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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.
==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.
==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 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.
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>
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's claims against homogenized milk have been called "tenuous and implausible" by the American Medical Association.
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>[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>
==Other Claims==
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.
==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.
==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 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.
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>
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's claims against homogenized milk have been called "tenuous and implausible" by the American Medical Association.
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>[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>
==Other Claims==
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.