Well the times and clothing may have changed, but there are plenty of hucksters out there still trying sell cure-alls now they just come in cooler bottles, are marketed more cleverly, and still cure everything. Oh and they still cost an arm and a leg. The only thing that may have changed is that they taste better - or at least that is the claim.
Let me be very clear about my feelings about the nutraceutical industry: I don’t believe that any natural substance made into any form has the ability to cure baldness, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, increase your libido and provide you with more energy all at once. I do believe natural substances can alleviate symptoms, improve well-being, etc. but not one substance is a cure-all.
Some of my opinions are eloquently expressed in this Dilbert comic:
I find Scott Adams’ wit uncanny at times and this is one of them. Of course, his criticism is very subtle as he simply implies that a placebo has more effect than the actual product.
What is a nutraceutical? As defined by Wikipedia – it is a combination of the words nutrition and pharmaceutical. Such a product is usually an extract of food(s) claiming to have a medicinal effect on human health in the form of a physiological benefit or protecting against a chronic disease.
I live in the capital of the nutraceutical industry; Utah County. It carries dubious distinction thanks to Senator Orrin Hatch and his political influence in Washington. Senator Hatch was the co-sponsor of a bill in 1994 that prohibited the FDA from providing any sort of regulatory oversight. This has allowed the industry to mushroom and expand its reach by increasing the diseases, conditions, and symptoms its products can cure or alleviate. I saw a very interesting Frontline news article on this on PBS some time ago--here is the link.
Here are at least a few Utah County companies who market and sell juices that do all kinds of good things for you:
Morinda – purveyor of Tahitian Noni; a juice made from the noni fruit.
XanGo – purveyor of XanGo; a juice made from mangosteen.
Nature’s Sunshine - purveyor of Thai Go; a juice made from mangosteen and other good stuff.
Neways – purveyor of Durian Fusion; a juice made from the durian fruit.
Xija - purveyor of zija, a juice made from the moringa oleifera plant.
While the purveyors of these liquid elixirs may all be located in Utah county you are all in luck these products are available for purchase on the internet or via your local huckster, a.k.a. your slightly irregular neighbor who always has a get rich scheme up their sleeve.
My employer has several clients that are involved in this industry and helped to organize a networking group for such people who always seem to sell their product through a multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme. Of course they don’t refer to it as MLM because that connotes being like Amway. So they call it ‘direct selling’ because they bypass stores and other methods to get the product directlyto you the end consumer. Somehow they seem to leave out the fact that the product costs next to nothing to produce and by virtue of its health value should command a premium price equivalent to a fine bottle of wine. Such a price enables everyone in the direct selling network to earn a commission on each bottle sold.
1. an exorbitant price
2. slick marketing
3. wildy outrageous claims of varying health benefits
4. legal disclaimers that the FDA hasn't evaluated the viability of the product
5. FDA warning letters disputing the the health benefit claims made by the purveyors
These things that make me wonder what they have to hide. It is obvious to me that they don't want me to know something about their products and that is exactly why I don't want them to have my money or my silence in not making my opinions known regarding their products.
5 comments:
How embarrassing is that?! Shame on Hatch and shame on those who are the hucksters wearing the LDS name.
Uh, you sure it won't cure diabetes? Rats!
Paul, that's a great blog. I always wondered what the great and spacious building was off the 15 freeway when we came to visit you until you explained to me about Tahitian Noni.
I appreciate that Dilbert comic, especially because I have co-workers who "sell on the side." Oh yes, one Christian zealot sells his miracle juice from the trunk of his car (we had to write him up for that one) and another one sells those hyper-caffeine-infused Monster drinks in his office. Lovely. I haven't mentioned that to my HR superiors yet, but I am considering it.
Um, I shouldn't have my in-laws read this. They are the "suckers" who believe all of the promises. My favorite product they have given us is Miracle II Neutralizer Gel by Tedco. They gave Dan's brother a bottle of Miracle II water but the ingredients are basically the same as the gel (the bottle cost like $200). Here is what the back of the bottle says (I do not kid):
REJOICE!!! You have purchased a Micacle II Outreach Product. The most complex mixture of natural minerals and organics that has ever been blended together. Miracle II is a spiritual revealed formulated product.
Contains: Prayer, Electrically engineered eloptic energized stablized oxygenated water- Ash of Dedecyl solution- Calcium- Potassium- Magnesium (Carbopol) 940- And the Anointing of God. Miracle II contains and hold spiritual and eloptic energy beyond measure for a miracle for your body. (Check it Out.)
I have yet to rub any of this stuff on my baby's bum (Dan's mom insists it works well for diaper rash...)
Oh, and the phrase "spiritual revealed formulated product" was not a typo on my part. That is what it reads. I also love the ending of the ingredients when it says "contains and holds." Nothing like basically repeating the same word.
I don't even like to take a pain killer when I have a head ache. I wait till its killing me for hours on end and is showing no sign of going away. I just know years down the road we are going to find out products like these actually cause cancer or something like that. Especially weight loss products!
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