Don’t Dis the Doc
Timothy Caulfield is the health law professor, writer and myth investigator who leads the charge to ferret out the truth in this documentary series. Now I know what you’re thinking. Documentary? Snooze fest!
Season 1 may surprise you, especially when Caulfield tests different “therapies” promoted by the rich and famous. Remember the “vampire facial” made famous by Kim Kardashian? Cryotherapy, detoxes, plastic surgery, going organic, and other trends are dissected across 6 episodes. In the first episode, Caulfield investigates the ionic detox foot bath, purported to pull toxins from the body through your feet. As the treatment progresses, the ionic water bath changes colors as toxins exit the body.
Ewww! All that was removed from one person through their feet? Nope. It’s rust caused by the probes interacting in the water. The same thing happens with no feet in the water. Glad I didn’t pay $60.00 a session for that.
The Unfortunate Truth
There is no magic bullet. Most anti-aging trends fall short of their claims and many cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Worst case scenario, some of these treatments can cause serious harm or death. Caulfield walks us through how scientific terms are misrepresented and exploited to make consumers buy into the next big thing in health and anti-aging. I mean who doesn’t want to avoid decrepitude?
Turns out, most of us already know how to look younger and live longer. Doctors have been telling us how for decades. Eat more fruits and vegetables and get about 30 minutes of exercise a day. Surprise!
I personally would add wear sunscreen to that advice.
A User’s Guide to Cheating Death may not be as entertaining as zombies and Marvel heroes, but it’s full of great information that could help save you time, money and possibly your health.
