Comments on: Why Intelligent People Buy Stupid Health Food

By: Dane Thorsen

Dane Thorsen — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:04:31 +0000

Another example is margarine, marketed as a low fat, heart-healthy alternative to butter. Manufacturers are legally allowed to claim that it is no longer made with trans fatty acids, although it contains mono- and diglycerides – another name for trans fats.

This, combined with oxidized polyunsaturated fats makes margarine a far greater threat to heart health than butter, and yet we have almost all been taken in by the deception – doctors even urge their patients to switch to it.

By: Nina_CZ

Nina_CZ — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 12:17:06 +0000

Living a Paleo lifestyle I never buy food that is processed or has an ad on TV or in a magazine (well, I’ve never seen an ad for apples, tomatoes or pork loin). I know many people who fall for this craziness. The Actimel example is a good one. As well the Apple one. I always wanted a MacBook, not because I think it is a good product, but because it is cool to have a Mac product. It is also cool to wear a Lululemon outfit (I can say that I wear it because it is comfy and well made, but the truth is that it is cool because it is expensive and my fitness heroes wears it) or to wear designer purse. We sometimes go to Starbucks to have a huge cup of expensive coffee, just because it says “Starbucks” on the cup, even though we can make a good coffee at home (and I am not even a huge coffee drinker). The thing is that nobody cares that you own an iPhone or have a Louis Vuitton bag (maybe I spelled that wrong, I am not sure). People who do not care about fashion will not know that your bag costed more than I make in two months at work and most people I know that own iPhone don’t even know how to use it properly, but it has an APPLE on the back, so it is cool to have it 😀
I read Steve Job’s biography so I do understand now WHY are their products made as precise as they are and owning a MacBook would make me happy for a different reasons than before, but I don’t want it anymore. I discovered other things in life that are important and worth getting :)))

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 13:46:18 +0000

In reply to Jess. Yes, that's how I see it too. We choose to become "experts" in some areas, but can't be in all. To come to a decision in those, we have to trust something that seems credible.

By: Jess

Jess — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 01:23:54 +0000

My guess is Sarah is a busy lady with those qualifications! It it probably “easier” to pay more and buy the well marketed health food or computer then to take the time to consider the options.