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About us
June 2003
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Staying healthy

CU's president Jim Guest.
Jim Guest's signature.

Jim Guest
President
"CU takes this occasion to report that the use of blackstrap molasses as a part of the human diet seems to be on the wane. The evidence is that the sticky tide is receding as more and more users realize that, despite the claims of its ardent advocates, blackstrap molasses will not correct menopausal difficulties, grow hair, restore gray hair to its natural color, or prevent nervousness, tiredness, and poor digestion." But it probably won’t kill you, either, which is a lot more than we can say about ephedra.

Consumer Reports’ 1953 update on "Food Fads and the Law," from which the above quote was taken, went on to say that the newest food fads are the so-called food supplements. "As the laws now stand," we said, "the consumer is very poorly protected indeed against quackery in the field of nutrition."

Fifty years later, things aren’t much better. Herbal remedies such as ephedra are still classified as dietary supplements and not medicine, and they are not required by federal law to be proved safe and effective. While it’s unclear whether data support claims that ephedra boosts athletic performance or reduces weight, it’s very clear how dangerous it can be.

For eight years Consumers Union has been pushing for a complete ban on ephedra. We will continue to do so. We don’t believe that the warning labels the Food and Drug Administration has proposed are an adequate response to a product that is associated with more than 80 deaths and that holds such appeal for young athletes competing in an increasingly high-stakes arena.

Health topics have been a key part of CU’s work since the beginning. Now, new medical research and discoveries; ever-more complex and less comprehensive health insurance; and an array of drugs, devices, and technology make staying healthy more complicated than ever.

We’ve got a few ways to help. With the aim of preventing problems in the first place, Consumer Reports regularly evaluates sports and exercise equipment. Our latest Ratings of bikes includes the best choices for roads and bike paths. We report on our tests of the new treadmills. Since exercise can do more harm than good if it’s not done safely, check out our report on sports injuries. And since exercise can take a lot out of you, we sort through the claims and realities of 24 top-selling energy and cereal bars. (Can someone--preferably the manufacturer--explain why it’s good to add an artery-clogging saturated fat such as palm kernel oil?)

Some health measurements that used to be taken only in doctors’ offices can now be done at home, letting you track the effects of your treatment or lifestyle changes. We rate blood-pressure monitors (available to subscribers), explain how to use them properly, and help you decide whether knowing your own vital signs should be a routine part of your health care. Some of the monitors on the market give more-consistent readings than others.

This spring, CU is pleased to publish the 60-page "Guide to a Healthy Heart," by Dr. Marvin M. Lipman and the editors of Consumer Reports on Health. This special report helps you determine your risk profile and figure out which tests you need and which you don’t. You’ll find straightforward advice on the best ways to prevent heart problems and the best ways to treat them, plus a reference guide to many heart medications. It’s $15.95 (in U.S. funds) at www.ConsumerReports.org/health, or call 800-500-9760 (mention code P699).

We can’t run laps for you. But we can--and do--test the exercise machines, rate the products, and cut through the hype to give you understandable, unbiased health advice. Because we continue to believe that today’s consumer should not be "very poorly protected indeed against quackery."