Here's what 'They' do want you to know: It's baloney

Medical experts question much of the advice in best seller Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About by Kevin Trudeau.

Some of the book's recommendations -- such as advice to exercise and eat more vegetables -- are widely endorsed by government agencies and medical groups, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Heart Association.

But David Johnson, vice president of the American College of Gastroenterology, notes that there is no evidence to support many of the book's claims. He says some of Trudeau's suggestions could be harmful. He suggests consulting a doctor before experimenting with non-traditional medicine.

In an interview with USA TODAY for another story, Trudeau dismissed criticism of his book: "I'm talking about things that no one wants to admit."

Disputed suggestions in the book include:

*"The sun does not cause cancer. Sunblock has been shown to cause cancer."

That's wrong, says Darrell Rigel, past president of the American Academy of Dermatology and a dermatology professor at New York University. The evidence that ultraviolet radiation from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer is overwhelming, he says. Though Rigel agrees with Trudeau's advice to wear a hat and cover up, Rigel also advises wearing sunscreen.

Failing to wear sunglasses also can lead to cataracts, said James Applegate, a family physician in Grand Rapids, Mich., in an e-mail.

*"Take digestive enzymes."

These enzymes are very caustic and could burn the esophagus, Johnson says. They're typically prescribed only for patients with pancreatic problems.

*"Get 15 colonics in 30 days."

There is no medical reason to have even one of these procedures, which typically involve purging the bowels with enemas, let alone 15 in one month, Johnson says. All that purging could lead to dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, which can disturb heart rhythms, he says.

*"Antiperspirants and deodorants contain deadly poisons" and are "one of the major causes of breast cancer."

Not true, according to the National Cancer Institute and the Food and Drug Administration. Neither has found any link between antiperspirants, deodorants and breast cancer. The institute has singled out this notion in an online fact sheet of "cancer myths."

*"Take coral calcium."

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, has issued a consumer advisory warning that there is no evidence that the product treats cancer, multiple sclerosis, lupus, heart disease or high blood pressure. In the online fact sheet about cancer myths, the National Cancer Institute notes that "marketers have made false claims" about the value of these supplements.

*"Take liquid colloidal minerals daily. You are deficient in minerals."

Colloidal silver products are made of tiny silver particles suspended in liquid, according to a consumer advisory issued by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The advisory warns that the FDA doesn't consider these supplements safe or effective. The advisory says colloidal silver can cause serious and irreversible side effects, including argyria, a bluish-gray discoloration of the body for which there is no treatment, and seizures and kidney damage.

In the book, Trudeau also advises readers to beware of psychiatry, psychology, microwave ovens and electric tumble dryers. He promotes the health benefits of wearing white, sleeping on magnetic mattress pads and products that "neutralize electromagnetic chaos" caused by satellites, cellphones and remote controls.

Stephen Barrett, a retired psychiatrist from Allentown, Pa., who operates Quackwatch.org, has one word to describe that advice:

"Rubbish."

Contributing: Gary Strauss

*Stunning book sales, 1D

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