This professor put Gwyneth Paltrow’s health advice to the test. The truth is even worse ...

[HuckleB]

http://www.vox.com/2015/5/5/8548229/gwyneth-paltrow-health-advice

"There are a few things we know for sure will make us healthy: exercise, don't smoke, eat a variety of whole foods — but not too much — and watch your alcohol intake and sun exposure. Yet every day, we are bombarded with messages from celebrity culture about things we must do to be healthier and more beautiful. They usually involve gimmicks like juicing and detoxing, a new "miracle supplement," shake, or body-firming exercise. Some advice is more extreme — such as Gwyneth Paltrow's suggestion that women steam their vaginas.

And sometimes, even when celebrities don't tell us what to do, we follow them anyway — going under the knife to achieve Kim Kardashian's bum or seeking out advice about a double mastectomy because Angelina Jolie had the operation.

No matter the form it takes, the message is clear: celebrities hold the secrets to health.

Or do they? Timothy Caulfield, author of the new book Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?, spent the past few years looking at the scientific literature and testing out insane celebrity health and beauty tips to better understand the impact famous folks have on us. Through a hilarious and introspective journey, the University of Alberta professor finds that not only are most celebrities wrong, but they also distract us from things that will actually make us healthy and happy.

..."


Just turn these people off, please.


Thank you!

[randome]

1. Agreed. Turn these people off.

There is no 'secret' to being healthy. It's all about the basics.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]All things in moderation, including moderation.[/center][/font][hr]

[yeoman6987]

26. Anyone who would listen to any actor about health

Must not be very bright. Just act for goodness sake.

[roguevalley]

28. they call her fish stick on line.

[Orrex]

2. I promise that I will never steam my vagina.

[haikugal]

4. Makes you wonder doesn't it? How bizarre....

[Orrex]

7. Yes, alas.

I usually try to separate the performer from the character on screen, but Ms. Paltrow has some ideas that are so kooky that I simply can't get past them sometimes.

[Dr. Strange]

5. Not after what happened in college, anyway.

Live and learn, eh.

[Orrex]

6. Yeah, it's not a mistake you're likely to make twice.

[BigDemVoter]

3. Steamed Vagina?

It sounds vaguely like something one might find on a menu somewhere. . . .

Is Ms. Paltrow out of her mind??? Wouldn't that be as painful as hell????

[HuckleB]

15. Yes, she is.

[leftynyc]

8. Ugh

Why would anyone think it's a good idea to steam a vagina?

[randome]

9. Because she's successful and rich but still utterly clueless about what she wants from life.

So instead of thinking she has wasted her life, she starts looking for hidden 'secrets' she can share with others.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]

[closeupready]

29. Bingo. Because it helps her look past the fact that her family (actors, all)

pulled strings to get her the right connections, i.e., that in light of her superior knowledge, she really deserves her wealth and the acting parts she's landed despite the fact that she really doesn't know what she's doing, and that she's merely a competent actress.

[kiva]

10. An interesting analysis of why this is happening.

There seems to be this erosion of trust in traditional sources of scientific information — whether it’s because of pharmaceutical influence, or people think universities are too commercialized, or they think science is always wrong about things.

Social media play a big role in that. I don't think people consciously say, "Let celebrities step in." But they have. Their voices are louder and seem more credible. And other counterweights in society, for whatever reason, seem to have less credibility.

The dominance of celebrity culture also ties into this post-modern world we live in. Throughout the 1990s, there was this "all knowledge is relative" movement. That has made space for these celebrity voices taking about ridiculous things.

Also I like the fact that the professor admits that losing weight felt good and the rebound made him depressed...so easy to get sucked into that cycle.

[Deadshot]

11. "Just turn these people off, please."

I wholeheartedly agree!

[Erose999]

12. Steamed clams. I guess she probably doesn't add parsley and garlic.

I mean, I hope not, haha!

[BlueJazz]

35. You're going straight to hell for that.

[Cobalt Indigo]

36. I just snorted

I see what you did there...

[beam me up scottie]

41. LMAO! DUzy!

[zappaman]

42. !!!

[Raster]

44. Bad!

[raccoon]

13. Gwyneth Paltrow is an idiot. nt

[840high]

14. +10

[Beaverhausen]

16. Wow. So much hate for Gwyneth Paltrow

So she chooses to follow a different path than you do. She isn't forcing it on you, is she?

[SwissTony]

19. No, she isn't and if you don't follow her "advice", you probably won't be any worse off

medically or financially.

But what about anti-vaxxers like Carrey or McCarthy? The sad truth is that some people are influenced by celebs who don't know even the basics about medicine or biology. And that might have an effect on your kid or the kid next door.

[randome]

20. She isn't just 'following' a path. She's promoting one.

If she kept her wacka-doodle 'cures' to herself, we wouldn't be having this conversation.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]

[JI7]

17. should Julie's double mastectomy be included with all those other things ?

[yeoman6987]

27. Julie who?

And why must we know about it?

[Scootaloo]

31. It's Jolie, first off.

And second, yes, it's used as an example of how as a society we follow along with Celebrities even when they're not promoting something. Angelina Jolie said in an itnerview that she had opted for a double mastectomy and removal of her ovaries after gnetic testing showed she had a higher risk for relevant cancers. She never said "go out and do this!" to anyone.

But apparently a not-tiny number of people sought out such screenigns for themselves and opted for Jolie's solution themselves.

Or, so the interview states.

[procon]

18. Yikes, how did I miss this?

As soon as my lady parts stop laughing, I let you know my opinion.

[Lee-Lee]

21. In general I only look to celebrities for guidance on how to do

Whatever made the famous.

I would take acting advice from Paltrow.

Fitness advice from Mia Hamm.

Clowning advice from Donald Trump.

Advice on vaginal hygene from none of the above....

[cwydro]

22. Who even listens to them?

I can't imagine taking a celebrity's advice.

[HuckleB]

37. Too many people, apparently.

[jeff47]

38. Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of people.

Anti-vaxx didn't take off until celebrities started promoting it.

[hfojvt]

23. too late

I am already scheduled for butt augmentation next week.

[Skittles]

39. just more for me to kick

yes INDEED

[Initech]

24. GOOP is quite possibly the single dumbest site on the internet.

And that's saying a lot because there's a lot of stupid bullshit out there.

[hifiguy]

25. Man oh man people are dumb.

No surprise considering how many vote Repuke. Many will believe literally anything if they see it on teevee.

[HuckleB]

32. Unfortunately, this type of stuff cons people of all political stripes.

It's really sad.

[JustAnotherGen]

30. Oh Snap!

He used The Goop!

[Juicy_Bellows]

33. Saunas are nice - but to laser focus steam on your genitals is a bridge too far. nt.

[2pooped2pop]

34. Wait! STEAMING WILL NOT SHRINK IT

Dry clean, press and folded is all you need. Please to not try to shrink the size of your vagina with steam. Yes it may kill germs but could also kill your sex life.

[Solly Mack]

40. The Ladies Who Steam.

[Doctor_J]

43. klee Irwin's colon cleansing infomercial is must see tv

So there's that

http://www.infomercial-hell.com/dual-action-cleanse/

[HuckleB]

45. Oh, goodness. -eom-

[Doctor_J]

46. I don't watch reality tv, so infomercials are the only camp available

His are among the best/worst