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Question Authority and Use Your Critical Thinking Skills


Robyn Openshaw - Jul 25, 2011 - This Post May Contain Affiliate Links


One of my readers, Amanda, sent me this exchange that got her labeled a ‘Dissenter’ and ejected from Joe Mercola’s forum. Whey protein, including his, is a highly processed food with additives and flavorings you should avoid. Most Americans are overdosing on protein, but if you feel you need more, I hope you look to whole foods or better products than this. Eat more yogurt, nuts, legumes, and greens–all high in protein–or a whole-foods, plant-source protein powder. I would put you into the forum Amanda was rejected from to see an M.D. and others disagree with Joe’s sales claims, but you are forced to sign up for his newsletter in order to see the discussion.

And regarding the convo below (I have not changed Joe’s misspellings or anything in either party’s words), it’s fine to have heroes as long as we maintain our critical thinking skills, ask questions, and put our own instincts and research first as Amanda is doing here.

Let’s don’t eat “byproducts” of anything.

Posted On Jul 13, 2011

Just discovered that one of my health heroes, Dr. Mercola, is using maltodextrin, a corn by-product, in his Miracle Whey powder. Not just any maltodextrin, mind you, but one produced by a “joint venture” of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), one of the massively corrupt Big Ag companies, and the Matsutani Chemical Industry Company. Ew! Didn’t say this on the label–in fact, the Nutritional Information panel for Miracle Whey was not available in the store.

I received the product and asked why there is maltodextrin in it, when Dr. Mercola writes articles saying not to use it. I received a reply saying basically that THIS maltodextrin is GOOD for me because it’s Fibersol! Oh, phew, I feel better! Another Frankenfood in my breakfast bowl made by ADM, a heavily subsidized Big Ag conglomerate, and a chemical industry company, which I’m sure is concerned only for my health and well-being. Yea! I’m so relieved.

ADM is one of the world’s largest producers of high-fructose corn syrup and many other of the toxic, processed foods that Dr. Mercola is always warning us about. Makes me wonder–does he know anymore what’s going into his products???

Ask questions, and don’t be afraid to be a pain in a–. It’s your health and our environment at stake! We must regularly challenge all authorities–even those we think we can trust.

 

Dr. Mercola  

Joined On 12/1997

Posted On Jul 13, 2011

This has been mentioned dozens of times on the site, you have just never seen it. The maltodextrin content in our products is naturally occurring  digestive resistant maltodextrin, which Is a non-digestible fiber. It is NOT the cheap maltodextrin your are referring to which is easily broken down and will stimulate insulin release.

Our maltodextrin is just another name for a water soluble fiber (long chain saccarides) that naturally occur in maize and other plants. That fiber has shown to help lower blood sugar and blood lipids. And it also works as a pre-biotic food to support health gut flora. Probiotics are essentially important for the digestion and utilization of protein. In fact, probiotics increase the biological value of the protein. This is completely different than the typical NON digestive resistant maltodextrin that is use in many other products that will raise your insulin level and also has MSG.

secretbird  

Joined On 4/2009

Posted On Jul 13, 2011

Dr. Mercola, thanks for your reply. However, you seem to have completely missed my point.

I understand what Fibersol, the type of maltodextrin you include in your Miracle Whey formulation, is and why you’re using it. My problem with Fibersol, and thus your Miracle Whey, is its source.

As I stated in my original post, a quick Google search revealed that Fibersol is a “joint venture” between Archer Daniels Midland–one of the world’s most egregious examples of Big Ag corruption and environmental devastation, and the Matsutani Chemical Industry Corporation, whose name alone is sufficient evidence that their products do not belong in our food supply.

You yourself have been a vociferous and passionate advocate of withdrawing support from Big Ag by using our main power as consumers: not buying their products and eating whole, fresh foods as much as possible. You have also been one of my main teachers and information sources in the health field, and I’ve paid attention when you say to read labels, ask questions, and do research. That’s all I’m doing now.

If I’d known that your product contained maltodextrin, which I didn’t because the Nutritional Information panel is not available in your store (why?), I would have asked these questions earlier and probably not bought the product for ethical reasons–not merely because it contains maltodextrin.

I want to thank you for all you do and for the excellent information you disseminate. Having been ranked as the No. 1 source for health information, it’s essential now that you live up to your own standards.  With great respect,  Amanda de la Garza

Dr. Mercola  

Joined On 12/1997

Posted On Jul 13, 2011

The digestive resistant maltodextrin (from maze) that we use in our whey protein has unmatched nutritional properties particularly regarding the sustainability of blood sugar and blood lipids. It is by all means a water soluble fiber (unlike conventional maltodextrin which is a high glycemic carbohydrate). Unfortunately some unique and valuable products are produced by companies which may not fit your ethical standards but the products that they produce have no substitute – that’s including the gasoline you put in your car, the antibiotics you need to use against infection, etc.

Nutritional information is available for all our products at the bottom of the sales page. Seems you just overlooked it.

secretbird  

Joined On 4/2009

Posted On Jul 14, 2011

Dr. Mercola, with all due respect, your ethical standards are in question here, not mine. I’m not formulating and marketing a product whose second ingredient is a fake fiber co-manufactured by a Big Ag conglomerate and a chemical company.

I strongly disagree with your assertion that your use of Fibersol in Miracle Whey is an unavoidable choice similar to us having to use gasoline for our cars and antibiotics for infection (particularly that last, coming from you!). We have many choices available to us in terms of what we put in our bodies, including whether we eat at McDonald’s or have a grass-fed, organic steak for dinner. Indeed, you yourself were a major influence on my awareness that we must be informed about the sources of our food!

I’d like to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you’ve been too busy to stay in close touch with your formulation process and supply chain, rather than think that you knowingly chose to include Fibersol-brand maltodextrin, which might rightly be called a “Frankenfood,” in a product that you are now marketing heavily on your web site.

In the former case, I hope that as one of the world’s leading authorities on health, you will do the right thing and reformulate your Miracle Whey to follow the very same good advice you frequently offer your many readers–namely, to avoid Big Ag- and chemical company-created “food products” like the plague that they are.

I have been one of your biggest fans and supporters, Dr. Mercola. All I’m asking is that you uphold the same high standards you’ve encouraged me and millions of others to live by. Thank you for your time, and best regards, Amanda de la Garza

secretbird  

Joined On 4/2009

Posted On Jul 15, 2011

Dr. Mercola, I notice you’ve slapped a “Dissenter Badge” on my posts now, indicating that I post “comments that are in disagreement with the Mercola.com community” and that my comments “should be viewed with caution.”

It’s very telling that such a designation exists in your forum.

Thanks for letting me know exactly where you stand on my request that you observe the same standards you encourage your readers to live by.

I hope that Archer Daniels Midland and the Matsutani Chemical Industry Corporation appreciate your continuing financial support through the inclusion of Fibersol-brand maltodextrin in your Miracle Whey products.

Best of luck with your business.

Received within a half-hour of above post: 7/15: “Content contained within your posting violated our terms of service and your posting has been deleted. Repeat or flagrant offenses of this nature may result in your account being banned.”

Posted in: Whole Food

16 thoughts on “Question Authority and Use Your Critical Thinking Skills”

Leave a Comment
  1. Miss Amanda de la Garza has formulated her plea with unmatched eloquence, while Dr. Mercola simply ignored her arguments and refused to dignify her with an answer. This is unacceptable behavior for any individual, regardless of their dietary convictions.

    As much as I appreciate healthy food, i cannot stop but wonder if some of the health food gurus out there are not in fact (at least partially) driven by a love for profit similar to the one they criticize in big corporations, which, in their turn, are all too quick to leave us in the dark about what’s in our food. I don’t condone his reaction to this matter, but it is important that he keeps on educating people about the benefits of healthy, responsible eating.

    As far as he is concerned, I guess the old motto “Do as I say, not as I do” stands true yet again.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I like Dr. Mercola articles but I too was questioning why there was maltodextrin in his whey protein product.

    But I thought I was the only one questioning it.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I may be the exception to the rule. I am a male who does not believe that because this site is primarily health info for the female population that I cannot gain from the collective wisdom and experience. I used to take Dr. Mercola’s e letter and quit it a long time ago. To many suspicions and red flags for me. I believe he is involved in self promtion more than research. Let me just say I firmly support Amanda del la Garza did the right thing. She held herself accountable for own health. To much corporate B.S. and worring about the bottom line while we rear a generation of obese kids, because the foods they eat are nutrient deficient. We need more folks to stand up, like those on this site!

    1. Robyn Openshaw says:

      Leo, well said, and, we do have men who read the blog regularly–it’s for everyone!–and sometimes they even comment. I wish more did, thank you!

  4. Anonymous says:

    I followed Dr. Mercola’s website for a number of years from the very beginning but have not continued to do so for a long time, due to the heavy commercial element. However, just because a product is produced by ADM does not in itself make it a bad product. You have to take a look at each individual product and judge it accordingly. When a child acts badly you don’t label the child as bad. Rather you label the action as bad. If you take a look at the details of the Fibersol-2 product you can see that it has a number of benefits: http://www.matsutaniamerica.com/fs2/bioavailability.php

    It is not clear whether there are any drawbacks to using the product. My view is to refrain from making judgements without knowing the facts.

    1. Robyn Openshaw says:

      Elinore….agreed, “refrain from making judgments without knowing the facts.” Also, know who is providing said “facts” and be discerning. (I have a whole section in the Intro of 12 Steps to Whole Foods about how to develop critical thinking skills to evaluate nutrition research studies or “facts.”)

  5. Anonymous says:

    Hi Robyn, I just found you again after a long time and am really turned on about learning about your 12 step program and drinking green smoothies. I have been drinking green smoothies for almost a week and am blown away about the lack of hunger that I have.

    I was wondering if there is still time in Sept. to get in on the almond buy?

    You can let me know at my email address.

    Thank You,

    Peggy lockard

    1. Robyn Openshaw says:

      Peggy, cool! Good stuff! The group buy won’t kick off until around Oct. 15, stand by for more info via newsletter, facebook, and this blog.

  6. Anonymous says:

    My husband and I started taking Dr. Mercola’s astaxanthan and krill oil and started itching like crazy. I wrote to the company and got no response. I’ve been taking supplements for over 30 years and never had any bad reactions. There’s something weird about his stuff.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Wow, love your site. Really enjoy your posts.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Just found your website after doing a search on the maltodextrin in Mercola Whey protein.
    Without prejudice. E & OE
    I found that his videos attached to his articles are irritating and how he talks down to us like a teacher repeating everything ( Indoctrination now is what comes to mind)
    The articles are interesting as long as I switch off the horrible audio. I unsubscribed for a while then resubscribed
    Now have unsubscribed in utter disgust at the hypocracy in the name of profit and self interest.
    Is he real person or just a very good hologram??? or very advanced computer generated person alledgedly. I have read that science is many thousand years in advance of main stream so in the realm of things — anything is possible.
    It’s like Aunt Bessie products in England – there is no Aunt bessie to name just one

  9. Anonymous says:

    I formulate products for a nutritional supplement company and I can tell you I would never use Fibersol in one of my products. I met with the rep because when I was hired we had a product that contained Fibersol and I asked him if it was GMO. He said there is no way he could guarantee that their product was not GMO since most corn is these days. That was all I needed to hear. I reformulated the product (a protein shake) right away and there is now no corn in it whatsoever. To say you have to have it is absurd. They use it because it is cheap. I like some of Dr. Mercola’s information but I would never buy his products knowing he sacrifices quality for profit.

  10. CJ says:

    Robyn, I came across your article while researching digestive resistant maltodextrin. I too, have learned to research ALL ingredients
    before using from Dr. Mercola. Thank you! when you have learned so much from a person and later see their principles don’t alien with their business is it disheartening, and one might even start to question themselves. But we must remember we are all human and do make mistakes. All the more reason to ALWAY research all products you purchase. I look forward to checking out the rest of your blog. Thank you!

  11. GennyY says:

    I am in total agreement with Dr. Mercola. Sometimes there are times where you simply must use the BIG BOX companies to get an ingredient that will improve the use of the health product you want. She is missing the point herself that regardless of ethics, your health is important enough that in special situations where everything else has been done to make it the best it can be, you can only agree to get it from this ‘negative source’. In fact Mercola was accurate in the gas and antiobiotics. Is this woman walking everywhere and not buying gas which is directly feeding money to the largest and most organized crime syndicates? I doubt it. Sometimes we simply must relent and that is what separates us from the ‘extremists’ and why her posts have only confused others and labelled her a dissenter.

  12. Obviously the defensive response by Dr. Mercola and his deletion of your comment proves that his use of Fibersol aka “resistant maltodextrin” is just what I thought, ( the reason I sought more information on it, along with Lo Han Guo in a Whey Protein powder. The things they’re putting in everything these days are questionable, and for good reason. When the FDA allows shellac in prescription and over the counter drugs, along with foods, like vegetables with waxy coatings on them cementing pesticides on them, it’s a sick world shoving poisons down our throats under the guise of “healthy” “natural” organic, and other misleading labels for food that’s in fact making us sick. These psychopaths need to be questioned and called out. Life Extension supplements such as S-AME (sp?) contain phtalates, which when I opened the bottle, brown goo was oozing from the tablets, which started cracking along the sides with nasty brown sticky crap that hardly looked edible, much less healthy. It’s CRIMINAL, and the Federal Government is allowing it. They can’t drain the swamp in D.C. quick enough.

    1. Robyn says:

      Life Extension….really? Wow, thanks for the info Laura, because I know some of the holistic cancer docs recommend that stuff. Phthalates!

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