Shows
Scammed WellnessEpisode 12: The Story Behind the Infamous Liver King, Steroids, and Their Impact on Our HealthLiver King, formally known as Brian Johnson is now an infamous health and wellness influencer who struck fame in mid 2020 with his outlandish, viral videos of eating raw liver and other meats. He has made it his life purpose to spread his nine ancestral tenants and encourage everyone to eat raw meat, just like our ancestors did. What he doesn't want you to know is that his muscular physique comes from the use of anabolic steroids and hormone injections, all while cashing in on his multiple million dollar supplement companies. In this episode we learn more about Liver King's...
2023-10-0526 minScammed WellnessEpisode 11: happy 1 year to the podcast, let's get vulnerableHello, Scammed Wellness is back and celebrating one whole year. On this week's episode your host, Curissa Groll, dives into her own personal experience with being scammed in the wellness industry, her time in a wellness MLM, and her path to becoming a dietitian. Which ultimately led her to create Scammed Wellness. This is an episode you're not going to want to miss!
If you'd like to help celebrate Scammed Wellness' first birthday consider contributing to the No Kid Hungry fundraiser. You can donate following the link here,
https://www.instagram.com...
2023-06-1416 minScammed WellnessEpisode 10: The Olaplex Lawsuit Scandal and Hair Care in the Wellness IndustryIn this week's episode we talk about how hair care fits into wellness, the parallels between "clean" ingredients in food and cosmetics, the current Olaplex lawsuit, and much, much more. On February 9th, 2023 a class action lawsuit was filled towards Olalplex where 28 women claimed that the products left them with severely damaged hair. We then dive further into how companies need to be more transparent with customers and how to avoid falling into the wellness trap. After all there's a deeper lesson we can learn from a scandal!
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair
2023-03-1620 minScammed WellnessEpisode 9: Rainbow Diet Pills, the Fen-Phen Scandal, and the Resurgence of Weight-loss MedicationDisclaimer: The information provided in today’s episode is not intended nor should be used for diagnosing or treating a health condition or disease, and if you’re seeking personal medical advice you should consult with a board certified physician.
In today's episode we discuss the rainbow diet pill, also referred to as the perfect drug cocktail that famous Hollywood movie stars, like Debbie Reynolds and Judie Garland allegedly took to keep up with the demands of show business. Then we transition into Fen-Phen a popular non-approved weight loss medication that eventually led to severe heart conditions. I wr...
2023-02-2426 minScammed WellnessEpisode 8: Diet Pills, Ephedra Deaths, and How to Actually Set Productive GoalsHappy New Year! This week’s episode dives into the mystery regarding diet pills as we take a closer look at one shady ingredient, ephedra. This time of year the wellness industry is working harder than ever to make us feel insecure. I also discuss an evidence-based tool you can use when building your new year's resolutions, goals, or whatever you want to name them.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with a diet pill addiction or abuse you can call the Addiction Center at 1-877-933-3852
Thank you for listening! Rating and reviewing the podcast is a...
2023-01-1921 minScammed WellnessEpisode 7: The Story of Taste and the Mystery of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)MSG is a popular food enhancer that is responsible for giving food an umami flavor- one of the five tastes humans have. MSG was is found in many foods found in nature like meat, cheese, and vegetables. MSG is has been used in some processed foods and in popular chain restaurants like KFC. But for some people MSG can cause allergy like symptoms. For many years Asian food, specifically Chinese food in America has been blamed for the MSG intolerance some individuals experience. However, when looking deeper at the history of MSG and the research we learn that there's...
2022-10-2116 minScammed WellnessEpisode 6: The Magic of Essential Oils, Gary Young, and the Danger of Wellness Multi Level MarketingEssential oils have been around for centuries. The only difference now is they are manufactured on a larger scale. Touted for their broad abilities and DIY home remedies. From aiding a stomachache, removing toe fungus, and curing cancer. However, the science isn't matching up to the claims, and worse the idea to capitalize on essential oils has led to some pretty risky business moves and corruption. If you haven't heard of wellness multi-level marketing companies episode 7 dives into the false promise of alternative medicine and unethical business practices. A company called Young Living, started by Gary Young started in...
2022-10-0519 minScammed WellnessIs Red Wine the Fountain of Youth? Agism in the Wellness IndustryWhat if you could take a pill that reversed aging? Well, David Sinclair, a biologist and Harvard genetics professor, had high hopes when he discovered resveratrol, a molecule found in grapes could help reverse the effects of aging like inflammation and cell growth. He claimed one day there would be a pill people could take that would solve all of our aging problems. The media had a field day with his findings and soon resveratrol made its way into wellness as the new fad food. Better yet, you could find resveratrol in wine! But what happens when research studies g...
2022-08-2518 minScammed WellnessJilly Juice the Detox Drink That Can Do It AllJillian Epperly was not a biochemist or a medical doctor. Jillian didn't even have a background in human physiology or health, but what she did have was an idea and way to promote her idea. Jillian created the detox drink known as Jilly Juice which consists of pureed cabbage, kale, water, and a lot of salt, which she claimed could cure a list of diseases and conditions. From cancer to homosexuality the deeper into the list you get the more offensive the claims. But what comes next are the waterfalls and purging which is just a fun way Jillian...
2022-07-2014 min
Scammed WellnessSelf-help Guru James Arthur Ray, Sweat Lodge Deaths, and Culture Appropriation within WellnessJames Arthur Ray was a popular self-help guru in the early 2000s. Appearing on talks shows like Oprah and being in a popular documentary called The Secret, James’ career took off, along with his ego. In 2009 James leads a sweat lodge ceremony that ends in three deaths. In this weeks episode we break down the self-help side of wellness along with the culture appropriation that the wellness industry is famous for.
Resources:
https://www.theverge.com/2013/12/4/5038930/the-death-dealer-james-arthur-sweat-lodge-deaths-in-sedona
Welton S, Minty R, O'Driscoll T, et al. Intermittent fasting and weight loss: Systematic review. Can Fa...
2022-07-0515 minScammed WellnessMeth-like compound found in Craze pre-workout, victim’s stories, and the supplement industryThe supplement industry is another billion dollar market that’s entwined in the wellness industry. Body builders, professional athletes, to the every day person probably uses supplements. It’s even reported that half of the U.S. population is taking some type of supplement— see the end for sources. Supplements have their place, but are not a substitute for food. They’re also not regulated by the FDA. This means supplements are not held to the same quality control standards as food and drugs. Matt Cahill, the founder of Craze pre-workout, is a prime example of taking advantage of a non-re...
2022-06-2218 min
Scammed WellnessBelle Gibson, the Rise of the Wellness Influencer, and Fake Cancer DiagnosisBelle Gibson was one of the first mega influencers in 2013. Belle launched an app called, The Whole Pantry where she falsely claimed her recipes cured her cancer. In 2015 Belle was exposed for never having any of the cancers she claimed, and soon her empire crumbled. Listen to find out why you should always be cautious when it comes to wellness influencers. For more insight check out the links below.
References
“The Shocking Story of the Rise and Fall of Instagram's First Super-Influencer Belle Gibson'' must have been removed from YouTube, but you can watch the 60 Minu...
2022-06-0615 minScammed WellnessScammed Wellness (Trailer)---
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2022-06-0100 min