Mercola as top COVID misinformation spreader ... Implications for keto?


(Joey) #1

Over the years, Dr. Joseph Mercola has been cited on this forum as a reliable source of info on keto and related health issues.

He’s now featured as the #1 top disseminator among the “Disinformation Dozen” for spreading unscientific claims about the coronavirus vaccination (including: the shots “alter your genetic coding, turning you into a viral protein factory that has no off-switch,” they’re “a medical fraud” and that the injections do not prevent infections, provide immunity or stop transmission of the disease).

It’s also reported by the NYTimes that, having amassed a net worth of $100 million, he’s been tagged by the FTC for false/misleading claims and has agreed to refund about $3 million to customers.

QUESTION: What are your thoughts on whether his support for keto helps or hurts efforts to educate others on the benefits of dietary carb restriction? Does it even matter?


(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #2

Who’s ‘disinformation dozen’? I won’t address the specific supposed ‘disinfo’ you refer to because Covid has been retired as a topic. Hopefully we will eventually discover and expose the actual disinfo culprits.


(Ohio ) #3

It doesn’t matter. The daily mortality death rate of diabetes is 280. The 21 daily average death rate of Covid19 is 245. Mostly unvaccinated and mostly diabetic as well. It doesn’t matter because any advocate of the ketogenic diet will likely contradict the powers that be.


(Joey) #4

Agreed. My question relates to the phenomenon of “source credibility.”

When keto - a non-mainstream idea that’s slowly gaining traction - is heavily pushed by a source with significant credibility baggage, there’s the potential for a negative halo effect. That’s the concern.


(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #5

Keto has many respected spokesmen and women, plus a boatload of evidence and empirical data. That will not go away or be diminished on the fate of individual voices who may or may not be proven correct or incorrect about any specific controversy such as Covid so-called vaccine. On the other hand every popular thing including keto attracts carpetbaggers and hucksters. So I have no worries about keto. My opinion.


(Doug) #6

My opinion - the mere mention of Mercola’s name makes shake my head and roll my eyes. Marketing much more than information.


#7

I’m assuming this is the 2021 / CNN definition of “misinformation” aka I don’t agree with it? Giving you cited NYT I see you’re into sources that are 100% anti anything other than getting in line and being vaccinated

How does making money fit into this? I’m not a socialist so I don’t have a problem with people being successful in life and making a good living. I fail to see how that comes into the argument at all. Would those “false/misleading” claims be the typical ones like how hydroxychloroquine helps treat COVID? That’s misleading these days… although it wasn’t when the CDC themselves were saying it and when Trump got it was he was infected!

Again, if you ever saw the other side of the argument many people that have researched mRNA have basically said just that. That’s why there’s such a push back against the mRNA vaccines. Cancel culture and the sanitizing of all information that doesn’t fit the narrative makes those interviews very hard to find now.

Makes absolutely zero difference. The only people that forcefully combine things like that and then make an issue about it is the virtue signaling cancel culture crowd.


(Ohio ) #8

Everyone wants to market keto anything these days. Replace sweeteners with erythritol. Slap on keto label. Sell it. Cash in.


(Joey) #9

@lfod14 Sorry, apparently I hit a nerve with my original question. Best wishes to you :vulcan_salute:


(Bacon is a many-splendoured thing) #10

Folks, it’s time to drop COVID as a topic. And it is most especially time to drop the political discussions. They lead nowhere and only aggravate tempers. I’m locking this thread, because nothing good can come from it.


(Bacon is a many-splendoured thing) closed #11