Smart Calcium, The New Rave
01:30 PM; Listened to an info-mercial on KQV radio about a new calcium supplement that promises to reverse bone loss as well as de-calcify the arteries and improve everything from mood, to blood pressure, to sleep patterns in the process. As per usual with these sorts of advertisements, they made many lofty claims but provided little direct evidence to back them up.
When I voiced this skepticism to [Emmy], she asked how one distinguishes a legitimately healthful product from snake oil. I thought about this for a bit, and then told her that anecdotal testimonials aren’t good enough to make the product tried-and-true. Just because two, or five, or even a hundred people say it worked for them, doesn’t mean that it will work for her, or that she even needs this.
In my “old” middle age, I’ve learned that unless you hear about the product on the major news sources, it’s probably no good. Either that, or it’s too new to risk your health on. Why? Because if they invented a pill that did all that this one’s supposed to do, the network news reporters would be all over it, clamoring to be the first ones to get out the good news. So far, that has not happened for this smart calcium supplement.
Also, I suggested: Look for numerous, independent studies that corroborate the claims. If you can’t find any, then ads like this may just be the same sort of hoopla that enticed millions to take garlic and vitamin E supplements back in the early 1990s to reduce arterial diseases, which by the way was to no avail. Of course now, it’s clear that there is in fact, no link between popping garlic pills and lower rates of heart attacks. But back then, taking them was all the rage. I advised her not to get caught up in this mob-hysteria because it would likely lead her to a disappointing place; either the supplement would not work at all, or it could wreck her health. I hope she understands.