Gillian McKeith
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Gillian McKeith (also known as Dr Gillian McKeith although she does not have an accredited doctorate) (born 1959, Perth, Scotland) is a controversial Scottish author and television presenter. Her television work includes Channel 4's You Are What You Eat, Granada Television's Dr Gillian McKeith's Feel Fab Forever and a number of slots on shows such as ITV's This Morning and BBC1's Good Morning. She suffers from scoliosis, a form of curvature of the spine.
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[edit] Philosophy
Her general philosophy is based on advice to exercise more, and to reduce processed and high-calorie foods in favour of organic fruits and vegetables. She is a proponent of colonic irrigation and of her proprietary 'living food' supplements, said to aid digestion by providing enzymes. She also claims that yeast is harmful and that the colours of foods are nutritionally significant.
The basis of some of her alternative medical procedures (for instance, diagnosis of nutritional deficiency by faeces and tongue inspection) has been strongly disputed as inaccurate or untrue by some members of the scientific community. Critics have included John Garrow, Emeritus Professor of Human Nutrition, University of London; (physician) doctor and journalist Dr Ben Goldacre (in The Guardian's “Bad Science” column)[1]; Edzard Ernst, University of Exeter professor of complementary medicine; and Amanda Wynne of the British Dietetic Association (in The Sun).
[edit] Education
McKeith originally attended the University of Edinburgh and gained a degree in languages and business. Later she moved to the United States, where she worked in marketing and international business.
McKeith received a Master's degree and PhD via a distance learning programme from the American Holistic College of Nutrition, Alabama — now the Clayton College of Natural Health. The Clayton College of Natural Health states that it is "accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and the American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board[2]". However, this accreditation is not recognised by the U.S. Secretary of Education.[3]
She originally claimed, both on her website and in her book Dr Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health, to have a PhD from the American College of Nutrition — by implication, the Florida-based institution of that name, rather than the unaccredited Clayton College of Natural Health. This has since been corrected. McKeith's PR office indicate that her PhD thesis has been published under the title "Blue Green Algae" by Keats publishing [citation needed]. However, this publication is only around 60 pages in length, which is very short for a PhD thesis; on average they are over 200 pages and may be up to 500 pages.
[edit] Reponse to critics
[edit] A taxi driver
With regard to her qualifications, McKeith recounted the following anecdote, about a conversation with a "cigarette smoking, overweight, balding, part time health guru wannabe and gentle but jocular" taxi driver, whom she called Harry:
'You know, fish has more omegas [omega acids] than flax,' he [Harry] said.
'I beg your pardon,' I said.
'I said that fish has more omegas than flax seeds,' he re-stated.
...
It was time to put a stop to this nonsense. 'In all due respect, you're wrong, Harry. Flax seeds contain far greater levels of the healthy oils (omega-3 and omega-6) in a properly balanced form,' I explained.
'No, I disagree,' he argued.
'What do you mean, you disagree? Have you spent years conducting clinical research, working with patients, lecturing, teaching, studying the omega oils in flax, obtaining worldwide data, compiling one of the largest private health libraries on the planet, and writing extensively on the topic?' I asked.
'No,' replied Harry feebly.
I wondered, 'Are you a scientist, a biochemist, a botanist, or have you spent a lifetime studying food and biochemistry as I have done?'
'No,' he again replied. 'So, where do you get such stuff? Where is your scientific authority?' I demanded.
Harry proudly announced, 'Oh, my wife is a doctor, a gynaecologist by the way.'
'Is she a food specialist or a nutritional biochemist as well?' I quickly retorted.
'Um, ah, well, no, but she is a doctor.' he offered. [1]
[edit] The Glasgow Herald
When questioned by the Glasgow Herald newspaper about her claims to hold a doctorate McKeith said:
I have nothing to be ashamed of. My qualifications are second to none. People out there would love to have my qualifications and expertise. [2]
On Clayton College she told her interviewer:
I could have gone anywhere I wanted but I chose Clayton. There was cutting-edge research being put forward by people who were pioneers at the time. [2]
She also mentioned that an apparently very elderly Linus Pauling had been a colleague:
The distance learning took her five years, she said, during which time she claims to have known Linus Pauling, the only person to have ever won two separate Nobel prizes – in peace and chemistry. Her course began in 1993; Pauling died in 1994.
"He was an incredible inspiration. I was working solidly, but studying for a doctorate is not all sitting in a classroom. I was stopping and starting.
"I am the first to say that this was not traditional. What I did was quite unique, but I am very proud of that choice." [2]
(Note that, contrary to the article, Linus Pauling is not the only person to have won two Nobel Prizes: Marie Curie did as well, for physics and chemistry. However, Pauling is the only person who has won two unshared Nobel Prizes.[4])
Broadly speaking, her defence appears to be that her unconventional approach is bound to generate detractors:
"I'm a pioneer. I am on a crusade to change the nation and fortunately, or unfortunately, that is going to put me in the limelight.
"But you can't have change without a bit of resistance. They can try to attach stigma to me, but it will bounce off, back on to them. I refute anyone who is trying to bring me down." [2]
In June 2006, the makers of a satirical flash animation[5] widely publicised by the b3ta newsletter[6], which alluded to the accreditation of McKeith's degree, were threatened with a libel case by her lawyers and were forced to change the offending lyrics.
[edit] Professional affiliations
McKeith says she is a member of the American Association of Nutritional Consultants (AANC). This organisation has been criticised by Quackwatch for selling membership certificates to unqualified individuals. In 2004, Dr Ben Goldacre revealed that upon payment of $60 he obtained a certificate showing his dead cat was a member [7]. It is claimed by Quackwatch that hamsters and poodles are members too.
[edit] Research
McKeith has referred to conducting a number of studies. These include investigations into the effects of blue-green algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) on childhood learning disabilities and behavioural problems (Nebraska, USA; and El Salvador school system), and the link between stressors and ageing and immunity, the latter with Dr Robert Pollack (MD) of Temple University Medical School (Philadelphia, USA). On the strength of her beliefs about the "miracle superfood" blue-green algae, she markets a product containing it called Dr Gillian McKeith's Liquid Nutrient Shot.
Her work has not appeared in peer-reviewed publications, and is not considered by scientists to be of any academic value. [8]
[edit] Diagnosis
In her book You Are What You Eat McKeith advocates a variety of diagnostic techniques controversial among those with medical qualifications. Among these are examination of the tongue, the mapping of pimples, and detailed scrutiny of faecal matter.
[edit] Exterior signs
Many exterior parts of the body are said to provide insight into illness:
I always think of the tongue as being like a window to the organs. The extreme tip correlates to the heart, the bit slightly behind is the lungs. The right side shows what the gallbladder is up to and the left side the liver. The middle indicates the condition of your stomach and spleen, the back the kidneys, intestines and womb. [3]
A midline crack not reaching the tip [of the tongue] seems harmless enough but if you have one, it means you have a weak stomach and your digestion is not what it should be." [3]
If you have a line down the middle of your tongue, this is an indication that you are unable to digest the large molecules of cow's milk. [4]
Cracks behind the ears are a sign of a zinc deficiency. [5]
Breaking/Splitting/Chipping Nails: These are an indication that your liver needs help." [6]
White spots on the nails are a classic sign of zinc deficiency." [6]
Finally, there is a strong correlation between the health of your nails and liver. If your liver blood is healthy, your nails will be strong. [7]
Finally, growth rate of hair depends on the kidneys. If your kidneys are strong, your hair will be strong. [8]
Cracks at each corner of the mouth: A sign of vitamin B2 deficiency." [9]
Unless you've been injected with collagen to give your lips a fuller appearance, a puffy lower lip indicates digestive stagnation. It could even suggest constipation." [9]
Tender spots where the shoulder meets your arm: An indication of vitamin B12 deficiency." [9]
Small pimply bumps on the arm: A possible sign of beta-carotene, B complex and EFA [essential fatty acids] deficiency." [9]
Deficiencies of the mineral magnesium are at epidemic levels in this country, causing constipation, high blood pressure, depression, leg cramps, PMS, insomnia and excessive tiredness." [10]
Red spots on the front of the thigh: A possible vitamin A deficiency. [10]
Varicose veins: An indication of nutritional deficiency and/or congestion in the liver. [11]
[edit] Pimples
Pimples are a particular area of diagnostic interest. McKeith maintains that the locations of these provide means of locating the source of health problems:
Pimples point to the congestion or imbalances. Depending on where they are situated on the body, you can tell which organ is affected. [12]
She provides a guide to decoding these signs[12]:
| Pimple location | Problem area |
|---|---|
| forehead | intestinal |
| cheeks | lung |
| nose | heart |
| jaw | kidney |
| shoulder | digestive |
| chest | lung and heart |
| upper back | lung |
| around the mouth | reproductive |
[edit] Excretion
McKeith believes examining and smelling faeces can give clues to bodily misfunction. She frequently engages in this activity during her television shows. Specific contentions include:
Greasy stools that won't flush: Floating stools that will not flush show a liver imbalance. [13]
Skid mark stools: Your stools have too much mucus, so they slide and stick to the edge of the toilet. ... The stickiness is a sign of dampness inside the body — a very common condition in Britain. [12]
Pellets: If you are producing rabbit droppings then your liver needs help as it is congested. [12]
Thin, shreddy stools: Your colon is screaming for help. Please clean me! [14]
On this subject Rachel Cooke quoted Catherine Collins, chief dietician at St George's Hospital, London, as saying: "it is impossible to diagnose medical conditions from looking at a normal brown stool." [15]
While not commanding the same close analysis, urination is also a subject of interest:
If you feel the need to pee, but it won't come out easily this is a sign that you need to balance your bladder and kidney energies. [16]
Cloudy urine: A sign that your body is damp and acidic, due to eating the wrong foods. [17]
[edit] Nutritional views
McKeith often bases her nutritional advice on scientifically questionable precepts. She recommends chlorophyll-containing foods on the basis of biochemical claims disputed by Ben Goldacre, and has averred that there is a connection between the colours of foods and their beneficial properties on account of "vibrational energy". She warns against yeast, dairy products and red meat.
[edit] Blood pH
An acid body means that there is an excess of hydrogen ions which combine with oxygen to form water. This excess hydrogren depletes the body's oxygen. Simply stated, a shortage of oxygen causes cells to break down and die, creating acidosis. [18]
This analysis is not congruent with standard chemical theory. While a lower pH implies more H+ ions, it does not entail that these excess H+ ions "deplete" the body's oxygen. In water the equilibrium governing pH is between H+ and OH- ions; free oxygen is not involved.[19] The negative effects of acidosis are therefore not a simple result of oxygen starvation in cells.
[edit] Vibrational energy and colours
On a now defunct "holistic health" website, she wrote:
All molecules have an electrical charge and vibrational energy. Therefore, all foods, which are made up of molecules, contain these vibrational charges. The colours of foods represent vibrational energies. For example, foods which are orange in colour, such as butternut squash, sweet potatoes and carrots, have similar vibrational energies and even similar nutrient makeup. Orange foods are extraordinarily high in Beta Carotene and Vitamin C which have great positive impact upon human immunity. Red coloured foods, such as tomatoes, cherries, watermelons, beetroots, are high in iron, and thus useful for building blood. [20]
Molecules are frequently without overall charge (those that are charged are usually referred to as ions). Molecular "vibrational energy" in the usual scientific sense is unconnected with colour because its typical frequencies are in the infra red region. Retinal response to substances' colours has no simple relation to their chemical or nutritional content.
She went on to say that:
Generally medical doctors are not trained in this area. It's not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing, just an issue of education. This is not an area that would fall under the realm of medical science at this time. [20]
She also expounded on this theme in her book, Living Food for Health:
While considering the nutritional value of food, I recognise that various foods possess different energies and perform different actions in the body. Some foods warm us up; others cool us down. ... This is not the same as hot or cold in terms of temperature. All cells and molecules, and therefore all foods too, maintain energetic qualities. Every organism and every food molecule delivers an energy or vibrational field. [21]
Walk through the produce aisle and seek out those fruits and vegetables which convey the strongest energetic and vibrational fields. ... Next when you get the food home and prepare it, do so with love and kindness. A plethora of studies and research papers have been written to support the claim that the 'energies from the chef can be picked up by the eater'. If the food preparer is in a foul mood, this can emotionally contaminate the person eating the food. [22]
[edit] Chlorophyll
Ben Goldacre highlighted the falsity of [23] McKeith's claim that chlorophyll would "really oxygenate your blood" because it is "high in oxygen". He explained that on account of the darkness of one's gut (preventing the photosynthetic process by which chlorophyll generates oxygen in plants), and because the bowel cannot absorb significant quantities of oxygen, this is false.
Other claims pertaining to chlorophyll include:
The structure of the chlorophyll molecule in the barley grass is nearly identical to our blood molecules. When we eat or drink chlorophyll-rich barley grass, our bodies are being revitalised with new life and energy. [24]
Not only has chlorophyll been found to be efficacious for building haemoglobin in the blood, but it's effective in detoxification, deodorisation and wound healing. Chlorophyll protects against toxic chemicals and radiation. [24]
Chlorophyll, high in oxygen, also suppresses viruses and helps the lungs to discharge residues from environmental pollution. [25]
[edit] "Sprouts"
McKeith recommends sprouting seeds — she terms these "sprouts" — for a variety of reasons. Most controversial is her assertion that a seed contains the energy required to create a complete plant — a claim disputed by Ben Goldacre, who described it as "simply wrong" [23]:
Each sprouting seed is packed with the nutritional energy needed to create a full grown healthy plant. [26]
This claim is also present in Living Food for Health [27].
She also highlights their richness in nucleic acids:
Sprouts are also packed with vitamins, minerals, protein, enzymes and fibre as well as two anti-ageing constituents — RNA and DNA (nucleic acids) — that are only found in growing cells. [26]
Nucleic acids are found in most cells and are present in all vegetables. Sprouting seeds are not unique in containing them.
[edit] X Factor appearances
Gillian appeared on The X Factor: Battle of the Stars in May 2006, and was the second act voted off. After she sang Etta James' "I just wanna make love to you", Sharon Osbourne said that her performance resembled "Salmonella". McKeith, however agreed to come back and "perform" the song "Don't Cha", by the Pussycat Dolls for the judges at the grand finale show, however, the song she agreed to sing was not broadcast.
[edit] References
- ^ Dr Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health: 12 Natural Superfoods to Transform Your Health (2004), page 88. Reproduced on Bonasana website (January 2002), Archive of Bonasana website article
- ^ a b c d "TV health guru admits buying doctorate by post", Lucy Bannerman, Glasgow Herald (4th August 2004)
- ^ a b You Are What You Eat (2004), page 33
- ^ You Are What You Eat (2004), page 123
- ^ You Are What You Eat (2004), page 38
- ^ a b You Are What You Eat (2004), page 39
- ^ You Are What You Eat (2004), page 165
- ^ You Are What You Eat (2004), page 164
- ^ a b c d You Are What You Eat (2004), page 41
- ^ a b You Are What You Eat (2004), page 42
- ^ You Are What You Eat (2004), page 43
- ^ a b c d You Are What You Eat (2004), page 52
- ^ You Are What You Eat (2004), page 44
- ^ You Are What You Eat (2004), page 47
- ^ The Observer (June 12, 2005)
- ^ You Are What You Eat (2004), page 50
- ^ You Are What You Eat (2004), page 51
- ^ Dr Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health: 12 Natural Superfoods to Transform Your Health (2004), page 38
- ^ Physical Chemistry, Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula (2006)
- ^ a b Bonasana website (May 2002), Archive of Bonasana website article
- ^ Dr Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health: 12 Natural Superfoods to Transform Your Health (2004), page 20
- ^ Dr Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health: 12 Natural Superfoods to Transform Your Health (2004), page 207
- ^ a b Gillian McKeith, round 2, Ben Goldacre, The Guardian (August 19, 2004)
- ^ a b Dr Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health: 12 Natural Superfoods to Transform Your Health (2004), page 81
- ^ Dr Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health: 12 Natural Superfoods to Transform Your Health (2004), pages 104-105
- ^ a b You Are What You Eat (2004), page 211
- ^ Dr Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health: 12 Natural Superfoods to Transform Your Health (2004), page 27
[edit] Books
- Miracle Superfood: Wild Blue-Green Algae (1996)
- Ten Steps to Perfect Health for New Mothers (2002)
- Living Food for Health (2004)
- You Are What You Eat (2004) ISBN 0-7181-4765-0
- You Are What You Eat Cookbook (2005) ISBN 0-7181-4797-9
- Dr Gillian McKeith's Ultimate Health Plan: The Diet Programme That Will Keep You Slim for Life (2006)
