B. S. Wellness Myths Debunked

With roughly 50% of the US population pursuing “wellness” through various fads and supplements, it’s clear that many people are looking for ways to improve their health. A closer look at clinic demographics shows that over half of patients take at least one supplement, with a significant portion of adults over 55 focused on “heart health.” This surge in health-seeking behavior, unfortunately, has led to a rise in baseless wellness trends—a problem that needs to be addressed by debunking some of the biggest myths.

-> B. S. Wellness Myth #1: Probiotic Sodas

Who doesn’t want guilt-free carbonation? Drink this fiber-enriched soda, and your gut microbiome will rebalance itself. Man, that’s easy!

While it’s true that beneficial bacteria, or probiotics, like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus use prebiotics like we use food, the effect is dose-dependent. The amount of fiber in an average prebiotic soda is nowhere near enough to support these bacteria, eliminating the claimed health benefit. To cap it all off, the sodas lack probiotics or postbiotics, the other two parts of a healthy gut microbiome. 

The solution? Supplement your diet with fiber, and eat probiotic-rich fermented foods like kefir.

-> B. S. Wellness Myth #2: Detox: Cleanse Me, Baby

Juicing, fasting, or dieting. Take your pick, but the central goal is purification and ridding your body of toxins.

It’s a timeless concept, but the modern version stems from the ‘Master Cleanse’ popularized by Stanley Burroughs in the 1940s. Initially meant to treat stomach ulcers, it morphed into an all-purpose method to remove impurities and shed some extra pounds. Cleanses rarely go into the unnecessary details of what specific toxins are leaving the body, but they appeal to the psychological idea of “cleaning” the body.

This myth in particular relies on vague claims, appeal to emotion, and a gross misunderstanding of the body’s built-in “detoxification” systems. In fact, there’s an entire organ dedicated to breaking down toxins. It’s called the liver. The harmful substances chemically converted into harmless byproducts by the liver then get filtered through the kidneys and end up in your toilet bowl.

To date, no reliable study has shown any benefit to detox fads, and the myth relies on a deep mistrust of our own biology. The side effects range from severe electrolyte, protein, and nutrient deficiencies to actual toxicity. In fact, the FDA has found illegal and toxic ingredients in commercially available detox products.

The cure? Live a healthy lifestyle. Focus on what’s proven to be healthy. Ditch the detox.

-> B. S. Wellness Myth 3: Sea Salt, Not Table Salt

Whether Himalayan, from the sea, or plain and on your table, all salt is just NaCl. In fact, sea salt contains just as much NaCl by weight as table salt. Those trace minerals may be present in exotic salts, but the quantity is nowhere close to enough to make any kind of impact on your health. Making matters worse, most table salt contains iodine, introduced into table salt to combat rampant thyroid disease (since everyone in the early 1900s used table salt). Premium salt, however, generally does NOT contain iodine.

The key pain point here is too much salt increases your risk of high blood pressure. Premium salt is, unfortunately, not the solution. The solution remains limiting salt intake, carefully screening what goes in your pantry based on percent daily sodium per serving, and consulting with your doctor if your own efforts don’t seem to be working.

The world of wellness is often filled with appealing shortcuts and quick fixes. But as we’ve seen, many of these “solutions” are based on myths, not science. The truth is, genuine wellness comes from proven, consistent habits—not trendy fads. So before you jump on the next wellness bandwagon, remember to question the claims, consult your doctor, and focus on what’s truly healthy for you.