Podcast falling off my radar

Yesterday I was listening to a podcast that has health and fitness tips. The hostess was talking about the affects of extra strength acetaminophen (Tylenol) on the liver. She cited an article that said studies showed that 14-20 Extra Strength Tylenol in a 24 hour period has been shown to cause severe liver damage. But, if you have been drinking alcohol severe damage could occur with as few as 4 of these pills.

Her suggested solution? “It is thought that switching to ibuprofen can eliminate that risk.” What? To eliminate the risk of liver damage, this health tips podcasts suggested that “you might be able to lessen your chances of killing yourself by destroying your liver if you will continue to drink alcohol (which is a known liver destroyer) but switch to a different drug interaction possibility.”

I have heard this type of thinking way too often. People don’t want to actually say that drinking is bad for you. They would rather not offend you by telling you that alcohol is destructive, and instead give you alternatives that don’t fix the problem.

I know that this is could be done in an effort to not offend listeners and loose subscribers to her show. In actuality though, she may not even be thinking that way. It could simply be a way for her to justify that drinking is not the problem, but the medicine is the problem. I don’t really know why she would say things like this if she is supposed to be all about health and fitness. With the exception to the health benefits touted for red wine (which you can get from purple grapes) there is nothing good or healthy about alcohol.

Anyway, I am no longer recommending Fitness Attack like I have in the past. I will unsubscribe from her feed and will be writing her an email with my thoughts.

I have one other podcast (done by a medical doctor) that has made similar comments. I have been listening to him closely on this issue as well.

It just boggles my mind that alcohol is such a sacred cow. You would think it was an endangered animal. In reality, it is an all too common monster.

I have always held to this position even though it has gotten me ridiculed on many Internet forums. But my position is strengthened at this time because I have friends whose family is going through emotional turmoil while they watch their father/grandfather slowly die due to alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. Try telling them that it is OK to drink, just be sure to take ibuprofen instead of acetaminophen.

2 thoughts on “Podcast falling off my radar”

  1. I know ibuprofen is particularly harsh on the stomach lining. I am not sure about the liver. Either way, alcohol is always hard on the liver.

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