31 Comments

For some reason, after reading this article, I was reminded of an encounter with an employee at a local health food store. I was experimenting with taking mulberry extract for blood sugar regulation. It didn't work. It's BS. When trying to find my "regular brand" bottle of the extract, the young lady helping me explained that one brand in particular was superior because it was more bioavailable due to the fact that the manufacturer had reduced the size of the molecules. I cracked up! I laughed so hard, I was crying. I didn't bother explaining my reaction. But I did say she should contact the Nobel Prize committee forthwith to tell them as here was an amazing development in science that I was sure had gone unnoticed.

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When I was younger, I was a bit of a sucker for the menstruation=detox myth because 1) I'd frequently get migraines right before my period, and 2) menstruation felt like relief/release. When I started to bleed, the headache would melt away. It was easy for me to think my thick uterus lining was making me feel bad, and that its sloughing was me getting rid of bad stuff that made my head hurt. Later, I learned that the dip in hormones was my likely migraine trigger. On the other side of menopause, I get way fewer migraines, and never that monthly skull crusher.

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I know what you mean. I always just feel a bit 'yuck' in the couple of days before my period arrives. I believe in the PMS concept! Then I get my period and after the first couple of days I usually feel much better - more like how I like to feel. Hormones are complicated things with amazing powers! I have tried to rethink it as 'the end of one cycle and the start of a new one' - kind of like how at the end of a project there's often annoying crap to finish off after the fun and creative work is done! Is it toxing and detoxing? Noooooo... just an end and a new beginning.

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I can't believe after all these years we're still having to debunk the myth that menstruation is "impure", even in enlightened countries. I despise the "wellness" people, so many of whom are women (!) for profiting off the insecurity of young girls and women. Shame on them!

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Wellness is the patriarchy in disguise

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Yup. With a hand in your pocket.

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So it would seem.

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Checked her website - she very clearly states that none of the information is guaranteed to be current or correct and that none of the information should be taken as advice. When someone tells you they are a snake you really should believe them.

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If I'm being honest, I have fallen for the detoxify myth. I couldn't help laughing as I read this article. I learned a lot and I feel a whole lot smarter about this topic. I really enjoy and appreciate learning from a medical expert, one who consistently depends on science and scientific data and delivers the facts with humour. Thank you, Dr. Jen!

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It is very truthy! I can totally see how people would think it was real.

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Huge applause!!!!!!!

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Another excellent post. Surgically dissecting shitty takes since ages ago. Love it, thank you x

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You had fun writing that one!😆😆 👏👏

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Brava!!!!!

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A great read, as always. Thank you for taking down misinformation, one quack at a time.

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Oh goodness gracious. Thank you for the take down of this junk information.

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40-odd years ago I bought myself a book about periods because I wasn't getting any information from anyone in my life and I wanted to know what I was in for. It was a fine book, for its time. Now, at 51, I cannot wait to read your new book and finally get the information my 11-year-old self wanted. Thank you for everything you do!

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Wow! My mind is blown. I had really thought she was a medical doctor. I would be very interested in what you have to say on the topic of intermittent fasting.

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Yikes. MIndy Pelz also advocates intermittent fasting for women and keto for hormonal health which make no sense whatsoever. It's almost as if she's putting together all the myths people think are true and then packages it authoritatively as the Truth. Does she really believe she is helping people or just a cynical money grab? Sad she has such a big following.

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Chiropractors are not experts in hormones. I am not sure what they are experts in, but most definitely not hormones.

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I vote for cynical money grab

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Thank you. Someone needs to stop her, like for real. She says so much more crazy shit than this.

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I had a kerfuffle with Substack, so I couldn't respond when this was new, but I'm back on, so here goes. Don't blame that chiropractor for being a chiropractor, but for being just another quack -- like Christiane Northrup -- MD...

Chiropractors spend 4 yrs in DC school, post college. They study things like anatomy & physiology, pharmacology, radiology, pathophysiology, et. al. Just as MDs who are board certified can go off the rails, so can DCs.

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They don't study these subjects like we do in medical school, you cannot compare their curriculum. And they learn many things that are not supported by evidence-based medicine. The concept of chiropractic subluxations is made up. The field is largely based in pseudoscience.

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