US President Donald Trump's pick for surgeon general, Casey Means, is sending shockwaves among medical experts. A wellness influencer and author, Means has a history of promoting "functional medicine," which many critics call quackery. Her methods are often based on unproven theories and pseudoscience.
One major concern is that Means dropped out of her surgical residency with just months left to complete it. She also has anti-vaccine sentiments, which could have far-reaching consequences for public health. Moreover, she advocates for using the sun to achieve optimal metabolic health – a claim that has been widely debunked by experts.
Critics argue that Means' confirmation could lead to the promotion of products and ideas that are not backed by scientific evidence. She has financial ties to supplement companies and tobacco giants, which raises questions about her potential influence on public policy.
Emily Bass, director of Federal Policy, Food and Agriculture at the Breakthrough Institute, notes that promoting a wholesale conversion to organic food could be impractical from a food supply standpoint and may not necessarily benefit the environment. Organic produce is often more expensive and labor-intensive to grow, and genetically modified crops can yield larger harvests on smaller plots of land.
Moreover, Bass points out that some pesticides used in conventional agriculture are toxic, whereas others used in organic farming are sometimes more toxic themselves. The debate around these chemicals highlights the complexity of environmental tradeoffs when it comes to food production.
As a surgeon general, Means would have significant influence over public health policy and messaging. Critics warn that her ideas could lead to misinformation about the benefits of conventional food systems, which could have far-reaching consequences for American consumers.
The nomination is likely to spark debate about the role of science in shaping public health policy. As one doctor noted, "American healthcare has many problems and weaknesses... None of those are solved by purchasing a book about energy healing or buying milkshakes made from raw milk."
One major concern is that Means dropped out of her surgical residency with just months left to complete it. She also has anti-vaccine sentiments, which could have far-reaching consequences for public health. Moreover, she advocates for using the sun to achieve optimal metabolic health – a claim that has been widely debunked by experts.
Critics argue that Means' confirmation could lead to the promotion of products and ideas that are not backed by scientific evidence. She has financial ties to supplement companies and tobacco giants, which raises questions about her potential influence on public policy.
Emily Bass, director of Federal Policy, Food and Agriculture at the Breakthrough Institute, notes that promoting a wholesale conversion to organic food could be impractical from a food supply standpoint and may not necessarily benefit the environment. Organic produce is often more expensive and labor-intensive to grow, and genetically modified crops can yield larger harvests on smaller plots of land.
Moreover, Bass points out that some pesticides used in conventional agriculture are toxic, whereas others used in organic farming are sometimes more toxic themselves. The debate around these chemicals highlights the complexity of environmental tradeoffs when it comes to food production.
As a surgeon general, Means would have significant influence over public health policy and messaging. Critics warn that her ideas could lead to misinformation about the benefits of conventional food systems, which could have far-reaching consequences for American consumers.
The nomination is likely to spark debate about the role of science in shaping public health policy. As one doctor noted, "American healthcare has many problems and weaknesses... None of those are solved by purchasing a book about energy healing or buying milkshakes made from raw milk."
How can someone with no actual medical experience be leading the country on public health issues? 
I mean, I know she's got that wellness influencer vibe going on but let's get real, folks! 
We need evidence-based decisions here, not just some unproven theories and pseudoscience. And those financial ties to supplement companies and tobacco giants?! Red flag, red flag, RED FLAG 
. And those financial ties to supplement companies? Red flag! 
As a parent, I want my kids to have access to accurate, evidence-based information about their health. This nomination is just too much for me 
]
]
]
]
. And what really gets my goat is that this girl has ties to big supplement companies and tobacco giants... like, how can you trust her when she's making decisions about public health policy? 
. like, come on, get a grip! means' anti-vax sentiments dont make her unfit 4 the job... yet 
. can't she jus stick 2 promoting actual science instead of pseudoscience? 
. I'm not convinced she knows what's best for public health.
. And the pesticides thing? It's like, we can't just ditch conventional farming methods without considering the bigger picture 
. We need our Surgeon General to be a credible source of information, not some pseudoscience promoter 
is just red flag after red flag.
. Our healthcare system has so many problems, but we can't just throw money at it without making sure it's actually based on facts. Let's keep the conversation going and make sure our voices are heard! 
. And what's with the financial ties to supplement companies and tobacco giants? That's just a recipe for disaster 
. This is a huge red flag, folks!
As a huge supporter of public health & wellness, I just can't believe the direction this is heading! 
Casey Means' background in "functional medicine" sounds super sketchy to me 
I'm all for healthy eating, but let's not forget about the science behind it! 
The complexity of environmental tradeoffs in food production is NOT a new concept, folks 
, you know, something like pasta with marinara sauce. Anyway, I was also watching this video about how bees are super important for pollination and stuff... did you know that a single bee can visit up to 1,000 flowers in its lifetime? Crazy! And it got me thinking, have you ever tried bee-friendly plants in your garden? My friend has this amazing herb garden with all sorts of herbs and flowers that attract bees. I'm gonna ask her for some tips 
.
. I've always relied on science to guide my decisions when it comes to my health, and the thought of someone promoting unproven theories is concerning for me. What if she starts pushing people to believe that certain foods or supplements are better than they actually are? It's gotta be hard enough making healthy choices with all the conflicting info out there already 
. We need someone who's actually qualified to be making decisions about public health, not some wellness influencer with a book deal 
.
. as someone who cares about public health, I think we need a surgeon general who's actually spent years studying medicine, not one who's peddling pseudoscience 
.