that his site has 6 million page views a month and that his twice-a-week electronic newsletter has over 300,000 subscribers. Many of his articles make unsubstantiated claims and clash with those of leading medical and public health organizations. For example, he opposes immunization and fluoridation, claims that amalgam fillings are toxic, and makes many unsubstantiated recommendations for dietary supplements. Much of his support comes from chiropractors who promote his newsletter from their Web sites.
My mom and dad are doing this diet and have seen great results. They are not following it to the letter. For example they eat fruits and veggies that are not all organic. They have cut way back on sugar and flour. My mom says she loves what they can eat. She doesn't feel like she has been "dieting" because they eat so much. She lost 15 pounds in about 2 months. She is about 5 pounds from her goal. My dad on the other hand needs to put a few pounds back on. I have offered to give him a few of mine. I haven't tried it because I think it would be really tough with 4 small kids. Just thought I would share. There are pieces I would like to incorporate with my diet but the whole diet is too much for me right now. Hope this helps, Heidi
all diets are meant to make money other wise whats the point. have you ever noticed we americans are getting larger and larger and so is the list of quick fix diets out there.
In our heart we know its about moderation and eating less and exercising more. thats the zillion dollar diet. sure this diet will probably work they all do for awhile unless we stop dieting and then there we go back for the latest diet. so do whats good for you
stay healthy and be strong
I think I read a review about this and he advocates doing some weird cleaning under your nails ritual twice a day. I'm all for having clean hands, but it seems a little odd to me that some guy who drinks unpastuerized milk obsessively cleans under his nails twice a day.
That, and I *love* his medical credentials - call me old fashioned but I like doctors with MDs or ODs from a medical school, no funky natreopathy or whatever he calls his area of discipline.
I think it sounds weird too, txchick. He sells his own soap products and they are VERY expensive. I think this is very shameful, for lack of a better word at 2am, lol, especially conisdering the so-called basis of this diet plan.
Dr. Mercola/Maker's Diet
I haven't tried it because I think it would be really tough with 4 small kids. Just thought I would share. There are pieces I would like to incorporate with my diet but the whole diet is too much for me right now. Hope this helps, Heidi
