One of my very favorite activities is exposing hypocrites, phonies, charlatans, and snake oil salesmen. I admit, I do take an almost perverse pleasure in exposing these money grubbing liars in our society. For one thing, it is so easy to do. Almost like shooting monkeys in a barrel.
One can hardly open a newspaper or look on the Internet to find the latest health "tip" to improve your health and increase your longevity to 100 plus years. Go ahead, pick up a copy of USA Today today and you're sure to see the latest "breakthrough discovery" by an "expert". It could be "drinking ten cups of coffee a day will increase prevent shingles" or "eating blueberries will help prevent impotence."
It's always something folks with these so called "experts" spewing out their latest advice to a certain gullible segment of the Great Unwashed.
Well, I'm not buying it folks. Never have and never will. Every time I hear of another one of these breakthrough claims I think of all the "experts" of the past who are dead. Oops! You said DEAD? Oh yes, their survivors quickly come up the excuses why they died but the fact remains they died before their time in spite of their "expert" claims of knowing the secret of health and longevity.
I don't usually include the writing of others in my blog but this one time I will make an exception. This is from:
By Melissa Breyer
Thu., Jan. 10, 2013
"We commonly hear stories of people whose health defies the odds: the chain-smoking grannies who live to 100, the skinny dudes who pack away unreasonable amounts of calories without gaining an ounce. But often it’s the reverse that prevails; the physically virtuous who drop dead way before their time. And it’s never more surprising than when such a fate befalls the very people have become famous for espousing good health.
With a life expectancy in the United States for males at 76.3 years and 81.1 years for females (according to the CDC), it’s confounding to discover so many diet gurus who have succumbed years ahead of the national average. And this isn’t to suggest that their practices and philosophies contributed to their deaths in any way — who's to say where nature tramples nurture, so to speak – but the irony is hard to deny. We don't suggest throwing in the towel on healthy eating based on the unfortunate deaths of the diet gurus listed here, but it does provide some food for thought."
James Fixx
The author of the 1977 runaway bestseller, "The Complete Book of Running," Fixx is often credited with starting the American running craze. Fixx ran 10 miles a day in addition to other vigorous exercise, and was described as being in fine physical condition by friends — yet he had a fatal heart attack at the age of 52 while jogging
Michel Montignac
The famous French doctor originally developed the Montignac diet to help himself lose weight. The diet went on to become the backbone of his best-selling books and a chain of restaurants and stores promoting his nutritional regimen. His research focused on the glycemic index and the distinction between good and bad carbohydrates. (For example, whole grains are good; refined flour is bad.) His 1987 book, "Eat Yourself Slim," sold 17 million copies in several countries, and his work and theories were the inspiration behind the South Beach Diet. Montignac died of prostate cancer at the age of 66.Nathan Pritikin
Perhaps the granddaddy of all diet gurus, few names are as associated with the health revolution as Nathan Pritikin. The inventor with a passion for nutrition and fitness was one of the first to
Paavo Airola
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The European born and based Airola was a nutritionist and naturopathic doctor with a background in biochemistry and natural healing. Airola promoted natural healing through a diet of nutritious, whole foods and holistic medicine. He lectured extensively across the globe and spent time as a visiting lecturer at prestigious universities including Stanford University Medical School. Airola served as president of the International Academy of Biological Medicine, and authored 14 books, two of which became international bestsellers. The American Academy of Public Affairs went as far as to issue Airola the Award of Merit for his book on arthritis. This brilliant man was felled by a stroke at the age of 64.Robert Atkins
Creator of one of the world’s most famous diets, the Atkins Nutritional Approach, aka the Atkins Diet, Robert Atkins basically gave the okay for bacon lovers to pig out on all things protein, condemning carbohydrates to the hall of dietary shame. Dieters swore by the program and vegetarians shuddered. Meanwhile, Atkins himself was revealed after his death to have had a “history of serious heart problems including myocardial infarction (a heart attack), congestive heart failure and hypertension,” which has been suggested by some to lead to his death, caused by a fall on the ice. He died at the age of 72.Robert E. Kowalski
The author of The New York Times best-selling book (which was on the list for a remarkable 115 weeks) "The NEW 8-Week Cholesterol Cure"
Adelle Davis
Born in 1904, Adelle Davis, was one of the country’s best-known early nutritionists and contended that almost any disease could be prevented by proper diet. The visionary author penned four best-selling books: "Let’s Cook It Right," "Let’s Have Healthy Children," "Let’s Get Well" and "Let’s Eat Right To Keep Fit." Although she received criticism for some of her more far-out ideas, her enthusiasm for health food led her to become an early advocate for the need to exercise, the dangers of vitamin deficiencies as well as the need to avoid hydrogenated fat, saturated fat and excess sugar consumption — all of which remain standard guidelines today.Davis succumbed to cancer at the age of 70.
I am not receptive to medical advice from "experts." I'll take medical advice about my condition but I don't take any medical advice from self-appointed "experts, be they doctors or snake oil salesmen.
J. I. Rodale (birth name Jerome Irving Cohen) was one such health salesman who published a very successful magazine called "Prevention."
Rodale died on while he was participating as a guest on the Dick Cavett show promoting his "healthy lifestyle" and magazine "Prevention" which made him and his family a lot of money (and still is I believe.)
The following is an accounting from Wikipedia of how and when Mr. Rodale died at age 71, younger than I am now.
Death:
Rodale died of a heart attack at the age of 72 while participating as a guest on The Dick Cavett Show. He was still on stage, having finished his interview, and was seated next to the active interviewee, New York Post columnist Pete Hamill. According to Cavett, Hamill noticed something was wrong with Rodale, leaned over to Cavett, and said, "This looks bad." According to others, Cavett asked, "Are we boring you, Mr. Rodale?". Cavett himself said that he "emphatically" did not recall saying this. Two interns rushed onto the stage to try and revive Rodale, but they were unsuccessful. The episode was never broadcast, although Cavett has described the story in public appearances and on his blog.
Rodale had bragged during his just-completed interview on the show that "I'm in such good health that I fell down a long flight of stairs yesterday and I laughed all the way", "I've decided to live to be a hundred", and "I never felt better in my life!" He had also previously bragged, "I'm going to live to be 100, unless I'm run down by some sugar-crazed taxi driver."
Note: Rodale's son Robert took over the family business and died, in a car accident during a business trip to Russia. Case closed.
Then there was John B. Kelly, Jr.
Brother of Princess Grace and Olympic rower. He used to jog on Kelly Drive in Philadelphia. I often passed him on my bike when I drove the Kelly Drive loop. John B. Kelly, Jr. died while jogging on Kelly Drive. He was 57 years old. Younger than I am now.
Just a few examples folks of the futility of trying to prevent death by living "fad" healthy. Hey folks, we're all going to die of something. Some of us sooner than others, some later.
I think we've all pretty much figured out what healthy living is. We don't need a Rodale or a spandexed jogger to illustrate to us what "healthy" is. If you're a couch potato, heavy smoker and dope user, you're probably going to die an early death. However, if you're even moderately active, eat in moderation, don't smoke, you're probably going to live a lot longer than your peers. Of course there is always that chance of a Random Act of Fate and you're struck with a terminal illness. Can't do much about that. Count your blessings you've lived as long as you have and pray that your exit isn't too painful, humiliating or needy.
Look folks, if you're lucky enough to have reached a reasonably advanced age without contracting some kind of fatal illness or injury by accident or design; I would pay only scant attention if any at all to these self appointed "experts." Seems to me they had something to sell before reality caught up with them. There might be a small amusement factor but that's about it. However there is one guarantee, on tomorrow's news there is sure to be yet an another breathless news item about the latest food or dietry supplement to ingest or avoid to live a long and healthy life. But before you run out to the store to buy their latest book or product consider this, the cemeteries are full of "experts."
Want to live a long and healthy life? Here, I'll give you advice for FREE. Eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of rest, be kind to your fellow human beings and don't lie to people just to make money. There you go folks, live long and be happy!