Dr. Joseph Mercola

[Narnia51483]

I have been hesitant to post this person as a topic here, due to the fact that some people think he is a quack (not anyone here, necessarily, at least that I'm aware of), but I think he is a great doctor, interested in peoples' well-being, educating them about dangers to their health, and a person knowledgeable about both western and alternative medicine, with a bias towards neither.

I think he is an Idealist, but I can't exactly pinpoint which type. I want to say healer, most likely...he advocate a certain lifestyle to help people improve their well-being...he uses education though too. One thing I really respect about the man is that he is accessible...he explains his reasons for his conclusions, he doesn't talk down to his audience...He respects a person's ability to think for him/herself.

He doesn't seem like a promoter to me, which is something I had pondered at one time...is he promoting a certain lifestyle? It doesn't seem like it. He informs...he doesn't seem to have a schpeil.

Thoughts? Feelings? Reactions?

[Narnia51483]

I have developed the notion that not many people here are familiar with this man, so I have taken it upon myself to provide a few links that will help people get more acquainted:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercola

http://www.mercola.com/

[bluelamp]

I think he is an Idealist, but I can't exactly pinpoint which type. I want to say healer, most likely...he advocate a certain lifestyle to help people improve their well-being...he uses education though too. One thing I really respect about the man is that he is accessible...he explains his reasons for his conclusions, he doesn't talk down to his audience...He respects a person's ability to think for him/herself.

Yeah he seems low key and doesn't seem overly bothered by criticism either. The Paleochristian group that makes up most of my facebook friends really like him so I see some things from and about him.

[christina]

I may come back to this thread later, when I have more time.


This....

A 2006 BusinessWeek editorial criticized Mercola's marketing practices as "relying on slick promotion, clever use of information, and scare tactics."[6]

...is something I noticed about him when I went on mercola.com a little while ago. I'm think operator artisan or some sort of guardian?

[Narnia51483]

Hmmm.

I do see him promoting a lot of products. I don't know if I agree with the idea that it's slick or that he uses scare tactics. When I think scare tactics, I think about things that are highly unlikely...there are studies that he cites that back up his information. Plus, he has plenty of articles that talk about health issues and he has no direct monitary benefit from them...it's just information.

It's good to get some other views on this though.

[christina]

I am interesting in purusing this further, I just don't have always have much patience for sifting through all the information you see


He's offering something "different" so I am interested in looking into what he has to say. My biggest turn off at first, was that I didn't find the information very useful or "to the point". Also, I tend to not pay much attention to things unless I can get a sense of how they're work......you know....what they are doing...what effects are they having....etc.


I am wondering if this writing style on his website is "associative"?


Again, I'll be back later, but right now I gotta run.

[Narnia51483]

Cool beans.

[charliebrown]

I'm open to almost anything in the health department. Although, I don't think a life without grains would be worth living. I must say flax seeds have changed my life, I highly recommend it... is that a grain... duuhhh it's a seed.

[charliebrown]

I would love to try raw milk. I've heard stories of people from the past churning their own butter or drinking milk and tasting the cream... sigh...

[Narnia51483]

I'm open to almost anything in the health department. Although, I don't think a life without grains would be worth living. I must say flax seeds have changed my life, I highly recommend it... is that a grain... duuhhh it's a seed.

Haha. There are certain grains that he will admit are generally ok. The big thing is that most of the stuff in the U.S. has wheat in it, and wheat is known to raise blood sugar levels too sharply, even if you aren't diabetic. I try to avoid wheat as much as possible. Also there are other kinds of flours than grain flour that you can cook with...coconut flour, almond flour, buckwheat flour, and some grain flours that do a lot less damage...rye flour, amaranth, quinoa, etc. It's amazing what possibilities are out there if you look for them. And they can be somewhat expensive compared to the bleached refined gmo stuff you find at wally world, but you are paying for better health too. Also, hopefully these products will decrease in price in coming years due to supply and demand and competition. That is my hope.

By the way, raw milk is awesome! I was getting sick last night from a bad piece of roast beef I ate at a restaurant, and I drank some raw milk, and I started feeling better. Raw milk has enzymes and beneficial bacteria in it that can clear out almost any food sickness. The science of pro-biotics. (of course, I'm not talking about severe food poisoning...I don't know about that). I want to find a place that sells raw cream around here so I can make my own butter and cheese.