Today’s
blog is a follow up from last week. I was introduced to what I think is the
worst article and natural website I have ever encountered. The original article
is linked below. The website is called NaturalNews.com and the article is
entitled “Alzheimer’s is really just ‘type-3’ diabetes, new research shows.”
First,
we will analyze the website using the tips I suggested in an earlier blog post
on how to check the credibility of an internet site. On the home page of the site, there is a
recording, which is also linked below, talking about the man who runs
NaturalNews and the website’s mission. I must say that I was extremely appalled
by the allegations that he makes in this recording. However, I am going to
evaluate the information without emotion because science is based on facts and
evidence, not on opinions and emotions.
NaturalNews
is a website designed to offer people information on non-medicinal therapies
and cures for different diseases as well as encouraging a natural, healthy
lifestyle in general. Mike Adams is the editor of the website, and he claims
that until eleven years ago, he was in very poor health but has since turned
that all around and is completely healthy. He claims to be able to cure
diabetes in 4 days, which we know in the medical field is impossible. He claims
to be able to cure cancer with herbs and sunlight, which we also know to be
impossible. The most crushing allegation that he makes in this post is about
the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer research. If someone had a cure
for cancer, they would share it, right? No. He says that 99% of the money the
Komen foundation raises is to conduct mammograms, which emit radiation and
actually cause cancer in the women they screen, only causing them to be able to
collect more money. This is a very painful statement. (Adams)
According to this
man, the FDA is trying to ruin our health by passing safety bills, and the
government is trying to take away health freedom by passing health care
reforms. Pasteurization and irradiation
can kill people, and we shouldn’t do it, he claims. However, there are many
harmful bacteria present in raw milk that cause diseases such as dysentery and
cholera that are eliminated by pasteurization. (CDC) He claims to expose the
true agenda of the USDA, FDA, DEA, and the government “which does not want you
to be healthy.” This way, they can make money! He claims that medications and
vaccinations are poison that the government gives us to shorten the longevity
of our population because the elderly cost the government money and don’t pay
taxes. However, the human life expectancy in the United States, when compared
to third world countries that do not vaccinate and compared with the United
States a hundred years ago, is much longer. (Adams)
His
final statement exemplifies the incredibility of his site. “You don’t have to
agree with 100% of what is posted, no one agrees 100% on everything.” (Adams) The
problem is that everyone agrees 100% with truth – facts that are evidence based
and can be proven and replicated. This statement shows that not all that he
posts is true scientific fact. He posts subjective opinions, which contribute
to the lowest strength recommendation that doctors use. Doctors rely on
evidence and proof to treat their patients, not opinion. (Andre)
The
next check for credibility also fails. The website is .com and there is no
HONcode or URAC accreditation listed. There are incredible advertisements that
overtake most of the page on each page of the site. When in an article, it’s
hard to tell the advertisements from the content of the article because they
are so prevalent. One of the ads is for making colloidal silver in your home,
to ingest and treat all of your ailments. Colloidal silver was banned from OTC
products in 1996 due to serious adverse effects from consumers taking it to
treat certain conditions. Dietary supplements were still allowed, provided that
no health claims were made for its use. (Barrett) I am not going to trust this
site.
Let’s
move on to the article. The author is listed as well as the references. When I
see references, I expect to see primary literature, which consists of studies
that have proven information. The resources for this article are a hospital’s
webpage and a news website. The news website was a mirror image of
NaturalNews.com and was also summarizing the hospital webpage. The hospital
webpage was summarizing the original study. So the article posted on
NaturalNews.com could be considered a tertiary source, which is much less
reliable than the original information. However, the article does seem to
summarize the hospital’s webpage correctly.
Of
course, they follow this up with their own recommendations which are not
validated by references at all, and are complete advertisements as they link to
other pages on the website and products that are advertised on the side of the
page. The second part of the article is entitled “Eating more healthy saturated
fats like coconut oil can help prevent, cure Alzheimer’s.” The original study
says nothing about this and absolutely does not validate this statement. This
part of the article is the author’s opinion. If it is backed up by scientific
evidence, he did not cite is reference and therefore cannot be checked by
readers.
This
is a perfect example of a website that cannot be trusted. Although some of the
information is true and credible, is too much to ask to have to sort through
everything to find what is right and what is not. Please refer to the previous
blog post about credible sources for information, including NaturalStandard.com
which provides true, complete information about natural products.
Alexis Ireland, PharmD Candidate 2014
References
Adams, Mike. “Welcome to
NaturalNews!” NaturalNews. Mp3.
Andre, FE, et. al. “Vaccination
greatly reduces disease, disability, death and inequity worldwide.” Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 86:2. Feb 2008.
Barrett, Stephen MD. “Colloidal
Silver: Risk Without Benefit.” Quackwatch.
17 Aug. 2005.
Benson, Jonathan. "Alzheimer's Is Really Just 'type-3'
Diabetes, New Research Shows."NaturalNews. 6 Aug. 2012.
“Raw (Unpasteurized) Milk.” CDC. 25 Feb. 2013.
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