Tag Archives: cancer

4 Sketchy Claims about Cannabis and Your Health

October 17, 2018 will go down in history as the day that the Y2K bug finally hit Canada legalized cannabis. It’s also getting legalized or decriminalized in more and more locations around the world

Over the past year, I’ve been asked a ton of questions about this. In particular, people want to know whether I’m “for” or “against” legalization…

But I’m not the right person to answer that. The legal, social, and economic reasons for legalizing weed aren’t my area of expertise. My expertise is within science and health.

We know that criminalizing marijuana simply hasn’t worked. So I guess it’s a good idea to try something else.

And we have to face the facts: in Canada, at least 15% of people are known to consume cannabis. For young people, that number is 30-40%.

Still, I find myself annoyed by the two types of comments I hear most often, namely :

 

I do think it’s important to speak openly about cannabis. Unfortunately, I hear a lot of sketchy claims going around… so let’s assess their scientific accuracy!

 

Note #1 : For the sake of transparency, I should admit that I’ve never consumed cannabis in my life, not even a single toke. In general, I don’t really enjoy psychotropic substances (i.e. substances that produce an altered state of consciousness), including alcohol. I assume this doesn’t disqualify me from discussing the topic, considering that I haven’t consumed 99.999% of the medication I work with on a daily basis…

Note #2 : There are certain points that I don’t cover in the comic: driving under the influence of pot; the lack of a legal limit on the amount of THC in products containing marijuana; children or animals becoming intoxicated by accidentally consuming cannabis products; microdosing…This comic is pretty long as it is, so if need be, I’ll revisit the topic another time!

Note #3 : Many thanks to Robyn Penney for the translation!

 

 

 

 

cannabis natural cannabinoids

THC CBD prescription strains

 

 

 

cannabis smoking tobacco alcohol

 cannabis vaporizer secondhand smoke stoned

is alcohol worse than pot

 

 

 

 

cannabis effective for many health problems hype

 

evidence-based medical cannabis use

cannabis derived products dog treats creams

 

 

 

 

cannabis risks or harmless

 

cannabis occasional or chronic use young people

 

cannabis psychosis

 

cannabis amotivational syndrome

 

cannabis addiction dependence

 

 

 

 

 

The life cycle of a fad diet

Here’s the life cycle of a fad diet!

Click on the image below for the HD version:

Many thanks to Robyn Penney for the translation!

 

According to my 100% subjective estimates, in 2019 …

 

FAD DIETS AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE CYCLE

 

FAD DIETS AT MID-CYCLE

FAD DIETS EARLY IN THEIR CYCLE

 

Let not kid ourselves: whatever they pretend, most – if not all all – restrictive diets have weight loss as their ultimate goal (arguably, the whole “wellness” industry is about weight loss).

And sure, you’ll lose some weight in the short term; any fad diet will do the trick. But the science is clear: they have an amazingly high failure rate in the long run (the exact rate is hard to point out).

Want a diet that’s not a fad, not about weight loss, associated with positive health outcomes and – most of all – that’s backed by solid scientific evidence?

Then you might be interested in plant-rich ones, such as the Mediterranean diet and flexitarian / vegetarian diets !

Vitamin C injections and cancer: perceptions vs reality

vitamin C injections perceptions vs reality

(Note : This is a translation of the original article that was published on my main website in 2018. At the time, it was only available in French; I translated it afterwards so that my anglophone colleagues could read it. Robyn Penney made edits to the translation)

 

In May 2018, a petition signed by more than 70,000 people was submitted to the National Assembly of Quebec, with the goal of “authorizing” Vitamin C injection therapy for cancer patients. When asked about the petition, the Minister of Health at the time then said that, according to oncologists, this type of intervention “had no added clinical value.

A second petition, started in January 2019, collected more than 120,000 signatures, and went even further to ask that  Vitamin C injections be added to the list of medications covered by the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan. It received a lot of positive media coverage and was advocated by many influential public figures.

 

People living with cancer go through extremely difficult times and need a lot of courage. Some have received Vitamin C injections before, and they believe it helps them better tolerate chemotherapy. I sincerely hope that these people will be able to keep receiving their injections.

However, there’s a much bigger issue at stake here.

The problem isn’t that a few people are receiving injections. The problem is that all the buzz surrounding this petition makes it seem as though Vitamin C injections should become a prevalent, readily accessible treatment for cancer patients. That’s simply not a good idea.

Unfortunately, from the online comments on the petition and the news articles covering it, it is obvious that many people don’t understand the real issues at play. And I can’t blame them; it’s actually quite hard to grasp the facts here, especially if you rely on social networks and the media for information.

This article thus aims to show where popular perceptions of Vitamin C injections diverge from reality.

(Note: The comments presented below are real and quoted verbatim)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vitamin C injections are not a cure for cancer.

The suggested indication is to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, to improve patients’ quality of life. And unfortunately, to date, the data are not conclusive for this use either.

(In other words, there are some positive trials, and some negative ones… but these trials do not have an adequate placebo group that would tell whether the effect is actually due to Vitamin C; or their design does not allow researchers to draw real conclusions about the effectiveness of the treatment. So overall, the efficacy is not clear and remains hypothetical: see here, here, here and here among others).

 

The belief that Vitamin C cures all kinds of diseases dates back to the 1970s, but it proved to be wrong when assessed scientifically.

As far as we know, the only thing that is cured with Vitamin C injections is scurvy – a concern in Jacques Cartier’s era, but relatively uncommon nowadays.

 

vitamin c scurvy

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is not “illegal” to inject Vitamin C in Quebec, even for cancer.

The issue is not legality, but the fact that it is not ethical, rational or justifiable to do so in the absence of solid scientific evidence.

Importantly, it’s no more acceptable in Ontario than in Quebec. The media mentioned an Ontarian clinic offering these injections which wasn’t, in fact, a medical clinic, but a center for “integrative medicine” (i.e., the new name given to complementary and alternative therapies). Its founder and executive director is a naturopath. According to its website, it seems that only one physician practices there, and she is not an oncologist.

In short, the fact that Vitamin C injections are offered by clinics in Ontario, the rest of Canada, and the United States (where there are many), that doesn’t prove their efficacy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lot of comments try to make a link between Vitamin C and the legalization of cannabis. But again, there‘s no question of “legalizing” anything, so this comparison doesn’t hold water.

 

(note : true story)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vitamin C injections typically don’t seem to cause many side effects – that much is true.

But here’s the real problem: preliminary data suggest that Vitamin C could interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

[When chemo is administered for incurable cancers (e.g., palliative care), it’s not to treat the cancer, but to reduce pain and prolong life expectancy. So we should take seriously the possibility that Vitamin C decreases the effectiveness of chemo in these cases.]

Clinics offering such injections even say so in their references:

 

 

Trials with oral Vitamin C had to be stopped prematurely because of the toxic effects that appeared to be caused by vitamin itself.

Actually, this isn’t surprising. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, but some have suggested based on in vitro data that it may also have the opposite effect (i.e., pro-oxidant). In the human body, these reactions are subject to a very delicate balance, and the ultimate effects they could have on our health are still not known and therefore largely unpredictable.

In short, it’s a mistake to see these injections as harmless. And at any rate, administering megadoses of vitamins is always dangerous.

Meanwhile, we know that people with cancer who use alternative / complementary / integrative therapies are at higher risk of dying from the illness. We’re talking about a 2- to 6-times higher risk of mortality (see here, here and here).

If we ‘re going to accept preliminary data suggesting efficacy, we should also accept preliminary data suggesting potential hazards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chantal Lacroix is a TV host and public figure known for her involvement in social and humanitarian causes. For that, I applaud her.

But her comments regarding the petition – for which she’s been a major advocate – are somewhat… peculiar.

The professional oath taken by doctors requires them to “[practice] medicine according to the rules of science”. And that’s exactly what they’re trying to do.
 
Prescribing an unproven and potentially risky treatment – wouldn’t that be “flouting the Hippocratic Oath”? Is that somehow ironic too? (At this point I’m a little confused as to what constitutes irony…).

In short, it’s unfortunate that someone as influential as Ms. Lacroix is choosing to promote a cause by discrediting the medical community through unsubstantiated claims.

Others bring this idea even further:

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, let’s try to unpack this one using logic.

 

 

In fact, one Quebec woman who is currently receiving Vitamin C injections explained on a radio show that these treatments have allowed her to stay longer on chemotherapy.

In other words, if Vitamin C injections work, they should ultimately be profitable for Big Pharma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually, natural health products are a multi-billion dollar industry. There’s a lot of money to be made, despite extremely poor regulation.

According to the information I was able to collect:

 

 

That’s pricey, and not accessible for everyone.

OK, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the billions of dollars generated by the industry, but for a therapist or a clinic with many patients, there are tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to be made each year.

(To be clear, I’m not accusing these therapists and clinics of administering Vitamin C to make money, but simply pointing out that yes, it can generate significant profits).

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s what the United States just decided.

The Right to Try Act, signed by Trump in May 2018, grants terminally ill patients access to any experimental treatment, regardless of its efficacy or safety.

 

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At first glance, it may seem like a good idea …

What it obscures is that terminally ill patients, both in the US and Canada, already have special access to experimental treatments. But only those that seem to work.

When they go through Right to Try, patients essentially become guinea pigs for scientifically unsupported therapies, with no basic rights in case of complications. They can easily become targets for charlatans ready to sell a miracle therapy (it’s already happened elsewhere). And nobody can be held responsible.

For the protection of patients and the public at large, I hope we will not go this route in Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

g6858

(excuse my cheesy title design… just couldn’t help myself!)

 

I completely understand those who are committed to this cause. In fact, everything relating to the topic of cancer is enormously important to me.

I realize that in talking about this subject in such a matter-of-fact way – while also making jokes to lighten the tone – I probably sound (to some people) closed-minded or even insensitive.

But one of the essential messages I am trying to convey through The Pharmafist / Le Pharmachien is that applying the scientific approach to our health choices is one of the most helpful things we can do as a society, especially for those in a vulnerable position.

What I find most unfortunate here is that many people will continue to find the situation unfair. I understand why it may seem that way. But when we choose to support a cause, we have a responsibility to fully understand what’s at stake, and to not simply select the facts that do or don’t fit our story.

If Vitamin C injections really had “proven” benefits, they would be prescribed regularly in oncology, because everyone – the patients, doctors, and industry – would be a winner.

Yes, some people may derive benefits from them (whether real or a placebo effect). But to this day, Vitamin C remains a treatment with potential risks and unclear benefits, so it makes sense to use it rarely or not at all.  At the moment, it’s in the best interest of cancer patients.

 

P.S. I did a mini-investigation and found an oncologist in Montreal who’s prescribing Vitamin C injections for cancer. Despite all my efforts to get his name, he wants to remain anonymous…which is really strange, considering that he is allegedly heading an oncology research center (not locatable on Google) that is about to start a clinical trial (not found on any registry) on Vitamin C injections. I found the phone number of the center and I spoke to his coordinator, a very kind woman who said to me: “I know who you are, and I know you don’t really believe in this kind of thing…” Well, I won’t need to “believe” once the results of the clinical trial are published and available to be analyzed. In the meantime, I think we should remain skeptical and cautious.

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – JANUARY 21, 2019 ***

A new version of the petition is in circulation. Once again, it’s asking to “authorize doctors to prescribe Vitamin C”, but also to include it on the list of covered medications, as well as proposing “to set up a Vitamin C injection registry in Quebec.” The petition was promoted on national TV, on the popular show “Tout le monde en parle“, on January 20, 2019.

Some further thoughts and info on this topic:

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – JANUARY 30, 2019 ***

The Chief Scientist of Quebec also commented with a similar view on the topic.

 

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – FEBRUARY 5, 2019 ***

Some people are promoting a news item stating that Sherbrooke University has received a $2.8 million grant to study Vitamin C injections.

That’s true … but it’s for a totally different indication, namely, septic shock (a serious complication of certain infections). It involves studying a completely different mechanism of action and cannot lead to any links with cancer at this stage.

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – FEBRUARY 11, 2019 ***

Science journalist Jean-François Cliche inquired with the Ontario Ministry of Health regarding their position on the use of Vitamin C injections for cancer patients. Unsurprisingly, but contrary to what is stated in the petition, this practice is not considered scientifically nor ethically acceptable in Ontario, either.

 

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – FEBRUARY 15, 2019 ***

Proponents of the petition are now citing a new article to support their claims. However, contrary to what its title suggests, it refers to an in vitro experiment on cells, the results of which are important for encouraging future research, but cannot be extrapolated to humans. The article also alludes to a phase I trial with 11 participants that aimed to assess the safety of Vitamin C injections (also called a “safety trial”). This study is never referenced in the article, which is very bizarre…I presume that it was never published, and therefore it is impossible to analyze or interpret it (I wrote to the editors of the site for more information). But regardless, this type of study cannot assess 1) the effectiveness of treatment, nor 2) the risk of reducing the effects of chemotherapy (because the duration of the study was too short, i.e., 2 months).

When asked about the above, the author of the article in question objected to her text being used in support of the petition, stating:

“I and Cancer Commons have never endorsed [this] position / petition and asked [the organizer] to remove the post from Facebook. While there are some data to support high-dose Vitamin C, they are not conclusive. Cancer Commons’ name has been used without permission.”

 

 

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – FEBRUARY 20, 2019 ***

Proponents of the petition have adopted a new (and visibly effective) strategy over the past few days, presumably in the final sprint before filing to the Quebec National Assembly on February 28, 2019. Yesterday, Ms. Chantal Lacroix published a video summarizing the group’s current arguments. It’s worth analyzing to illustrate how useful critical thinking principles can be in this type of debate. The video in question…

  1. Continues to spread the idea that Vitamin C injections are “illegal,” and that the petition is intended to “legalize” them. This fallacious argument is called ambiguity of language; legalizing, or even authorizing anything, in not an issue here, as explained in my article.
  1. Implies that if Vitamin C injections are not “legalized,” people with cancer may need to turn to physician-assisted suicide, which is legal. On the one hand, this comparison is tasteless, inappropriate and indelicate towards the terminally ill. On the other hand, it is a false dilemma, giving the impression that a person may have to choose between these two options, which is not the case. Above all, this is a bad analogy because both interventions are considered in very different contexts.
  1. Adds that dozens of public figures from the artistic world have signed the petition in the last few days, which – according to them – demonstrates the validity of the requests. This is an appeal to popularity; the fact that many people or celebrities sign the petition doesn’t guarantee anything.
  1. States that “leading experts” in the field of cancer have signed the petition. First, no such expert has endorsed the petition publicly, to my knowledge. But above all, it is an appeal to authority; even if some “leading experts” had signed the petition, this would not guarantee its validity.
  1. States that even if scientific data on Vitamin C injections are lacking, “everyone wins” by signing the petition, as it will allow more data to be collected through the creation of a clinical registry. This statement is false because creating a registry is no substitute for clinical research, which is necessary in this case. Clinical registries in Canada are a series of anecdotes collected in uncontrolled environments, from which we cannot draw conclusions about the effectiveness of an intervention. Drug registries identify certain side effects that appear to occur more frequently, which may result in increased government and manufacturer vigilance, and may lead to the development of additional clinical studies. In short, creating a registry for Vitamin C injections would only be relevant if this intervention was already supported by convincing data and therefore was considered scientifically and ethically acceptable by oncologists.

This is not the first time that Ms. Lacroix has ignored criticism coming from scientists or that she is promoting questionable health practices. She is obviously well-intentions, and I do not doubt her sincerity in this process. But again, I would like to invite her to be more cautious and restrained when it comes to health topics, given her vast popularity and influence.

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – FEBRUARY 28, 2019 ***

Youri Chassin, the local deputy supporting the petition, is now calling for a special parliamentary committee on Vitamin C injections. So I contacted him directly on his Facebook page: 

(the following is an image modified in order to include the translation in French)

 

I did not get an answer, even when following up with his office by email. However, Mr Chassin answered this to another user:

 

Mr Chassin later deleted his post from Facebook.

 

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – MARCH 1, 2019 ***

I explained above why, in my opinion, the creation of a clinical registry for Vitamin C injections is not appropriate, but I realize that I did not explain why I think the same about a parliamentary committee.

According to the National Assembly of Quebec, “Parliamentary committees are the perfect forum to examine bills or other current issues in detail. The deputies also play a role in controlling government activity and in public consultation on various current social issues.

I have no doubt that these committees are relevant for issues of public interest that are subject to a debate of opinion. But in this case, there is a lack of evidence to support the use of Vitamin C injections for people with cancer. In other words, the issue is not a matter of opinion, but of science.

A committee will not generate new data on the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. And even if the goal was to discuss funding for a possible clinical study on Vitamin C injections, how could one justify awarding research funds, so hard to obtain, on the basis of the popularity of a petition? It is not up to a parliamentary committee to decide on the funding of clinical research, but rather to organizations specialized in this field, such as the Quebec Health Research Fund (FRSQ), or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

It should be noted that, to this day, NO experts have publicly endorsed this treatment.

Also note that during a parliamentary committee on Lyme disease in March 2018, the National Assembly of Quebec summoned as key expert a French doctor who attributes the spread of Lyme disease to an exiled Nazi researcher genetically modifying ticks for the US military. This gives you an idea of how this type of committee sets its standards regarding “key experts” …

In summary, creating a parliamentary committee to discuss such a niche medical issue, which above all requires critical analysis of the evidence, is in my opinion a political lobbying strategy that bypasses the scientific process, thereby creating significant risks for the healthcare system and the field of medicine. It is also, in my opinion, a poor investment of public money, considering that very little scientifically and clinically relevant information can be obtained from such a committee.

Note: I’m far from being a political expert, so if I’m wrong regarding the above, I would welcome specific arguments to make me reconsider my position. To date, I haven’t received any.

 

 

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – MARCH 4, 2019 ***

So here’s what’s happening right now

 

And as promised, here is the entirety of my conversation with the creator of the petition in 2018.

 

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – MARCH 21, 2019 ***

At last! Experts have decided to come forward on the science behind Vitamin C injections, in light of what’s going on right now:

 

I also want to tell you how touched I’ve been by all the support I have received in recent days. It would be impossible for me to answer everyone, but I want you to know that I have read your messages and that I am deeply grateful.

I also want to say a huge thank you to my broadcaster and to the Quebec Order of Pharmacists, who understand the situation and offered me their support. I consider myself very lucky.

I also thank all the scientists, healthcare professionals and scientific and medical associations who have decided to come forward. Such complex subjects deserve a joint effort of communication.

You will understand that given the gravity of the situation, I cannot / do not want to comment on it.

But putting aside my case, as many have guessed, it’s not so much “me” that needs to be defended: it’s the scientific process. Discussing science publicly is now harder than ever, and we should not let things devolve to the point where it’s no longer possible at all.

On a more cheerful note, this case has inspired serious reflection about the involvement of scientists in public debates and how to support them in the current climate. A few projects are already germinating, and I hope they will come to fruition soon; stay tuned for updates below.

Thank you again, everyone, I appreciate your support so much!

 

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – APRIL 4, 2019 ***

 

Click here to read about the decision of the Government of Quebec in detail.

More media coverage can be read here.

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – MAY 1, 2019 ***

I can now confirm that some positive outcomes have emerged from this case:

  • A government task force (which I am fortunate enough to be involved in) was created in order to protect scientists who speak publicly about sensitive topics.

  • Also, an inter-professional advisory committee was created by several professional Orders to support healthcare professionals such as myself when they speak publicly, so they can do so without fear of disciplinary action.

 

It is comforting to know that despite the negative events in this case, there are some positive repercussions. I hope these initiatives will help others avoid situations like the one I experienced.

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – JUNE 13, 2019 ***

Back in March 2019, in response to the public controversy surrounding Vitamin C injections, several professional associations submitted a joint request to mandate the National Institute of Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) to write an official report on their clinical relevance. This is now official and will be carried out. An INESSS mandate is precisely what I was hoping for from the start, so I see this as the best possible outcome.

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – NOV. 12, 2019 ***

It is with great surprise, gratitude and emotion that I have received last week, in London, the John Maddox Prize for my work on the topic of Vitamin C injections in Quebec.

 

 

 

*** UPDATE – MAY. 31, 2022 ***

The National Institute of Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) published their report today on high-dose vitamin C injections for cancer patients in Quebec. It is an extremely thorough evaluation, in the form of a systematic review. The main conclusion is :

“In light of all the information available and in the absence of a demonstration of clinical efficacy, INESSS is of the opinion that high-dose vitamin C should not be offered to people with cancer, regardless of the therapeutic goal sought. This treatment modality should only be offered in the context of a clinical trial.”

 

 

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Many thanks to all of you for your interest in this topic!

 

To read about the original version of this story in French (which includes about a hundred comments and my answers), see here.

 

Cyberbullying, doxxing, vitamin C injections and cancer

Have you heard about the petition in Quebec that gained nearly 120,000 signatures, asking the government to “approve and reimburse” vitamin C injections for people with cancer?

And about how it almost succeeded through political lobbying?

I spent several months working on this case, trying at first to help people understand the issues and pitfalls with this petition, and then addressing politicians directly, and trying to rally scientific associations. I did this because the petition was moving forward rapidly and very few people were raising doubts about it.

As a result, a group of vitamin C supporters tried to make me lose my job. I was doxed. A smear campaign was organized against me. My family was harassed and threatened.

Eventually, after months of cyberbullying, I came forward publicly with what was going on behind the scenes. The result was a massive outcry from the scientific community, which could not be ignored by the government this time.

Ultimately, the petition did not go forward into parliamentary proceedings.

But more importantly, these events had positive consequences for the future: a government task force was created in order to protect scientists who speak publicly about sensitive topics (I am fortunate enough to be involved in it). Also, an inter-professional advisory committee was created to help healthcare professionals, such as myself, speak publicly without fear of disciplinary action.

 

This case received little attention in the English-Canadian press, so here are translations of a few articles on what happened.

(Please note that these were translated automatically by the Google Translate URL tool with no revision, so some of the text is weird and possibly funny-sounding)

 

A summary of the events in March 2019 by Radio-Canada (CBC) :


Another one, focusing on the challenges and personal risks of doing science communication:

 

 

The events were also discussed in France, and generated support from the French Association for Scientific Information:

 

 

The government can no longer ignore what is going on:

 

 

And the conclusion…


Fellow science communicator Jonathan Jarry, from the McGill Office for Science and Society, was kind enough to write a post on the topic too. Thanks so much Jonathan!

https://jonathanjarry.com/2019/03/07/harassing-a-skeptic-into-silence/

 

For those interested in reading my original article on the topic, there’s a  complete translation here.

Are you afraid of EMFs?

Does your smart meter make your nose bleed?

Are you terrified of your microwave?

Have you installed am anti-brain cancer thingy on your cell phone?

Welcome to the world of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and their alleged harmful effects.

For the last ten years or so, people have been worrying about EMFs, along with the increase in the use of electronics.  And even though scientific data obtained so far is reassuring about the effects of EMFs on human health, a lot of people are still scared.

It took almost a year to create this comic. After all, the topic is mind-blowingly complex and, as a pharmacist, I am not at all qualified to speculate about it. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to work with two awesome collaborators from the very beginning:

Jérôme Poulin (Ph. D) is a physicist and researcher in optical physics. His Ph.D thesis was about cold atom guidance in a hollow-core photonic cristal fibre using a blue detuned hollow laser beam (Olivier’s note: I have no idea what that means… I think it’s about building the next Death Star or something). He was also part of the Electro-Urban Brigade, a team of scientists who measured the daily exposure to electromagnetic fields of citizens in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Michel Trottier-McDonald (Ph.D) is a physicist and data scientist. He namely worked on the ATLAS experiment at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and on the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the CERN in order to find the Higgs Boson (Olivier’s note: yeah, that big thing).

None of us are experts on the effects of EMFs on health and we don’t pretend otherwise. Fortunately, scientific knowledge on the matter is advanced enough for us to relay conclusive evidence to you.

The 5 key messages of the comic go as follows:

  • Certain types of electromagnetic radiation can break the molecules of the body, others cannot;
  • Until proven otherwise, mobile/radio/Wi-Fi fields do not pose a threat to human health;
  • Every day, we are exposed electromagnetic radiation that is hundreds, if not thousands of times below the international standards deemed safe;
  • Symptoms experienced by people who identify as “electrosensitive” do not appear to be caused by electromagnetic fields;
  • So-called experts and companies that pretend otherwise may not be trustworthy, or even qualified to discuss EMFs.

But hey, you should to read the comic before disagreeing…

So cover your head with aluminium foil, make holes for your eyes, turn off your router & 4G and read this right away!

P.S. As always, scientific references for this comic are listed in the first comment.

Translated by Patricia Rainville; edits and proofreading by Robyn Penney.

 

Title

 

Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation

Daily exposure to ionizing radiation

 

 

 

Visible light is the strongest type of non-ionizing radiation

No effects of non-ionizing radiation on human health have been found

 

 

 

Daily exposure to EMFs and international standards

Smart electric meters emit as much EMFs as a TV remote

What about increasing the international standards of EMF exposure

 

 

 

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity

An example of trial to assess whether electrosensitivity is caused by EMFs

Wi-Fi allergies and suicides

 

 

 

So-called EMF experts

The carcinogenic potential of EMFs

Anti-EMF devices and clothing

 

 

 

Conclusion 1

Conclusion 2

 

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4 Half-Truths about the Acid-Base Balance and the Alkaline Diet

4 Half-Truths about the Acid-Base Balance and the Alkaline Diet

The other day, during an unplanned visit in a raw food and detox smoothies store…

Alkaline water to restore body pH

What a wonderful premise for a comic about Evil Acid and the Mighty Alkaline Diet!

According to some people, our bodies are full of acid and constantly fight to preserve the acid-base balance, which wear us out and make us sick. It is said to cause illness, such as osteoporosis, eczema and even cancer.

Acid-base balance and blood pH do matter a great deal in medicine. There is also available research on how diet can impact those.

Unfortunately, we only hear half-truths on the matter. As an example, you can read online about a so-called “alkaline diet”, made out mostly of fruits and vegetables, which allegedly prevents multiple illnesses. Websites and books supporting that diet are full of claims like:

  • “Meat increases the levels of acid in the body!”
  • “Fruits and vegetables are alkalizing!”
  • “Acid excess is unhealthy! ”
  • “Cancer cells cannot grow in an alkaline body! ”

Those statements are more or less true… but more often than not, they’re part of a discourse which has no scientific ground, spread by people who don’t seem to understand how the human body works.

hippie meme acid-base balance

Let’s sort this out! This comic strip examines 4 half-truths regarding the acid-base balance… and adds the missing pieces of information that make up the whole picture.

Translated by Patricia Rainville; proofread by Stéphanie Alcaraz-Robinson.

 

4 Half-Truths about the Acid-Base Balance and the Alkaline Diet (header)

Some foods are acidic

 

Some foods are acidifying or alkalinizing

Too much body acid is unhealthy

 

The body fights to maintain the acid-base balance

 

Boring conclusion

 

Better conclusion

 

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The NO-PANIC Guide to the Birth Control Pill – Part II

The no-panic guide to the birth control pill part II (header)

Have you read Part 1 of my No-Panic Guide to the Birth Control Pill? If not, please do so before scrolling down.

I’ll continue in the same line of thought with the second (and last) part: my goal is to make you UNDERSTAND the risks associated with the Pill so that you can look at what you read and hear from a different angle.

I won’t tell you what to do: what I hope is to offer you a place to start and give you the necessary tools to promote enlightened reflection.

While deciding on what to incorporate, I took into account the myriad comments and suggestions I received after the publication of Part 1. Obviously, I couldn’t cover everything. I would’ve gladly added a section dedicated to cancer and depression, discussed the alternatives to hormonal contraception, provided more practical examples… but I decided to limit the scope of the last comic in order to keep everything “digestible”.

I don’t expect everyone to be engrossed by the topic, let alone read it in its entirety. Without doubt, it’s the longest comic I’ve produced so far and it’s quite stuffy… I tried to shorten it as much as possible, but under no circumstances would I cut corners on such a serious and complex topic. My goal was to give women the necessary information for them to do their own critical thinking (such as being wary of allegations made by the media) and encourage open discussion with their doctors in all matters concerning the contraceptive pill.

If you manage to read the entire thing, you automatically win a bag of 1000 gummy bears that you can claim if you ever meet me in person.

In order to make sure that my comic is accurate, I asked for the help of Lyne Massicotte, a clinical biochemist. Lyne, whose work I greatly admire, is the cofounder – with her partner Mathieu – of Nasci Biologie Médicale, a medical lab specializing in male fertility. Thanks Lyne!

Translated by Qian Li (Pharm.D. candidate), proofread by Stéphanie Alcaraz-Robinson.

 

Comic header

 

The car analogy

 

Scary headlines about the Pill

The risk-benefit ratio

Risks and benefits associated with the Pill

The Pill and DVT blood clots pulmonary embolism

Pill generations vary in estrogen and progestin

 

Practical examples

 

Conclusion

 

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5 sticky myths about sunscreen

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Who says “summer” says “sun.” And who says “sun” says “suntanning” … or “cancer“. 

I don’t think anyone should freak out over exposure to the sun. On the other hand, if you’re gonna use sunscreen, you might as well use it properly.

After all, this is not just about cancer: UVA rays cause premature aging of the skin, while UVB cause those infuriating sunburns.

At the pharmacy, people very seldom ask me for advice when it comes time to sunscreens. I wonder what determines their choice. A nice bottle with a cute doggy on it? Statements like “Ultimate Protection Apocalyptic 3000”? Low (or high) price tag?

Here’s the truth: choosing the best sunscreen is FAR from easy, even for me. It’s not easy to use it well either.

In this comic, I address 5 beliefs about sun exposure and sunscreen that I hear all the time.

In a second comic, I’ll address the issue of allegedly toxic ingredients in sunscreen (such as nanoparticles and endocrine disruptors), vitamin D deficiency and the belief that sunscreen is more carcinogenic than the sun itself.

P.S. There’s a joke that is a direct homage to the Simpsons. Who’s gonna find it first?

Translation by Olivier Bernard, proofreading by Lauren Knight.

 

Title

Sunburns and skin phototype

 

 

Shade and UV rays

 

 

About sun protection factor SPF

 

 

Amount and frequency for applying sunscreen

 

 

Bad marketing about sunscreens

How to choose a sunscreen

 

 

Conclusion and radioactive white

 

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How to make your milk NONTOXIC

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You’re probably aware that milk is a disgusting, toxic, white poison filled with blood and pus, threatening mankind every day.  I read that online.

If you drink milk, you will have cancer, osteoporosis, divorce and your credit card debts will increase significantly. You’ll also die one day because of dairy.

Chances are that you’re lactose intolerant too, because everyone is. So if you give milk to your kids, you’re basically a criminal.

But fortunately, I’ve found a way to make milk slightly better for you. Here’s how.

Translation by Olivier Bernard, proofreading by Lauren Knight.

 

How to make your milk nontoxic

Milk is white poison according to the Internet

I share my findings about milk on Facebook

Lactose intolerance mammals and the milk industry

You are lactose intolerant and also an idiot

Adding lemon juice to milk makes it less poisonous

Curdled milk with lemon kicks ass

The ultimate testimony about sour milk

 

A note from the author (me):

You think that the arguments brought forward in this comic are too good to be true, overly simplified and unproven? Well done! You should do the same with most of what you read on the Internet.

I created this comic in order to provide something more entertaining than all the propaganda articles found on the web about milk. Really, I believe it’s better to read the above-written crap than anything found elsewhere, because at least my crap doesn’t take itself seriously.

A few things to consider about milk:

  • Milk is not unhealthy. But you don’t “need” to drink milk to be healthy. Dairy is an excellent source of protein, calcium and vitamin D, but if you can find those nutrients elsewhere, go for it.
  • Milk does not have positive, negative or otherworldly properties. It’s a food… and you shouldn’t choose foods according to whether they allegedly have special benefits (because they don’t).
  • Milk does not make your bones weaker. What studies actually say is that milk is not enough to prevent fractures, which comes to no surprise.
  • No, there is no pus, blood or bacteria in milk… if it’s pasteurized. As for antibiotics, the industry is (fortunately) under a lot of public pressure to stop using them routinely in livestock.
  • 9 to 23% of Caucasians are lactose intolerant, compared to 60 to 100% of African-Americans and Asians, so we’re very far from the “epidemic” that some people speak about; it has more to do with genetics. Also, lactose intolerant people can still consume dairy moderately.
  • Some large-scale, well-built studies suggest that people who drink a lot of milk have a higher mortality rate and a higher risk of developing some types of cancer, but these studies cannot conclude that milk is the cause. People who drink more drink may have other risk factors, such as having more sugar or fat in their diet. People who consume a moderate amount of dairy don’t seem affected by this.

In the end, my impression is that the anti-milk panic exploding online right now comes from activists trying to stop the exploitation of livestock. I am 100% with them regarding the need for ethical treatment of animals, but if this requires demonizing milk, telling outright lies and making me feel guilty to drink it… no thanks.

 

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