I saw the ad for the first time today and knew there would be a write-up coming. As I watched Drew talk about how confused she was and she couldn’t find a doctor who could/would help her. And I wanted to tell her, “Dr. Jen Gunter. She literally wrote the book.”
Excellent! “If a product could do all of this, Big Pharma would have marketed the shit out of this years ago.” Yep. I have said this very thing many times. I used to work for one of the big Pharma Companies doing clinical research. I was part of the team that conducted the Phase 1-3 trials that got a major antibiotic registered. And yes, if a product has any promise at all for treating a condition with such a huge financial potential, Big Pharma will be all over it like stink on shit.
Fascinatingly sad how people will spend their hard earned money on crap like this, but won’t see a medical professional and follow her/his guidance.
I know, right? I feel sorry for her. I’m sure she believes she’s doing something positive. Or at least I need to think so because I’m not giving up on my Never Been Kissed and Wedding Singer star. And ET? Can’t do it.
I have a Drew Barrymore-branded electric griddle that I really like. If I make pancakes on it, will they boost my metabolism? Because that would be EPIC.
My first question when I see questionable supplements from relatively successful people is "How much money do they need?!?!?!". 100% not surprised she's pushing snake oil though. Gross.
Really Drew? You can’t find a doctor, in New York City, to help you? No wonder people fall for this. If Drew can’t find a doctor, how are the masses supposed to cope? It’s one thing for a celeb to be the face of a beauty brand (and consumers are getting savvy about all the BS in that arena), this is just irresponsible. Thank you for shining a light on this terrible, and growing, problem.
I'm soooo disappointed that Drew has chosen to hop on the meno-scam bandwagon, especially as a celebrity who likely has influence on a large number of women. She should've used that star power to solicit legitimate information but maybe that doesn't pay as well? (*sarcasm*) I do think she means well, though. Perhaps she too fell prey to the demoralizing dismissal that so many of us have experienced when we've sought help from physicians for our very real symptoms. It's really hard to be told to suck it up and deal because it's "natural" or to be offered options that are not first line because the doctor is working with outdated info. Is anyone really surprised that women turn elsewhere? Add in the shocking levels of disparity in access to care and there are a lot of women who are needlessly suffering. I also keep seeing and hearing from various providers on social media that women need to self-advocate by bringing information from the internet to their appointments. This advice is almost chastising in its tone. While I agree we should each be informed and make an effort to work as a partner with our physician in our own care, I don't understand why there is an expectation out there that we, as non-physicians, are expected to educate our physicians on how to best treat us? Why are physicians not mandated to automatically offer us care options that follow current guidelines? If I can find them on the internet, they surely can do the same. It's perplexing, at minimum, and doesn't lead me to have much faith in our medical system. Thank you so much for your candid posts, Dr. Gunter.
"It is always hard to write about medical bullshit because the energy it takes to debunk it is infinitely more significant than the lack of effort and research it took to create it." Amen. Feel that. Word. But thanks for taking the time because truth does trickle down and does make a difference to many of us. Our bodies are so incredible; if we nourish, move and de-stress them, heck imagine not needing anything as you transition....and if you do, no problem, there are well researched and tested hormonal and non-hormonal options. A frustration for me: two legit-diploma-on-wall-medical-center gynos I consulted pushed pellets and creams and all this other stuff because they too, profited from their in-office sales. So then, they are basically Drew too. It makes me so sad, even if you try to avoid marketing bullsh*t...it seeps into you even as you are in the stirrups. You almost feel like you MUST take something because something IS wrong with you, menopause is BAD. If just one million women purchase this just one time (because it doesn't work so they never re-order)...179 million $ is transferred, much of which is profit. That's a lot of Ben Franks. It really is pretty gross.
Can you do Dr. Nathan Riley and midwife Sara Rosser and their Born Free anti vaxx propaganda Born Free MLM pyramid? Sara was the midwife for Instagram's christian mommy influencer @thefranklinmama's baby Autumn Louise who died in December. There should be some investigation into that baby's death. Thank you!
My mother is one of the Farm Midwives and Nathan’s “Come to Albany to learn how to deliver breech twins outside the hospital…” that’s just unbelievably reckless. When I was in medical school one of my friends Charlotte had a breech baby on the Farm. I remember talking to her by the fire at the Harvest Festival on the Farm that year, her first baby, breech, her being nervous, me just a brand new medical student. Her baby died during the labor. I was so angry. Her only son. My mother never wanted to deliver breech babies outside the hospital but Pamela insisted. They all belong behind bars.
Thank you so very much for this "take down." Here's the deal: I'm immune suppressed thanks to my RA/PsA meds. The LAST thing I want is to enhance my immune system (!). Thank you for taking time to tear apart this dangerous woo.
Aha, but if you enhanced your immune system with bone broth or whatever you‘d probably not need those „pharmaceuticals“, all that unnatural stuff (i hope you can see the sarcasm dripping…)
as someone who was diagnosed with IBD (UC) at the age of 25 (I'm 53 now), every time I hear "boost your immune system!", I think "no, that beeatch has been trying to kill me for a very long time. The last thing I want to do is "boost" it." Especially since I am taking some pretty expensive meds to do the opposite!
I just became a subscriber to say that Bone Broth Wizards is my new band name.
Also, "88% Of Women In User Group *Felt* Improvement In Fatigue Levels". If the feels are research, my graduating thesis would have been a breeze. Instead, I had to do it the hard way.
It's so hard to battle this kind of marketing, isn't it? People want to believe there is a magical cure for the low, low cost of $199 per month, especially women, who have been historically ignored dismissed by the medical establishment as a whole, and don't even get me started on women's health. Even I feel prey to naturopathy and general "natural health" in the mid to late-90s after I was diagnosed with a pretty serious and tricky case of ulcerative colitis when I was 25. The only real med that worked for me was prednisone to keep me in remission, and I was desperate, very desperate. All the other NSAIDs treatments at that time were not enough, until I got a specialist who tried me out on an immunosuppressant for organ recipients (off label use). It wasn't magic, but it was enough to make my life more manageable until better drugs came along. I'm still on azathioprine, btw, as well as a fancy arse, expensive biologic and doing pretty okay at the age of 53. And rode out my transition to menopause the real natural way in the heights of the pandemic (of course) and it was surprisingly low-key. I consider myself very lucky in that regard, compared to what friends have gone through.
We need to do more for people to give them the reality of what can be done, and some hope through trusted medical professionals and treatments. People need to feel heard at the very least, and if they are truly heard, they will (hopefully) stay away from grift like proprietary blends.
I think it's unethical for a tv host to promote a product like that. That said, I absolutely HATE the commercials for Balance of Nature Fruits and Vegetables. You will notice now that they don't really make any statistical claims. Kathy Lee: "I cannot tell you what a difference it has made in my life." That literally could mean it has made no difference, so she cannot tell you about any difference.
It kills me though how many women fall for this crap and spend hard earned money on it plus endanger their health. I have seen some of my patients take 30 different supplements „prescribed“ to them by their naturopath… it is unbelievable.
My understanding is it is based on IF and keto and makes claims that offers some kind of special benefit in menopause, and that is not supported by the evidence. Here is a review from a registered dietician https://abbylangernutrition.com/galveston-diet-book-review/
Thank you for another great piece. I am stuck on what seems like a very high chromium dose. The recommended daily intake is 25 mcg, and 1 pill of this has 667 mcg?! Isn’t that a problem of way too much?
It's probably not an issue (admittedly understudied) as chromium is poorly absorbed. According to the NIH office of dietary supplements many chromium supplements often have 250-500 mg (again, these aren't well studied). One of the studies I read looking at it for diabetes used 400 mcg. I suspect the biggest issue is making expensive urine and feces.
No surprise that she joined the Gwyneth Paltrow train of “let’s see how gullible women can be and basically steal from them.”
I saw the ad for the first time today and knew there would be a write-up coming. As I watched Drew talk about how confused she was and she couldn’t find a doctor who could/would help her. And I wanted to tell her, “Dr. Jen Gunter. She literally wrote the book.”
Exactly. She’s no dope. But I’m sure she has all sorts of comforting rationalizations for hawking this product.
Deep down inside she knows she’s just cashing in.
Excellent! “If a product could do all of this, Big Pharma would have marketed the shit out of this years ago.” Yep. I have said this very thing many times. I used to work for one of the big Pharma Companies doing clinical research. I was part of the team that conducted the Phase 1-3 trials that got a major antibiotic registered. And yes, if a product has any promise at all for treating a condition with such a huge financial potential, Big Pharma will be all over it like stink on shit.
Fascinatingly sad how people will spend their hard earned money on crap like this, but won’t see a medical professional and follow her/his guidance.
I really like Drew Barrymore (her movies, anyway) but let's face it, she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
I know, right? I feel sorry for her. I’m sure she believes she’s doing something positive. Or at least I need to think so because I’m not giving up on my Never Been Kissed and Wedding Singer star. And ET? Can’t do it.
I have a Drew Barrymore-branded electric griddle that I really like. If I make pancakes on it, will they boost my metabolism? Because that would be EPIC.
My first question when I see questionable supplements from relatively successful people is "How much money do they need?!?!?!". 100% not surprised she's pushing snake oil though. Gross.
yup
Too many successful people outside and inside medicine are reaping rewards on the suffering of many people, not just women.
Really Drew? You can’t find a doctor, in New York City, to help you? No wonder people fall for this. If Drew can’t find a doctor, how are the masses supposed to cope? It’s one thing for a celeb to be the face of a beauty brand (and consumers are getting savvy about all the BS in that arena), this is just irresponsible. Thank you for shining a light on this terrible, and growing, problem.
She was on Oprah's menopause show with two doctors, so the idea she couldn't speak with someone is absurd!
Probably couldn‘t find a doctor who told her what she wanted to hear….
She can’t hawk the answer! Lol.
I'm soooo disappointed that Drew has chosen to hop on the meno-scam bandwagon, especially as a celebrity who likely has influence on a large number of women. She should've used that star power to solicit legitimate information but maybe that doesn't pay as well? (*sarcasm*) I do think she means well, though. Perhaps she too fell prey to the demoralizing dismissal that so many of us have experienced when we've sought help from physicians for our very real symptoms. It's really hard to be told to suck it up and deal because it's "natural" or to be offered options that are not first line because the doctor is working with outdated info. Is anyone really surprised that women turn elsewhere? Add in the shocking levels of disparity in access to care and there are a lot of women who are needlessly suffering. I also keep seeing and hearing from various providers on social media that women need to self-advocate by bringing information from the internet to their appointments. This advice is almost chastising in its tone. While I agree we should each be informed and make an effort to work as a partner with our physician in our own care, I don't understand why there is an expectation out there that we, as non-physicians, are expected to educate our physicians on how to best treat us? Why are physicians not mandated to automatically offer us care options that follow current guidelines? If I can find them on the internet, they surely can do the same. It's perplexing, at minimum, and doesn't lead me to have much faith in our medical system. Thank you so much for your candid posts, Dr. Gunter.
"It is always hard to write about medical bullshit because the energy it takes to debunk it is infinitely more significant than the lack of effort and research it took to create it." Amen. Feel that. Word. But thanks for taking the time because truth does trickle down and does make a difference to many of us. Our bodies are so incredible; if we nourish, move and de-stress them, heck imagine not needing anything as you transition....and if you do, no problem, there are well researched and tested hormonal and non-hormonal options. A frustration for me: two legit-diploma-on-wall-medical-center gynos I consulted pushed pellets and creams and all this other stuff because they too, profited from their in-office sales. So then, they are basically Drew too. It makes me so sad, even if you try to avoid marketing bullsh*t...it seeps into you even as you are in the stirrups. You almost feel like you MUST take something because something IS wrong with you, menopause is BAD. If just one million women purchase this just one time (because it doesn't work so they never re-order)...179 million $ is transferred, much of which is profit. That's a lot of Ben Franks. It really is pretty gross.
Thank you for Slaying the Quackery!
Can you do Dr. Nathan Riley and midwife Sara Rosser and their Born Free anti vaxx propaganda Born Free MLM pyramid? Sara was the midwife for Instagram's christian mommy influencer @thefranklinmama's baby Autumn Louise who died in December. There should be some investigation into that baby's death. Thank you!
ooof he's something else
My mother is one of the Farm Midwives and Nathan’s “Come to Albany to learn how to deliver breech twins outside the hospital…” that’s just unbelievably reckless. When I was in medical school one of my friends Charlotte had a breech baby on the Farm. I remember talking to her by the fire at the Harvest Festival on the Farm that year, her first baby, breech, her being nervous, me just a brand new medical student. Her baby died during the labor. I was so angry. Her only son. My mother never wanted to deliver breech babies outside the hospital but Pamela insisted. They all belong behind bars.
Thank you so very much for this "take down." Here's the deal: I'm immune suppressed thanks to my RA/PsA meds. The LAST thing I want is to enhance my immune system (!). Thank you for taking time to tear apart this dangerous woo.
Aha, but if you enhanced your immune system with bone broth or whatever you‘d probably not need those „pharmaceuticals“, all that unnatural stuff (i hope you can see the sarcasm dripping…)
Yup. The sarcasm "font" is brilliant. Thanks!!
as someone who was diagnosed with IBD (UC) at the age of 25 (I'm 53 now), every time I hear "boost your immune system!", I think "no, that beeatch has been trying to kill me for a very long time. The last thing I want to do is "boost" it." Especially since I am taking some pretty expensive meds to do the opposite!
I just became a subscriber to say that Bone Broth Wizards is my new band name.
Also, "88% Of Women In User Group *Felt* Improvement In Fatigue Levels". If the feels are research, my graduating thesis would have been a breeze. Instead, I had to do it the hard way.
It's so hard to battle this kind of marketing, isn't it? People want to believe there is a magical cure for the low, low cost of $199 per month, especially women, who have been historically ignored dismissed by the medical establishment as a whole, and don't even get me started on women's health. Even I feel prey to naturopathy and general "natural health" in the mid to late-90s after I was diagnosed with a pretty serious and tricky case of ulcerative colitis when I was 25. The only real med that worked for me was prednisone to keep me in remission, and I was desperate, very desperate. All the other NSAIDs treatments at that time were not enough, until I got a specialist who tried me out on an immunosuppressant for organ recipients (off label use). It wasn't magic, but it was enough to make my life more manageable until better drugs came along. I'm still on azathioprine, btw, as well as a fancy arse, expensive biologic and doing pretty okay at the age of 53. And rode out my transition to menopause the real natural way in the heights of the pandemic (of course) and it was surprisingly low-key. I consider myself very lucky in that regard, compared to what friends have gone through.
We need to do more for people to give them the reality of what can be done, and some hope through trusted medical professionals and treatments. People need to feel heard at the very least, and if they are truly heard, they will (hopefully) stay away from grift like proprietary blends.
Keep up the great work, Dr Gunter!
I think it's unethical for a tv host to promote a product like that. That said, I absolutely HATE the commercials for Balance of Nature Fruits and Vegetables. You will notice now that they don't really make any statistical claims. Kathy Lee: "I cannot tell you what a difference it has made in my life." That literally could mean it has made no difference, so she cannot tell you about any difference.
It kills me though how many women fall for this crap and spend hard earned money on it plus endanger their health. I have seen some of my patients take 30 different supplements „prescribed“ to them by their naturopath… it is unbelievable.
Wondering your thoughts around the Galveston Diet.
My understanding is it is based on IF and keto and makes claims that offers some kind of special benefit in menopause, and that is not supported by the evidence. Here is a review from a registered dietician https://abbylangernutrition.com/galveston-diet-book-review/
Thanks!!!
Thank you for another great piece. I am stuck on what seems like a very high chromium dose. The recommended daily intake is 25 mcg, and 1 pill of this has 667 mcg?! Isn’t that a problem of way too much?
It's probably not an issue (admittedly understudied) as chromium is poorly absorbed. According to the NIH office of dietary supplements many chromium supplements often have 250-500 mg (again, these aren't well studied). One of the studies I read looking at it for diabetes used 400 mcg. I suspect the biggest issue is making expensive urine and feces.