Contributed by:
Nicole Gerber
on 7/1/2005
Corie Goodson may mean well in "educating" the public about health issues but both of her columns are filled with baseless claims masquerading as fact. The first article "The toxic truth of artificial sweeteners" used only anecdotal evidence and had no scientific studies to back up her assertions regarding the dire consequences of ingesting artificial sweeteners. Currently the FDA stands behind Splenda and Aspartame as well as Saccharine in moderate doses as being completely safe for human consumption. Interestingly, the FDA had not endorsed the sweetener, Stevia, that Ms Goodson recommends.
The most recent article "Water importance often ignored" is also based on junk science. Heinz Valtin, M.D., a kidney specialist and author of widely distributed textbooks on the kidney and water balance, found absolutely no evidence to support drinking 64 ounces of water a day. Promoting water as a magic potion for radiant skin, weight loss aid and as a way of flushing the body of toxins is a blend of fad and fiction and very little science.
In the next column, please - more fact and less spreading of these urban myths.
Nicole Gerber