Read other Healthy Skeptic columns

May 4, 2009

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Allergen Block: invisible shield or invisible results?

As long as cats keep shedding and trees keep trying to make more trees, a lot of allergy sufferers are going to be looking for relief. They might take medications to reduce their symptoms, or they might try to stay away from cat dander, pollen and other nuisances.

April 6, 2009

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Multivitamins: Do his and hers make a difference?

It's a good thing dietary guidelines aren't laws. If they were, just about all of us could be found guilty. Even if you load fruit onto your whole-grain cereal and pile greens on your sandwiches, chances are you're regularly falling short on one or more nutrients.

March 23, 2009

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

UV-C wand touted as super-weapon against germs

For all the trouble they cause, bacteria and viruses are actually very fragile. Shower them with a little bleach or Lysol and they'll die in apocalyptic waves. Make their homes too dry, too cold or too hot and they'll drop like microscopic flies.

February 23, 2009

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

A dim view of Light Relief's claims to relieve pain with LEDs

Humans are light-sensitive beings. Whether it comes from the sun, a laser or a fluorescent bulb, light can affect our bodies and minds in ways that scientists are just beginning to understand.

February 9, 2009

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Does colloidal silver boost immunity or overall health?

At a time when most people are avoiding metals such as lead and mercury, there's a full-out rush among the health-conscious for silver, a metal that is showing up in elixirs and sprays, soaps and toothpastes.

January 26, 2009

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

LashFood's makers claim it fattens eyelashes. But does it?

Every once in a while, hard science has a cosmetic payoff. We use botulinum toxins to erase wrinkles, and lasers to remove unwanted hair. Now a company called Jane Beauty is promising to apply scientific principles for another purely cosmetic purpose: longer, thicker eyelashes.

November 3, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Little proof of cellulite cream success

As you may have noticed from the supermarket tabloids -- admit it, you've looked -- all sorts of celebrities are still battling cellulite, that unflattering skin condition that can ruin Hollywood reputations while making big money for beach-side paparazzi.

September 22, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Kinoki foot pads' detox claims don't stand up to science

It takes a special product to stand out against the multitude of health remedies and gadgets pitched on late-night cable TV. Kinoki Cleansing Detox Pads have undoubtedly cleared that bar. Whether viewers are intrigued by the promise of removing toxins from their bodies or simply grossed out by the ads, Kinoki pads get attention.

September 8, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Curcumin's anti-inflammatory powers are unproven

The products: Humans have long believed in an almost magical connection between strong flavors and good health. The burn from the hot pepper? It must be energizing the body. The pungent tang of a raw oyster? It must be energizing a very particular part of the body. And the zingy sweetness of an Indian curry? For centuries, people in India have believed that the spice turmeric can ease digestive distress and arthritis.

August 25, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Does Juvenon work as an anti-aging supplement?

The products: Age-defying products that target wrinkles or gray hairs are missing one of the real driving forces behind aging. Over the years, cells throughout the body lose mitochondria, tiny powerhouses that provide energy for all sorts of vital functions. This cellular power-outage is one reason older people limp along with a fraction of the zip and pep that they enjoyed in earlier days.

August 11, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Protein supplements are handy boost to athletes

The products: At weight rooms, jogging tracks and football fields across the country, the path to athletic success is often littered with protein bar wrappers and empty protein powder canisters.

July 28, 2008

HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Mixologists with bad breath: SmartMouth may be for you

The product: If you're like everyone else -- and, let's be honest, you probably are -- you have more than 10 billion bacteria in your mouth right now. It's fair to say that none of those tiny germs cares about your social life. In fact, some bacteria may be churning out truly stinky chemicals, the kind that can make friends back away mid-conversation.

July 14, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

B vitamins don't boost energy drinks' power

The product: Judging from the slew of energy products taking up space in supermarkets and convenience stores, B vitamins have become the new go-to ingredients for a quick pick-me-up.

June 30, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Claims that shoe insoles relieve back pain are unsupported

The product: The human spine is an amazing piece of equipment: On request, it can sway gracefully or withstand thousands of pounds of force. But that versatility comes with a price. At some point, just about everyone suffers significant back pain, and ends up searching for relief.

June 9, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Fiber-based Lipozene's weight-loss claims rest on thin evidence

The Product: Experts have been saying for years that there's no such thing as a magic pill for weight loss. But who knows? They used to think no pill could treat bacterial pneumonia or erectile dysfunction. At a time when scientists are unlocking new secrets about our appetites and metabolism, it seems at least remotely plausible that the secret to a slimmer body could someday fit into a capsule. Maybe it's already there.

June 9, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

CLA supplements offer slight boost to weight-loss plans

The Product: Burgers aren't considered especially slimming, but a compound found in ground beef has created a buzz in weight-loss circles. Conjugated linoleic acid -- CLA -- is a naturally occurring fatty acid that was discovered by accident when researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were searching for carcinogens in hamburger. Lab animals who ate the compound didn't develop cancer, but they did lose a lot of body fat. Scientists aren't exactly sure how CLA works in the body, but some have speculated that it increases the oxidation of fat while slowing fat buildup.

May 5, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Fish oil supplements help heart disease patients

The products: All over the world -- Japan, the Arctic, Anaheim, wherever -- people who eat a lot of fish seem to enjoy unusual protection from heart disease. Not everyone can manage a plate of salmon or sashimi every night, but there's another option: fish oil capsules, the fatty extracts of anchovies, sardines or salmon poured into a package of gelatin.

April 21, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Ionic air purifiers' dirty little secret: They don't get rid of dust

The product: Dust, cigarette smoke, pollen and pet dander: With so many irritants floating around our homes and work places, clean air is a hot commodity. Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars on furnace filters and air cleaners each year. Though some consumers are simply trying to bring a little extra freshness into their lives, many others hope that their investment will help relieve their asthma or allergies.

April 7, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Supplements for osteoarthritis treatment may offer some relief

The product: All sorts of painkillers can offer comfort to people with arthritis, but none of them can give new life to worn-out joints. If you've squandered your personal supply of cartilage in your knees or hips, a truckload of Aleve won't bring it back. For decades, arthritis experts and patients have looked for remedies that do more than mask the pain.

March 24, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Aromatherapy is in your head, not your nose

The product: For better or worse, strong smells tend to grab our attention. The air hanging over a bakery can make us hungry, and the atmosphere around a locker room can make us question our dedication to fitness. The typical nose can discern about 10,000 different scents; clearly, we're wired to sniff our way through life.

March 10, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Chew gum to lose weight?

The product: Contestants on the current season of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" have been taking a slightly offbeat approach to shedding pounds. In addition to sweating on treadmills and sticking to near-starvation diets, they've been chewing gobs of gum -- Wrigley's Extra sugar-free gum, to be exact.

February 11, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

ArginMax says its studies support its effect on libido

The product: You can bet that lots of couples this Valentine's Day will be exchanging chocolates, lighting candles and sharing bottles of wine -- time-honored strategies for setting the "mood." But what if your desires have sunk so low that even Godiva and a nice pinot can't rescue you?

January 28, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

You sweat, but toxins likely stay

The products: We all carry the residue of modern living deep within our bodies. We get mercury from fish, pesticides from apples and polyvinyl chlorides from that "new-car smell." A 2005 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of more than 2,000 people across the country found traces of more than 60 toxic compounds, including such nasty stuff as dioxins and uranium, in the blood and urine of participants. As the CDC noted then, nobody really knows what -- if anything -- these substances are doing to our bodies. But plenty of people are eager to get rid of them.

January 14, 2008

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Statin-free supplement? Not quite

Could you review red yeast rice? I've started taking it in an attempt to lower my cholesterol and stay off statins.

December 17, 2007

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Giver, beware

It's a jolly time of year for companies selling health products. The credit cards are flying, wishful thinking hits an annual high, and shopper skepticism doesn't come easy. But many gadgets or supplements have all of the health-enhancing power of a lump of coal. And though a gift that actually boosts health could make someone's season, hokum is still hokum, even if it's wrapped in a bow.

November 26, 2007

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Can magnets help kick the habit?

The product: If you've ever tried to give up smoking -- or been around someone who has--you've probably discovered that quitting isn't easy, even with the help of a patch, pill, gum or spray. Nicotine-replacement products work about 10% to 15% of the time. Prescription medications such as Zyban and the new drug Chantix can boost the odds for success to about 25% -- but there's still a roughly 100% chance of frayed nerves, foul moods and urges to light up.

June 4, 2007

THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC

Slim results for 'electric exercise'?

I see lots of ads for so-called exercise devices that use electric charges to work muscles. My mother used a similar product for several decades with no benefits. What's your take?