A forward has been appearing on WhatsApp and Facebook claiming you can self-check for COVID-19 infection and drinking water and keeping garlic in your mouth can offer coronavirus protection.

Of course, all this information is completely false. No evidence has been found to confirm any of these claims. Let’s fact-check each claim one by one and see why these claims are wrong. In the end, I’ll also tell you why I think these forwards are so compelling.

Intro and outro music: Don't Stop performed by Nothing More, from their album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves. The sound clips have been used with their permission.

For the full transcript along with links to citations and further reading, please visit www.berationable.com.

Questions, suggestions or just want to get in touch? Find me on Instagram and Twitter @berationable and on Facebook @Rationable. Join the conversation on the Rationable Conversations Facebook group and email me at [email protected]. For more content like this, visit www.berationable.com.

Meet Doh Driver. She grew up believing in a whole slew of pseudoscience, including the idea that vaccines were harmful. Through her journey, she began to think more critically of her beliefs until she finally shed them. Now, she talks to anti-vaxxers online to change their minds. This is her story.

Intro and outro music: Don't Stop performed by Nothing More, from their album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves. The sound clips have been used with their permission.

For the full transcript along with links to citations and further reading, please visit www.berationable.com.

Questions, suggestions or just want to get in touch? Find me on Instagram and Twitter @berationable and on Facebook @Rationable. Join the conversation on the Rationable Conversations Facebook group and email me at [email protected]. For more content like this, visit www.berationable.com.

I had the pleasure of meeting Doh on Facebook after I posted my last article about how I became a sceptic. When she shared her story, I was immediately intrigued and amazed at the journey she had gone through. I asked her to flesh it out and send it over so I could have the pleasure of sharing it with you. So here it is.

It takes a lot of courage and insight to break out of belief systems we have had since we were children. Especially in the case of vaccines, nutrition and medicine, these beliefs can be a matter of life and death – for ourselves and our loved ones.

If there’s one thing you take away from her story (other than the importance of falsifying your beliefs) it’s this: when you engage with someone on social media who believes that vaccines are harmful, GMOs are poison or that alternative medicine works, remember they may be on a similar journey. Speak to them with compassion, reason and rationality and you could crack their echo chamber just enough for them to see the light.

In this episode, I set the way back machine to stun and remember the times I had serious smh moments. My beliefs about the ketogenic diet, evolution, aliens and fitness were all thrown into the fire, and rising from those ashes rose a more skeptical me. Here’s the story.

Intro and outro music: Don't Stop performed by Nothing More, from their album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves. The sound clips have been used with their permission.

For the full transcript along with links to citations and further reading, please visit www.berationable.com.

Questions, suggestions or just want to get in touch? Find me on Instagram and Twitter @berationable and on Facebook @Rationable. Join the conversation on the Rationable Conversations Facebook group and email me at [email protected]. For more content like this, visit www.berationable.com.

To me, this is one of the scariest questions we could possibly ask. We know the answer too, and we don’t have to go back 20 or 30 years to find it. It’s happening right now. I’m sure you’ve heard of the horrifying measles outbreak in Samoa that still rages on. That’s what happens when antivax wishes come true.

So how did this happen? And how can we stop it from happening again?

Donate to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/samoa-measles-outbreak

Further Reading & References

- An introduction to the anti-vaccine movement

- Seven worst sources of vaccine information

- http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2019/12/samoa-measles-deaths-rise-70-drc-outbreak-ramps

- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/07/samoa-measles-crisis-100-new-cases-as-anti-vaccination-activist-charged

- Thread from @drfixus on Twitter: Find the whole thread here: https://twitter.com/drfixus/status/1203478558804529153?s=20

Intro and outro music: Don't Stop performed by Nothing More, from their album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves. The sound clips have been used with their permission.

For the full transcript along with links to citations and further reading, please visit www.berationable.com.

Questions, suggestions or just want to get in touch? Find me on Instagram and Twitter @berationable and on Facebook @Rationable. Join the conversation on the Rationable Conversations Facebook group and email me at [email protected]. For more content like this, visit www.berationable.com.

Another day, another Whatsapp forward. I recently got one from several people since the pollution in Delhi has been making headlines across the world. It describes the foods and nutrients you should eat to fight the effects of the pollution shrouding Delhi and North India. It’s immediately appealing because we are all so scared of what all the smog is doing to our lungs and our overall health. People on the streets are wearing masks. I have air purifiers installed all over the house. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could make ourselves immune to pollution with a few simple additions to our diet? To be honest, I’m not optimistic. But I’ll reserve my judgement till all the evidence is presented.

Intro and outro music: Don't Stop performed by Nothing More, from their album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves. The sound clips have been used with their permission.

For the full transcript along with links to citations and further reading, please visit www.berationable.com.

Questions, suggestions or just want to get in touch? Find me on Instagram and Twitter @berationable and on Facebook @Rationable. Join the conversation on the Rationable Conversations Facebook group and email me at [email protected]. For more content like this, visit www.berationable.com.

Let me explain why I’m so anti-vape. I’ve been a smoker for 20 years of my life, and quit just 4 years ago. I have a grudge against harmful addictions and the companies that sell them to kids. It’s infuriating because what happened to me is now happening again to a whole new generation of youth through this shiny new thing called an e-cigarette – the perfect way to snag the young and tech obsessed.

Turns out my first reaction wasn’t completely justified, even if my anger probably is. The answers aren’t quite that simple. But we will discuss them in this episode.

Intro and outro music: Don't Stop performed by Nothing More, from their album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves. The sound clips have been used with their permission.

Questions, suggestions or just want to get in touch? Find me on Instagram and Twitter @berationable and on Facebook @Rationable. Join the conversation on the Rationable Conversations Facebook group and email me at [email protected]. For more content like this, visit www.berationable.com.

Alternative medicine quacks like Dr Oz and Junger, celebrities, and your lunch table buddies, have claimed that our bodies gather up toxins from our food, drinks and air we breathe. No one ever specifies what these so-called toxins really are, so there’s no way these claims can be tested explicitly for a particular chemical. 

So are these toxins real? We dive into the toxin pond to figure out what's going on.

Further Reading and References

1. Bloodletting: https://www.bcmj.org/premise/history-bloodletting
2. Functional Medicine: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/functional-medicine-the-ultimate-misnomer-in-the-world-of-integrative-medicine/
3. Vaccines: https://www.berationable.com/rationable-blog/2019/7/20/antivax-poking-holes-in-their-arguments
4. Ayurveda: http://www.holistic-online.com/ayurveda/ayv-treatment-panchakarma.htm
5. Chinese Medicine: http://www.itmonline.org/arts/bleeding.htm
6. Unani: http://www.greekmedicine.net/therapies/Hygienic_Purification_Therapies.html
7. Poisons & Toxins: https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/364-poisons-and-toxins
8. Botulism: https://www.medicinenet.com/botulism/article.htm
9. Venoms: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/venoms
10. Plant toxins: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/plant-toxin
11. Apple seeds and Apricot Kernels: https://www.berationable.com/rationable-blog/2019/5/31/3ndxjj5ynmu7qz0rbvejj34ve201uh
12. Poison Mushrooms: https://www.britannica.com/list/7-of-the-worlds-most-poisonous-mushrooms
13. Metals: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/heavy-metal-poisoning/
14. Particulate Pollutants: https://www.toppr.com/guides/chemistry/environmental-chemistry/particulate-pollutants/
15. Creatinine: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/what-creatinine
16. Liver: https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/picture-of-the-liver#1
17. Intestines: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-dubious-practice-of-detox
18. Kidneys: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work 
19. Detox your liver: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction
20. Lose weight: https://www.berationable.com/rationable-blog/2017/02/06/lose-belly-fat
21. Juices: https://www.soundbitesrd.com/6-food-myths-dietitians-love-hate/
22. Fibre: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181231-is-juicing-actually-good-for-you

Science Based Medicine

1. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-one-thing-you-need-to-know-before-you-detox/
2. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/detox-scams-are-worthless-and-potentially-dangerous/ 
3. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/top-ten-signs-your-detox-may-be-a-scam/
4. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/detox-what-they-dont-want-you-to-know/
5. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-detox-scam-how-to-spot-it-and-how-to-avoid-it/

Other articles on detoxing

1. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction
2. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/detox-products-market
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-dubious-practice-of-detox
4. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction
5. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/dec/05/detox-myth-health-diet-science-ignorance
6. https://www.self.com/story/myths-detoxing-totally-false

Intro and outro music: Don't Stop performed by Nothing More, from their album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves. The sound clips have been used with their permission.

Questions, suggestions or just want to get in touch? Find me on Instagram  and Twitter

 @berationable and on Facebook @Rationable. Join the conversation on the Rationable Conversations  Facebook group and email me at [email protected]. For more content like this, visit www.berationable.com

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There is clear evidence showing that vaccines save lives and mostly safe. But I’ve found a few groups that promote the idea that they are harmful. If you see information coming from these sources saying vaccines are bad, report the post or share it with me. But first, let me introduce you to the seven worst sources for vaccine information (and most other health advice too).

References and Further Reading

• WHO: https://www.who.int/immunization/programmes_systems/financing/analyses/1_economics_of_immunization_policies.pdf?ua=1
• NIH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1140944/
• Antivax: Poking holes in their claims: https://www.berationable.com/rationable-blog/2019/7/20/antivax-poking-holes-in-their-arguments
• Providing vaccines for free: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-28156436
• Big Pharma & Vaccines: https://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/the-myth-of-big-pharma-vaccine-profits-updated/
• Vaccines & Autism: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2017/05/vaccines_autism_and_the_promotion_of_irrelevant_research_a_science-pseudosc/
• How many doctors exist: https://www.reference.com/world-view/many-doctors-world-ef3c66521bd289a8
• Jenny McCarthy's son: https://hollywoodlife.com/2010/02/26/jenny-mccarthy-says-her-son-evan-never-had-autism/
• Vaccines Journal: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/vaccine
• Social Medicine: https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/home/topics/prevention/social-medicine-the-effect-of-social-media-on-the-anti-vaccine-movement/
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/
• UNICEF: https://www.unicef.org/topics/vaccines

Intro and outro music: Don't Stop performed by Nothing More, from their album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves. The sound clips have been used with their permission.

Questions, suggestions or just want to get in touch? Find me on Instagram and Twitter @berationable and on Facebook @Rationable. Join the conversation on the Rationable Conversations Facebook group and email me at [email protected]. For more content like this, visit www.berationable.com.

Alternative medicine quacks like Dr Oz and Junger, celebrities, and your lunch table buddies, have claimed that our bodies gather up toxins from our food, drinks and air we breathe. No one ever specifies what these so-called toxins really are, so there’s no way these claims can be tested explicitly for a particular chemical.

So are these toxins real? We dive into the toxic pond to figure out what's going on.

Further Reading and References

Bloodletting: https://www.bcmj.org/premise/history-bloodletting

Functional Medicine: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/functional-medicine-the-ultimate-misnomer-in-the-world-of-integrative-medicine/

Vaccines: https://www.berationable.com/rationable-blog/2019/7/20/antivax-poking-holes-in-their-arguments

Ayurveda: http://www.holistic-online.com/ayurveda/ayv-treatment-panchakarma.htm

Chinese Medicine: http://www.itmonline.org/arts/bleeding.htm

Unani: http://www.greekmedicine.net/therapies/Hygienic_Purification_Therapies.html

Poisons & Toxins: https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/364-poisons-and-toxins

Botulism: https://www.medicinenet.com/botulism/article.htm

Venoms: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/venoms

Plant toxins: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/plant-toxin

Apple seeds and Apricot Kernels: https://www.berationable.com/rationable-blog/2019/5/31/3ndxjj5ynmu7qz0rbvejj34ve201uh

Poison Mushrooms: https://www.britannica.com/list/7-of-the-worlds-most-poisonous-mushrooms

Metals: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/heavy-metal-poisoning/

Particulate Pollutants: https://www.toppr.com/guides/chemistry/environmental-chemistry/particulate-pollutants/

Creatinine: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/what-creatinine

Liver: https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/picture-of-the-liver#1

Intestines: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-dubious-practice-of-detox

Kidneys: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work

Detox your liver: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction

Lose weight: https://www.berationable.com/rationable-blog/2017/02/06/lose-belly-fat

Juices: https://www.soundbitesrd.com/6-food-myths-dietitians-love-hate/

Fibre: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181231-is-juicing-actually-good-for-you

Science Based Medicine

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-one-thing-you-need-to-know-before-you-detox/

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/detox-scams-are-worthless-and-potentially-dangerous/

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/top-ten-signs-your-detox-may-be-a-scam/

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/detox-what-they-dont-want-you-to-know/

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-detox-scam-how-to-spot-it-and-how-to-avoid-it/

Other articles on detoxing

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/detox-products-market

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-dubious-practice-of-detox

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/dec/05/detox-myth-health-diet-science-ignorance

https://www.self.com/story/myths-detoxing-totally-false

Intro and outro music: Don't Stop performed by Nothing More, from their album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves. The sound clips have been used with their permission.

Questions, suggestions or just want to get in touch? Find me on Instagram and Twitter @berationable and on Facebook @Rationable. Join the conversation on the Rationable Conversations Facebook group and email me at [email protected]. For more content like this, visit www.berationable.com

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I’m sure you’ve heard or said that “Science doesn’t know everything”. This is usually in defence of an idea that probably isn’t scientific, like homeopathy or god. And that’s okay. Because I agree with you. Science doesn’t know everything, and probably never will. And here’s why.

** Further Reading & References**

Questions, suggestions or just want to get in touch? Find me on Instagram and Twitter @berationable and on Facebook @Rationable. Join the conversation on the Rationable Conversations Facebook group and email me at [email protected]. For more content like this, visit www.berationable.com.