Read other Healthy Skeptic columns
February 20, 2012
The Healthy Skeptic: Probiotics could help in cold and flu season
Now that we're deep into the cold and flu season, it's safe to assume that germs are hiding pretty much everywhere — the keypad at the grocery store checkout, the handrail on the bus, the air around that miserable-looking co-worker.
January 9, 2012
The Healthy Skeptic: Is caffeine an effective weight-loss aid?
If losing weight was one of your New Year's resolutions, you might already be growing weary of counting calories and working out. Wouldn't it be great if you could slim down without so much effort?
November 28, 2011
The Healthy Skeptic: Promise of ChromaGen lenses for dyslexia a bit blurry
We rarely stop to think about it, but reading is an amazing accomplishment. It turns markings on a page or a screen into coherent thoughts. It's a complicated process: The eyes see a procession of letters, and the brain turns them into words.
October 31, 2011
The Healthy Skeptic: Seeing through skin supplements' claims
You wouldn't last very long without oxygen. But just as rust slowly eats away at a nail, oxygen can age your body. As your cells use this vital element, they produce free radicals — unstable molecules that can damage your tissues and add wear and tear to your entire body, including your skin.
July 4, 2011
The Healthy Skeptic
Are whitening toothpastes a bright idea?
It's hard to believe, but there was a time not long ago when everyone walked around (in public!) with naturally colored teeth. Today, with so many whitening gels, strips and trays out there, yellowish grins aren't as common — nor the natural look as appealing — as they used to be.
May 9, 2011
The Healthy Skeptic
Can smartphone apps really help you lose weight?
When it comes to mealtime, I usually don't pay much attention to calories. I eat until I'm full, and then I stop. Briefly. But I can report that a recent breakfast — a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats, frozen blueberries and skim milk along with a few steak fries left over from the night before — added up to 343 calories, more or less.
February 28, 2011
The Healthy Skeptic
Over-the-counter devices probably won't help sleep apnea
Big-time, bed-rattling snoring is more than just a detriment to good sleep or happy relationships. It's also a sign that airways aren't open and clear. In extreme cases, snorers spend chunks of the night gasping for breath, a dangerous condition called sleep apnea. If they could somehow open up their airways, they would breathe easier without all of the racket and without the risk.
April 25, 2011
The Healthy Skeptic
Alleviating season allergy symptoms naturally
It's hard to feel upbeat about spring weather if you suffer from seasonal allergies. While other people can spend all day outside without a sniffle, you can barely look at a field of grass or an oak tree without turning into a watery, miserable mess.
November 22, 2010
The Healthy Skeptic
Health product claims overshoot the runway of reason
It's frighteningly easy to drop a couple of hundred dollars on a holiday present. If you're considering spending big money on a health-related gift, you'll want to make sure that it will do something besides take up space in the gift bag.
February 14, 2011
The Healthy Skeptic: Male fertility supplements are no magic path to fatherhood
The average man produces hundreds of billions of sperm cells in his lifetime. Only a minuscule fraction of those little guys ever manage to swim far enough and fast enough to fertilize an egg. Successful sperm must be strong. It stands to reason then that they also must be well-nourished.
October 25, 2010
The Healthy Skeptic
All-natural bedbug sprays have little bite
Bedbugs combine all of the bloodsucking annoyance of mosquitoes with the survival instinct of cockroaches. No bigger than apple seeds, the adult bugs hide in ingenious places — inside electrical outlets, behind baseboards, deep in carpet fibers — during the day and attack their victims during the night. You may never know that you have a bedbug problem until bites start showing up on your skin. Bedbugs don't spread any illnesses, but still. Ick.
August 16, 2010
The Healthy Skeptic
Green tea sets weight-loss industry abuzz
Like all industries, the herbal weight-loss business moves in cycles. Less than a decade ago, the stimulant herb ephedra was one of the stars of the scene. It sped up metabolism and weight loss, but it also raised the heart rate and, in some cases, caused strokes and heart attacks.
May 10, 2010
The Healthy Skeptic
Weighing in on the Shake Weight
Of the hundreds of exercise gadgets that have graced TV airwaves over the years, only a handful ever become big-time sellers and even fewer become cultural phenomenons. The Shake Weight is definitely in that rarified category. Over 3.6 million people have watched the Shake Weight ad on YouTube, and millions more saw the device featured on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and spoofed on "Saturday Night Live."
April 26, 2010
The Healthy Skeptic
Validity of hospital rankings
Even if you're the kind who never reads a review before heading to the car lot or the movie theater, you probably want to know how your hospital stacks up before you walk through the door. You definitely wouldn't want to find out after the fact that your hospital is a clunker and your surgeon usually gets two thumbs down.
April 12, 2010
The Healthy Skeptic
Do claims for tinnitus supplements ring true?
For millions of people, the quietest room is never quiet enough. Even when surrounded by silence, they can hear a ringing or buzzing in their ears that drives them to distraction. The sound is called tinnitus, and sufferers — often people with hearing trouble thanks to advanced age or loud sounds — are willing to go to great lengths to stop the noise.
March 29, 2010
The Healthy Skeptic
Liver supplements don’t seem to offer protection
At a time when so many people are trying to clean out their systems with detoxifying pads, pills and gadgets, let's take a moment to honor the liver, the best detox device a body can have. Without prompting, the liver breaks down and dispenses with all sorts of toxic compounds, including alcohol and acetaminophen. Anyone who is truly interested in removing poisons from the body should probably spend less time applying detoxifying pads and potions and more time protecting their liver.
March 15, 2010
The Healthy Skeptic
Are neti pots on the nose?
If you're one of many people who sneeze through allergy season or suffer bouts of clogged sinuses, you may wonder if your nasal passages are really worth the trouble. Sure, you get a few good smells every once in a while, but does that really justify all the pain, sniffling and ickiness?
February 1, 2010
THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC
Face time with MyClyns anti-germ spray
If you've seen the television ad for the anti-germ spray MyClyns, you no doubt remember the pivotal scene: A mom and her two kids sit at a dinner table, the little boy coughs on his sister and mom heroically grabs the spray bottle of MyClyns. Against all expectations, she doesn't spray the table or the air. Instead, she sprays her daughter. Directly in the face.
March 1, 2010
The Healthy Skeptic
Be wary of products touting FDA certification
If you're shopping for a pill or gadget to trim your waistline, grow your hair or generally make you feel better, you probably take comfort in the words "FDA approved" or "FDA registered."
January 18, 2010
THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC
Ionic foot baths have Achilles' heel
Leslie H. of Phoenix recently wrote to us with the following question: "Do ionic foot baths really remove toxins through the feet? I'm skeptical."
January 4, 2010
THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC
NaNO Vapor: Strong claims, weak details
Body builders and serious weightlifters aren't exactly known for modest understatement. They often talk about getting "huge" and "ripped," and many will flex at the slightest pretense.
December 14, 2009
THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC
Makers say CDs induce more restful sleep
During the holiday season -- or any time, really -- solid sleep can be a real gift. The not-so-sound sleepers on your shopping list would undoubtedly appreciate anything that would help them get some needed rest.
November 30, 2009
THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC
Gauging a gas tackler
Whether you're still plowing through Thanksgiving leftovers or easing back to your normal fare, billions of bacteria in your digestive tract are eagerly awaiting their next meal. And if you feed them well enough, they'll thank you by producing gas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
January 12, 2009
THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC
Proof is thin that it helps stop hair loss
Americans spend billions on hair-care products each year, a remarkable investment for a part of the body with no real function. We clean it, nourish it and style it -- and we definitely mourn its loss.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Copyright © 2013, Los Angeles Times
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