Is Canola Oil Hazardous to Your Health?
Part 2: Background
Analysis by Peter Kohler: I am angry that such a sloppy and patched-together collection of innuendo, misinformation, and unsubstantiated rumor is burning up the Internet by being forwarded from person to person, and persons to groups. It's irresponsible for this to be done. While each body is singular, it is quite safe for the overwhelming majority of us to use and consume canola oil.
In the beginning there was a book. This book-the source of many of the statements and opinions shared with us in the text above-was Young Again: How to Reverse the Aging Process by John Thomas, first published in 1994 by Plexus Press. While the rest of us get older year by year, on the promotional page at the beginning of the paperback copy of this book which I have before me it is claimed that between the ages of 27 and 49 Mr. Thomas actually got younger, at least in bio-chemical terms. It is further stated, "While pursuing a degree in the life sciences, John realized that medicine and science generate sterile information. They ask the wrong questions."The Anti-Science of John Thomas
Mr. Thomas eschews "science." This is why, on page 228, he is able to make the claim that the "condition," as he puts it, of homosexuality begins with diet. On page 276, in opposition to a matter commented upon by scientists, he writes, "The movie 'Lorenzo's Oil' offers another good example of just how far off course medicine has gone and how muddled is the scientific mind."
One wonders if Mr. Thomas applied any scientific methods as he pursued his studies and wrote his book. The book is chock full of enthusiastically offered suggestions and opinions, some of which do seem worth consideration. Before the book really gets under way, though, one encounters a full page of disclaimer text by the publisher, in which it is stated, "Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and accurate as possible. However, there may be mistakes both typographical and in content [italics mine]." Further, "The author ... shall have neither liability nor responsibility ... with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book." Legalese, of course, but most publishers express no such wariness about the content of the books they market.
Mr. Thomas also has a brief article posted on various Websites wherein can be read word-for-word a fair number of the assumptions, mistaken beliefs, scientifically disproved and ridiculous claims that are presented in the email text under consideration.
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