Have you heard people raving about the power of “magic potions” like coconut oil, Kombucha tea or Nomi juice to solve all sorts of health issues? They are all plant-based, so are they good for us?
I am listing the following, popularized as health-food, with links to the explanations of how they may do more harm than good. This list does not include animal products, dairy-based protein shakes, supplement products, herbal or Ayurvedic medicines.
Kombucha tea: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/is-kombucha-tea-goodfor-you/
Yerba mate tea: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/is-yerba-mate-tea-bad-for-you/
Nomi & Mangosteen juice: http://nutritionfacts.org/2014/04/24/is-noni-or-mangosteen-juice-safe/
Traditional Korean Kimchi: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/is-kimchi-good-for-you/
Star fruit: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/are-star-fruit-good-for-you/
Coconut oil: http://nutritionfacts.org/2013/07/30/is-coconut-oil-good-for-you/
Raw food diet: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/raw-food-diet-myths/
Spirulina: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/infant-seizures-linked-to-mothers-spirulina-use/
Wine: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/alcohol-risks-vs-benefits/
Kelp & hiziki seaweed: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/too-much-iodine-can-be-as-bad-as-too-little/
REAL licorice: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/is-licorice-good-for-you/
RAW mushrooms: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/toxins-in-raw-mushrooms/
Blue-green algae (NB: NOT chlorella): http://nutritionfacts.org/video/update-on-chlorella/
Chocolate, even dark: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/cocoa-good-chocolate-bad/
Vietnamese, Chinese (cassia) & Indonesian cinnamon: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-safer-cinnamon/
Nutmeg: http://nutritionfacts.org/2013/10/31/nutmeg-toxicity/
Tarragon: http://nutritionfacts.org/2013/11/05/tarragon-toxicity/