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Joseph Mercola, D.O. (born 1954), is an Association Of American Physicians And Surgeons , as well as several Alternative Medicine -related organizations. Mercola.com: My Background WEBSITE Started in 1997, Mercola.com is the website operated by Joseph Mercola. As of October 2006, the site had a ranking of 4534 out of all websites by Alexa.com , ranked first under key words 'natural health' in the United States, and one of the top visited for 'health'. Mercola statistics at Alexa.com As of October 2006, mercola.com had a ranking of 5,033 out of all websites at Ranking.com and was first for the "health/news and media/newsletters" category. ranking.com for current website rankings. Health Website Rankings: Mercola.com is Now World's #1! mercola.com, accessessed 23 Dec 2006 The web site presents health articles, product sales, solicitation for new patients, and a video addressing newsletter readers. Weekly Google Video Update There is usually a new google video in each weekly newsletter. If someone gives their date of birth and mailing address, they are even sent a surprise birthday card in snail mail. BACKGROUND Mercola is a 1976 graduate of the University of Illinois and a 1982 graduate of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. Nutrition4Health biographies: JOSEPH MERCOLA, DO World Renowned Dietary Physician , Retrieved September 27, 2006 According to Mercola's website, he is a former Chairman of the Family Medicine department at St. Alexius Medical Center in Illinois and served as editor of HIV Monograph (1989) by Abbott Laboratories. My Qualifications , accessed 11 Jan 2007 DIET Mercola strongly advocates dietary changes to improve health, which he considers to be among the most important lifestyle changes for enhancing well being and longevity. Overall, he claims that a well balanced diet should include mostly natural, unprocessed foods, while excluding processed and artificial foods. He sees value in Paleolithic Diet s, and advocates tailoring food consumption to the Metabolic Typing , developed by William Wolcott that Mercola offers more information on, in his book on the subject. He encourages using water filters or reverse osmosis to purify water content, and is against water chlorination and Fluoridation . Dietary recommendations Examples of foods he recommends include fresh vegetables and Vegetable Juice , wild Salmon , Fish Oil , ( Cod Liver Oil in winter), fermented foods like Kefir , raw foods including Raw Milk products, raw Eggs , Grass Fed Beef , Ostrich meat and traditionally used fats such as virgin Olive Oil and Coconut Oil . Foods he recommends avoiding include Pasteurized Milk , Homogenized Milk , most Fish (due to Mercury content), Trans Fats , certain processed vegetable fats (such as Corn and Canola oil), Soy products, Artificial Sweetener s, Sugar , Starches , and for those with elevated insulin levels (such as anyone who is overweight, diabetic, or has high blood pressure or high cholesterol) he also advises avoiding all grain products (including "even whole unprocessed grains, and alternative grains like quinoa, amaranth, millet and teff"), Fruit Juice s, and canned, packaged or artificial foods. This is very similar to what is often called the Paleolithic Diet and the diet promoted by the Weston A. Price Foundation . Controversial dietary advice Joseph Mercola's dietary recommendations often put him at odds with mainstream dietary advice. The elimination of processed grains from diets goes against the recommendation of the USDA food pyramid, where grains are viewed as a staple food. Mercola, however, points to theories on food allergies involving Gluten , such as Wheat Allergy , and the relatively new introduction of grains into the human diet and theories that sugar and starch are associated with Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin Resistance . Scientific Proof Carbohydrates Cause Disease . Some dietary fats he promotes are also high in Saturated Fat s, including unrefined ) dispute this claim, stating that the Lipid Hypothesis has not been validated to scientific standards. Some other fringe nutritional groups beside Dr Mercola also advocate saturated fat consumption. Mercola.com has hosted negative articlesWayne A, Newell L. [http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm The Hidden Hazards Of Microwave Cooking] about Microwave Oven s, calling them dangerous, citing accidents, lawsuits, biochemical changes and other health reservations about the Chemical Effects of microwaving food. He also offers non-microwave, convection ovens for sale in his store.[http://www.mercola.com/forms/turbo_oven.htm Aroma Turbo Oven Mercola controversially[http://web.mac.com/david.vernon/iWeb/The%20Canberra%20Journal/The%20Scribbles/F5AB35A4-1184-46ED-87DC-9EFA86F1BF4A.html Article critical of the microwave claims made on the Mercola website] claims, "''Microwaves may also cause pathological changes in your body. Once a food's structure is altered, it cannot perform the desired function in your body. Clinical studies show that microwave heating of milk or cooking of vegetables is associated with a decline in hemoglobin levels. These reductions may contribute to anemia, rheumatism, fever and thyroid deficiency.''" Lesson 5: Get Rid of Your Microwave In supporting Raw Milk , Mercola is very critical of requirements for Pasteurization , stating that it is unnecessary if cows are raised under healthy conditions.Mercola J, Droege R. The Real Reasons Why Raw Milk is Becoming More Popular. 24 Apr 2004. He claims that raw milk is one of the finest source of protein and calcium available, FDA Continues to Harass Raw Milk Providers, 9 Dec 2006 His main concern is that the high temperatures during pasteurization will destroy the valuable enzymes in milk and create converted proteins the body was never designed to handle.[http://www.mercola.com/2005/nov/3/lower_your_risk_of_colon_cancer_with_the_right_fat.htm] Lower Your Risk of Colon Cancer With the Right Fat,] 3 Nov 2005 Mercola is also against (XO), which prevents the stomach from breaking down XO and allows XO to be absorbed intact into the bloodstream. He relates this additional bovine XO as a possible source of harmful oxidatitive stress contributory to heart failure and increased uric acid levels associated with gout. Milk May Worsen Heart Failure, 10 Jul 2002 DRUGS AND SUPPLEMENTS Dr. Mercola advises elimination of most Prescription drugs And Immunizations for treatment, and favors natural food choices, lifestyle modifications and energy psychology tools to address emotional challenges. He views these as safer and more effective options, because they address what he believes to be the 'root causes' of disease rather than simply treating symptoms by Palliative means. He states that drug companies profoundly influence both government health agencies and the mainstream medical community, which in turn promote medical practices that are beneficial to drug companies but harmful to the patient. Typical supplements he promotes are Krill Oil , Fish Oil or Cod Liver Oil , products containing Vitamin s such as Vitamin D (when lacking adequate sun exposure) and Vitamin K , Probiotics , and Anti-oxidant supplements. Pharmaceutical industry criticism Mercola is especially critical of new drugs, as well as the economic and political powers which might influence their acceptance. FDA is "Virtually Incapable of Protecting You From Unsafe Drugs" He wrote an early drug warning on , good diet, good Sleep , specially filtered water, Chlorella , Omega-3 Fats focusing on Fish Oil s, and energy psychology methods like Emotional Freedom Techniques as cures for most ills. Vaccination Among Mercola's most controversial recommendations are his expressed concerns that too many and other undesirable adjuvants unsuitable for use. He asserts that the slow phasedown for millions of existing doses of childhood vaccines containing mercury is against the public's greater interests. Mercola hosts vaccine critics on his webpages, advocates preventive measures (Rachel Droege, coauthor) Six Ways to Avoid the Winter Flu--and a Flu Shot Isn’t One of Them as part of an alternative immunization schedule, and strongly criticizes Flu Vaccine s. Vernon Coleman Vaccines He questions the projected epidemic threat and severity of influenza, the flu vaccine's safety Blaylock Vaccine Coverup and efficacy, Flu Vaccine 1 and the possibility of harm to an individual's immune system. Flu Vaccine 2 Mercola claims that some chemicals used to control Fungi and Bacteria within certain vaccines are toxic to infants and can harm young children if too many shots containing Mercury -containing Thimerosal are given within a period of time. He also expresses concern about potentially cancer-linked components in vaccines such as thimersol, and historically, SV40 virus contaminating early polio vaccines. Medical research and views in this area are contentious. Thimerosal is an organic compound used as an antiseptic and antifungal agent in Vaccine s, containing mercury which is classified as a poison in its pure form, and is used in small amounts as a preservative in Vaccine s. Thimerosal is no longer ''recommended'' in vaccines given to young children in the USA, though it is still present in US-made vaccines exported to other countries. In his book ''The Great Bird Flu Hoax'' J. Mercola, ''The Great Bird Flu Hoax: The Truth They Don't Want You to Know About the "Next Big Pandemic,"''Nelson Books, September 19, 2006 ISBN 0-7852-2187-5 he appears to take a stronger anti-pharmaceutical industry stance by accusing them of a fear-mongering marketing campaign against the public, as allegedly occurred with the Swine Flu scare of the 1970s.T. Stone, Open Letter to Pediatricians on Flu Vaccines The Flawed 1976 National "Swine Flu" Influenza Immunization Program Suburban Emergency Management Project Biot #177, February 22, 2005 In supporting this stance, Mercola often has wholly critical views of those working in governmental health care, as well as towards international health organizations. Mercola makes an extensive argument that disease alerts such as Swine Flu and their resulting immunizations were actually false alarms put forth to terrify the public. Alternative medicine Mercola promotes treatments based upon methods that have not been accepted by mainstream medicine, such as Metabolic Typing , the Traditional Chinese Medicine originated Acupressure -based Emotional Freedom Technique , Herbalism , Naturopathy and Chiropractic including Vitalism .Lerner B. Vitalism--Turn Your Power On! Proponents of conventional medicine claim that these methods are unproven. While stating that he believes in the Scientific Method , he distrusts many commercial and institutional applications of it in medicine. He has stated that the only value he finds in mainstream medicine is diagnosis and emergency accident survival. When Should You Use Conventional Medicine Mercola paints a picture of most medical science as being corrupted by the pharmaceutical industry, and the majority of medical doctors as being frequently deceived and misled by multinational corporate drug interests. Of homeopathy he says, ''"I have never been formally trained in homeopathy, and as a result I don't use much of it in my practice, but I am convinced it can be used as an effective tool for many conditions if properly utilized."''(Rachel Droege, coauthor) "Impossible Cure" book review He has also contributed to the Water Fluoridation Controversy and has published several anti-fluoride Masters RD. [http://www.purewatergazette.net/mastersfluoride.htm Why is the CDC Covering Up a Fifty Year Old Mistake?] Pure Water Gazette. September 20, 2001.] articles.[http://www.mercola.com/2002/feb/2/fluoride_safety.htm Is Fluoride Really As Safe As You Are Told?]. 2 Feb 2002. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS Mercola was raised as a Catholic. Later in life he switched to evangelical Christianity, but now calls himself Spiritual rather than Religious . Dr. Mercola was formerly a member of the Christian Medical Society but stopped his membership in 2002. He promotes religion and prayer as having health benefits, and focuses strongly on studies that advocate this position. Mercola hosts the theistic writings and beliefs of other website contributors such as Carol Tuttle, who speaks of angels among us,[http://www.mercola.com/2005/dec/8/angels_are_among_us.htm that want to help everyone, and can be petitioned to do so.[http://www.mercola.com/2006/jul/25/how_to_petition_your_angels_part_iv.htm He refers to her as a ''master energy therapist'' of ''energy psychology'' and ''energy medicine''. Says Mercola: "''energy psychology is one of the greatest tools I have ever encountered in the healing modalities''." As with his involvement with Emotional Freedom Technique , his support for these modalities gives such approaches value in his spiritual views, frequently presented on the website. COMMERCIALISM Mercola's web site, articles, and weekly newsletter constantly promote food, mechanical and information products sold from the site. He claims that all income goes towards maintaining and enhancing the Web site. Mercola Store Mercola sells meditation tapes which he claims reduces stress as "the number one cause of (as stated in his newsletter). His advertisement also claims that they increase creativity, energy, and focus. FDA WARNINGS On February 16 2005 , the Food And Drug Administration (FDA) sent Mercola warnings on multiple products about misleading claims for products that he advertised on his website. In defense for having the inaccurate statements for his products up in the first place, he claimed that six months prior to the FDA letter he had hired a Washington DC law firm to Proactive ly review the claims he had already posted on the website for legal validity. Mercola claimed that due to their internal miscommunication the law firm never completed his request. He claims to be unaware of their failure to review his website for statements until he received the letter from the FDA. On Sept. 21, 2006 Mercola received a second warning letter from the FDA for claims made on his website in relation to "various product labels...". CRITICISMS OF MERCOLA Some of the criticism of Joseph Mercola is similar to criticism made against non-mainstream and Alternative Medicine in general. Mercola is often viewed in this light by his promotion and marketing of non-pharmaceutical approaches. While certain advice, such as good diet and exercise, are not so criticized, he promotes a variety of Alternative Medicine that often take the place of the pharmaceutical approaches he mostly discourages.
PUBLICATIONS Mercola has authored sixteen health books and has published many 2007 . AFFILIATES AND FRIENDS Mercola employs a variety of alternative medicine practitioners in his website, the Optimal Wellness Center Mercola.com staff . He hosts physicians who employ alternative treatments such as . He similarly consults alternative psychotherapists who promote Emotional Freedom Technique (which he sells tapes for) or a variety of other concepts like bioenergy systems and Energy Medicine . Friendly relations have been formed with others in the alternative natural health industry some of whom also maintain their own websites. REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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