We’ve been busting weight loss, nutrition and wellness myths here on the Herbal One blog for over 7 years. At times, it’s felt like a lonely effort.
When all you see, hear and read about are “Miracle Cure for Losing Weight”, “Lose 20 Pounds in 7 Days” and “Quick & Easy Weight Loss Tips”, it can feel like we’re the only voice telling people that healthy weight loss and weight loss that lasts, takes more than a crash diet.
So when Netflix released “(Un)Well” recently, it felt like we finally got some reinforcement in delivering our message. Unwell is a six-episode docuseries that, according to its Netflix description “…takes a deep dive into the lucrative wellness industry, which touts health and healing. But do the products live up to the promise?”
An Examination of the Health & Wellness Industry
In episodes with titles like “Essential Oils”, “Fasting” and “Bee Sting Therapy”, the series examines its subjects with a critical but empathetic eye. People tell their own stories, including those of incredible circumstances with unexplainable results. The narrative goes into the darker corners of the business but stays away from making its own opinions. You are left to draw your own conclusions.
Still, even while it generally sticks to the facts, those facts speak volumes about those who drive the health and wellness trends and industry, including weight loss. If there is a theme that recurs most often throughout the series, across episodes that deal with a variety of subjects, it is that many purveyors of health and wellness advice and products have a lot of influence with the public, but little, if any, experience or educational qualifications.
Two examples are Gwyneth Paltrow & Khloe Kardashian who have millions of fans and social media followers, but scant scientific knowledge to promote their respective health and wellness products.
Paltrow’s wellness company, Goop, grew from a blog she authored and is now worth $250 million. Goop’s own Netflix series included a disclaimer before each episode that it is “entertainment not advice”, in part to adhere to a court order to stop making deceptive health claims.
Kardashian introduced “Flat Tummy Shakes” to her 120 million Instagram followers, claiming it can help with weight loss. But critics quickly called her out for false advertising and supporting a toxic diet culture.
If nothing else, “(Un)Well” offers viewers another point of view for their health and wellness decision making. At the very least, it hopefully gets us all to think twice and do our research before getting into any health, wellness and weight-loss trend.
If you want to speak to a trained nutrition consultant, visit your local Herbal One Centre. Your consultant can develop a personal diet plan customized to your needs and goals, and using regular foods that you can get at any grocery store.
Want to read about more weight loss myths? Check out our post “It’s a New Decade – Let’s Put These Weight-Loss Myths to Rest’.