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[[image:joseph_mercola.jpg|right|300px|Joseph Mercola]]
[[image:joseph_mercola.jpg|right|300px|Joseph Mercola]]
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.
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, especially the use of most prescription drugs. His business practices are regarded as dubious by various sources and he has been warned by the FDA several times for violating the law by advertising products using false and exaggerated claims. He is criticized his snake-oil salesmen methods, promising costly things for ''free'' and scaring visitors with his articles into buying stuff.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/may2006/sb20060523_063274.htm Old-Time Sales Tricks on the Net], Business Week, May 23 2006</ref>
==Short biography==
==Short biography==
Mercola is a 1976 graduate of the University of Illinois and Gary Null on the cover of a booka 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 in 1976 at the University of Illinois and in 1982 at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.<ref>[http://www.mercola.com/forms/background.htm#education My education], mercola.com</ref> He started his website Mercola.com in 1997 and it has become (according to him) the most frequently visited natural health website today with over 1.5 million subscribers. Mercola has written several books. Two of them, ''The No-Grain Diet'' and ''The Great Bird Flu Hoax'' made it to the New York Times bestseller 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>
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>, 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==
==Mercola on Food==
Mercola advocates basically a so called Palaeolithic 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] 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 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>
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>
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.
Mercola's claims against homogenized milk have been called "tenuous and implausible" by the American Medical Association.
Mercola 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" instead which miraculously protects the nutritional value of the food.<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 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>
==Other Claims==
==Other Claims==
Mercola promotes various pseudoscientific ideas on his website, that [[HIV/AIDS denialism|HIV is 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>, that [[Vaccine denialism|vaccines are dangerous]]<ref>http://vaccines.mercola.com/</ref><ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/05/gardasil-vaccine-victims-and-deaths--did-you-know.aspx Don’t Let Your Child Be the Next Victim of This Deadly Vaccine], mercola.com, April 05 2011</ref> and that prescription drugs are 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>
Mercola promotes various [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] ideas on his website, that [[HIV/AIDS denialism|HIV is 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>, that [[Vaccine denialism|vaccines are dangerous]]<ref>http://vaccines.mercola.com/</ref><ref>[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/05/gardasil-vaccine-victims-and-deaths--did-you-know.aspx Don’t Let Your Child Be the Next Victim of This Deadly Vaccine], mercola.com, April 05 2011</ref> and that prescription drugs are 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 claims in his book "The Great Bird Flu Hoax" that the warnings about H1N1 flu were just false alarms and that the swine flu is quite harmless. One can avoid it by some simple measurements, like optimizing vitamin D levels, avoiding sugar and processed food, take krill oil, use 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]</ref> All things Mercola sells. The World Health Organization has confirmed more than 18,000 deaths by H1N1 till August 2010.<ref>[http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_08_06/en/index.html Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 112]</ref>
He claims in his book "The Great Bird Flu Hoax" that the warnings about H1N1 flu were just false alarms and that the swine flu is quite harmless. He says that can avoid it by some simple measurements, like optimizing vitamin D levels, avoiding sugar and processed food, take krill oil, use 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> All things Mercola sells through his website. And swine flu is not harmless, the World Health Organization has confirmed more than 18,000 deaths by H1N1 till August 2010.<ref>[http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_08_06/en/index.html Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 112]</ref>
Mercola also claims that medicine kills more people than it saves in a article series called ''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 ''Death by Medicine'' series are dubious writers like [[Gary Null]] (dubious credentials, dubious products) and [[Carolyn Dean]] (defrocked 1995 because of "disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional conduct").<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 false science, wrong claims and fallacies.<ref>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/death-by-medicine/ Science-Based Medicine on "Death by Medicine"]</ref>
==References==
==References==
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