WTF Email #1

Every once in a while, I get dumb emails from people. Most of them are annoyances, like the "What does your choice of toothbrush say about you as a person?" quiz. Some piss me off, like the "send this to 40 people in the next ten seconds or you're going to DIE!" chain mail. Other than the waste of bandwidth, these emails are merely annoying, but every now and then I get one that's truely a WTF. Today's mail is one of those. I won't post the whole thing, just a summary.

This gem is about the virtues of honey and cinnamon. Apparently the two combined are a miracle cure of epic proportions. Everything from cancer, to heart disease, to high cholesterol. Portions quoted from the email are in italics.

Cinnamon & Honey

Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around. Facts on honey and cinnamon: It is found that a mixture of honey and cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a "Ram Ban" (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, on its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases

that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

It is here that I need to stop and point out the source of this article: Weekly World News. While it is true that the WWN is, in fact a "magazine", and it was circulated in a place called "Canada", this is not really an accurate description of the publication. I have provided an example of a WWN cover:



Normally I'd just stop at this point, as that image says more about the accuracy of this information than I ever could. I will, however, provide a bit of commentary about the content of the email.

HEART DISEASES: "honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins"
This portion cites "studies" done by "nursing homes in America and Canada"

ARTHRITIS: out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain
So "practically" 73 of them were successfully treated? Wow!

CHOLESTEROL: By the way. if you're taking cholesterol medicine STOP! They all contain STATIN which weaken your muscles...including YOUR HEART and none has been shown to stop heart attacks or strokes!!!!
This makes me want to strangle someone. It's bad enough to spread misinformation, this "advice" could put someone's health at serious risk.

UPSET STOMACH: clears stomach ulcers from the root

INDIGESTION: digests the heaviest of meals

WEIGHT LOSS: does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet
Weight-loss miracle? This one was old hat in 1995 when this bullshit was first published.

CANCER: Japan and Australia - "cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully"
Cure for cancer? Now it's really getting ridiculous (and that's saying something!)

HEARING LOSS: Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!
I eat that all the time, and it's still not enough to counteract all the Bad Religion.

To sum up: it's a load of bullshit, but it was worth a good laugh, both reading the email and doing the research. Stay tuned, there will likely be more where this came from.

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