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Joseph Mercola (born July 8, 1954) is an US-American [[Osteopathy|osteopathic]] physician, businessman, author and founder of the [[alternative medicine]]- website mercola.com, which markets and sells his health-related products. He is also an [[Anti-vaccinationist]], [[HIV/AIDS denialism|HIV/Aids-denialist]], outspoken critic of the FDA and critic of mainstream medicine e.g. the use of most prescription drugs against diseases and ailments. His business practices are regarded as dubious by various sources and he has been warned by the FDA several times for violating the law in advertising products using false and exaggerated claims.

[[image:joseph_mercola.jpg|Joseph Mercola|300px|thumb]]

'''Joseph Mercola''' (born July 8, 1954) is a US-American [[Osteopathy|osteopathic]] physician, businessman, author, and founder of the [[alternative medicine]]-website mercola.com which markets and sells his health-related products. He is also an [[anti-vaccinationist]], [[HIV/AIDS denialism|HIV/aids-denialist]], an outspoken critic of FDA and critic of mainstream medicine, especially regarding the use of prescription drugs. His business practices are regarded as dubious by various sources, and he received several warnings by FDA for violating the law by advertising products using false and exaggerated claims. He is criticized for applying snake-oil vendors' methods, promising expensive products ''free of charge'' and scaring visitors of his website into buying his products with his articles.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/may2006/sb20060523_063274.htm Old-Time Sales Tricks on the Net], Business Week, May 23 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.skepdic.com/mercola.html Joseph Mercola, D.O.] in the Skeptic's Dictionary</ref>

==Short biography==

==Short biography==

Mercola is a 1976 graduate of the University of Illinois and a 1982 graduate of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.<ref>[http://www.mercola.com/forms/background.htm#education My education], mercola.com</ref> His website, Mercola.com, which he started in 1997 is the most frequently visited natural health website today with over 1.5 million subscribers. He has written several books, ''The No-Grain Diet'' and ''The Great Bird Flu Hoax'' made it to the New York bestseller list.

Mercola graduated from University of Illinois in 1976 and from Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1982.<ref>[http://www.mercola.com/forms/background.htm#education My education], mercola.com</ref> He started his website Mercola.com in 1997 which, according to Mercola himself, has become the most frequently visited natural health website today with over 1.5 million subscribers. Mercola wrote several books. Two of them, ''The No-Grain Diet'' and ''The Great Bird Flu Hoax'', made it to the New York Times bestsellers list.

==AAPS membership==

==AAPS membership==

He is a member of the right-wing, ultra-conservative [[Association of American Physicians and Surgeons]] which likes to rail against such evils as abortion, vaccination and evolution, denies that mankind causes global warming, denies that HIV causes AIDS<ref>[http://www.jpands.org/vol12no4/bauer.pdf Questioning HIV/AIDS: Morally Reprehensible or Scientifically Warranted?], by Henry Bauer. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons 2007: Vol 12, No. 4</ref> and claims that "gay male lifestyle" reduces life expectancy by 20 years.<ref>[http://www.jpands.org/vol10no3/lehrman.pdf Homosexuality: Some Neglected Considerations], by Nathaniel S. Lehrman, MD., Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Volume 10, Number 3 (Fall 2005)</ref> and many things more. It publishes a journal which is neither peer-reviewed nor regarded as "scientific" at all.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/02/the_journal_of_american_physicians_and_s.php The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons: Medical "science" as dubious as it gets], Orac at scienceblogs.com</ref> Quackwatch lists it as an untrustworthy non-recommended periodical.<ref>[http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/nonrecperiodicals.html Nonrecommended Periodicals], Barrett, Stephen, MD, Quackwatch. September 15, 2008</ref>

Mercola is a member of right-wing, ultra-conservative [[Association of American Physicians and Surgeons]] which condems such alleged evils as abortion, vaccination, and evolution. AAPS further denies that mankind causes global warming, that HIV causes AIDS<ref>[http://www.jpands.org/vol12no4/bauer.pdf Questioning HIV/AIDS: Morally Reprehensible or Scientifically Warranted?], by Henry Bauer. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons 2007: Vol 12, No. 4</ref>, and claims a "gay male lifestyle" reduces life expectancy by 20 years<ref>[http://www.jpands.org/vol10no3/lehrman.pdf Homosexuality: Some Neglected Considerations], by Nathaniel S. Lehrman, MD., Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Volume 10, Number 3 (Fall 2005)</ref>, to give just a few examples. It publishes a journal which is neither peer-reviewed nor regarded as "scientific" in the first place.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/02/the_journal_of_american_physicians_and_s.php The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons: Medical "science" as dubious as it gets], Orac at scienceblogs.com</ref> Quackwatch lists it as an untrustworthy non-recommended periodical.<ref>[http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/nonrecperiodicals.html Nonrecommended Periodicals], Barrett, Stephen, MD, Quackwatch. September 15, 2008</ref>

 

 

 

 

 

In his book "The Great Bird Flu Hoax", Mercola claims the warnings about H1N1 flu were just false alarms and that swine flu was quite harmless. He contends it can be avoided by some simple measures, like optimizing vitamin D levels, avoiding sugar and processed food, the use of krill oil, the use of all-natural antibiotics like olive leaf extract and oil of oregano.<ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/07/16/Major-Expose-on-Swine-Flu-by-60-Minutes.aspx Major Expose on Swine Flu by 60 Minutes ], mercola.com, July 16 2009</ref> Mercola happens to sell all these products through his website. Swine flu, however, is not harmless; the World Health Organization confirmed more than 18,000 casualties caused by H1N1 until August 2010.<ref>[http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_08_06/en/index.html Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 112]</ref>

==Mercola on Food==

==Mercola on Food==

He basically advocates a so called Paleolithic diet, consisting mostly of unprocessed foods. He recommends to use coconut oil<ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/07/14/coconut-oil-part-four.aspx Low-Fat Diet Myths and the Advantages of Coconut Oil, Part I] by Joseph Mercola, July 14 2004</ref><ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/07/17/coconut-oil-part-five.aspx Low-Fat Diet Myths and the Advantages of Coconut Oil, Part II , by Joseph Mercola, July 17 2004</ref><ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/07/21/coconut-oil-part-six.aspx Low-Fat Diet Myths and the Advantages of Coconut Oil, Part III , by Joseph Mercola, July 21 2004</ref> and avoiding most fish due to mercury content, corn, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, sugar and pasteurized/homogenized milk. He advises people with elevated insulin levels (such as diabetics) to avoid all grain products, fruit juices (including fresh-squeezed fruit juices), and canned, packaged or artificial foods.  

Mercola basically advocates a so called [[Paleolithic diet]], consisting mostly of [[Raw foodism|unprocessed foods]]. He recommends the use of coconut oil<ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/07/14/coconut-oil-part-four.aspx Low-Fat Diet Myths and the Advantages of Coconut Oil, Part I] mercola.com, July 14 2004</ref><ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/07/17/coconut-oil-part-five.aspx Low-Fat Diet Myths and the Advantages of Coconut Oil, Part II], mercola.com, July 17 2004</ref><ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/07/21/coconut-oil-part-six.aspx Low-Fat Diet Myths and the Advantages of Coconut Oil, Part III], mercola.com, July 21 2004</ref>, and to avoid most fish (due to mercury content), grain, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, sugar, and pasteurized/homogenized milk. He advises persons with elevated insulin levels (such as diabetics) to avoid all grain products, fruit juices (including fresh-squeezed fruit juices), and canned, packaged or artificial foods.  

 

 

His dietary advice is criticized, for example studies showed that grain my have a protective effect against type 1 diabetes and a whole-grain diet strongly protects against type 2 diabetes.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15162131 Cereal grains, legumes and diabetes], Venn BJ, Mann JI , European Journal of Clinical Nutrition(November 2004)</ref><ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10837294 Nutritional factors and worldwide incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes], Muntoni S, Cocco P, Aru G, Cucca F, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (June 2000)</ref>

Mercola's claims regarding homogenized milk have been called "tenuous and implausible" by the American Medical Association.

The American Heart Association states that saturated fats like coconut oil contribute to heart disease and recommends to limit their ingestion<ref>[http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/FatsAndOils/Fats101/Saturated-Fats_UCM_301110_Article.jsp Saturated Fats],American Heart Association</ref>, a position that is supported by science<ref>[http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2824150 Saturated fat, carbohydrate, and cardiovascular disease], Siri-Tarino PW, Sun Q, Hu FB, Krauss RM American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (March 2010)</ref>

Mercola argues against the use of microwave ovens and claims they were hazardous<ref>[http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards2.htm The Proven Dangers of Microwaves], mercola.com</ref>. Instead, he recommends buying his "Aroma's Turbo Oven" which, as he claims, miraculously protects the nutritional values of food.<ref>[http://products.mercola.com/turbo-oven/ Mercola Turbo Oven]</ref> Various scientific papers proved such claims absolutely unfounded. Due to the short heating periods in microwave ovens, nutrient content is actually preserved and not destroyed.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7047080 The effect of microwaves on nutrient value of foods], Cross GA, Fung DY Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (1982)</ref><ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3894486 Effects of microwave cooking/reheating on nutrients and food systems: a review of recent studies], Hoffman CJ, Zabik ME, Journal of American Diet Association (August 1985)</ref>

Mercola's claims against homogenized milk have been called "tenuous and implausible" by the American Medical Association.

Mercola promotes various [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] ideas on his website, so e.g. that [[HIV/AIDS denialism|HIV was not the cause for AIDS]]<ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/09/05/hiv-aids.aspx HIV Does Not Cause AIDS], mercola.com, September 05 2001</ref>, that sunscreen increases the likelihood of skin cancer<ref>[http://blogs.mercola.com/sites/vitalvotes/archive/2007/06/19/The-Sunscreen-Myth-How-Sunscreen-Products-Actually-Promote-Cancer.aspx The Sunscreen Myth: How Sunscreen Products Actually Promote Cancer], mercola.com, June 19 2007</ref>, and that prescription drugs were harmful and should be avoided<ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/11/the-year-in-pills.aspx How to Solve Nearly Any Illness - Without Drugs], mercola.com, January 11 2011</ref><ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/04/06/7-drugs-that-can-kill-children-with-a-single-pill.aspx 7 Drugs That Can Kill Children with a Single Pill], mercola.com, April 06 2010</ref>

He rants against the use of microwave ovens and claims that they are hazardous<ref>[http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards2.htm The Proven Dangers of Microwaves], mercola.com</ref> and recommends to buy his "Aroma's Turbo Oven", which miraculously protects the nutritional value of the food, instead.<ref>[http://products.mercola.com/turbo-oven/ Mercola Turbo Oven]</ref> His claims are totally bogus as various scientific papers show. Due to the short heating time in microwave ovens nutrient content is actually preserved.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7047080 The effect of microwaves on nutrient value of foods], Cross GA, Fung DY Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (1982)</ref><ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3894486 Effects of microwave cooking/reheating on nutrients and food systems: a review of recent studies], Hoffman CJ, Zabik ME, Journal of American Diet Association (August 1985</ref>

Mercola also claims medicine kills more people than it saves, in a series of articles titled ''Death by Medicine''.<ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/11/26/death-by-medicine-part-one.aspx Death by Medicine, Part I], mercola.com, November 26 2003</ref><ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/04/death-by-medicine-an-update.aspx Nearly 250,000 Deaths From ONE Common Mistake: Here's How to Protect Yourself], mercola.com, February 04 2011</ref> Among the authors of the series ''Death by Medicine'' are dubious writers like [[Gary Null]] (dubious credentials and products) and [[Carolyn Dean]] (had her registration certificate revoked because of "disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional conduct" in 1995).<ref>[http://www.casewatch.org/foreign/dean/dean.shtml Disciplinary Action against Carolyn Dean, M.D.], Casewatch</ref><ref>[http://www.reocities.com/healthbase/death_by_medicine.html The Quack-Files: Death by Medicine], by Harriet Hall, MD</ref> The articles are full of pseudoscience, false claims, and fallacies.<ref>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/death-by-medicine/ Science-Based Medicine on "Death by Medicine"]</ref>

==Other Claims==

{{OtherLang|ge=Joseph Mercola|en=Joseph Mercola}}

Mercola claims vigorously that [[HIV/AIDS denialism|HIV is not the cause for AIDS]] and that sunscreen increases the likelihood of skin cancer. Both notions are absurd and contrary to scientific evidence.

==References==

==References==

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