Justice isn't only blind … but a hypocrite

Muscle & Fitness, Dec, 2009 by Chris Lockwood

A recent report by the World Lung Foundation and American Cancer Society stated that "tobacco accounts for one out of every 10 deaths worldwide and will claim 5.5 million lives" in 2009. Secondhand smoke will snuff out 200,000. Yet ... oddly enough ... cigarettes are still legal. Duh!

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that 42% of all violent crimes involve alcohol, while Mothers Against Drunk Driving cites that as a result of drunk driving, there will be about 140 fewer 21-24-year-olds in America by the time the holidays end Jan. 1. The continued legality of alcohol is OBVIOUSLY the result of those victims getting what they deserved, and the young men and women who never realize adulthood are just acceptable casualties of a good time, right? I mean, come on; lighten up! Spousal and child abuse: "Misunderstandings" is what I call them, and besides, what are Santa Claus and Father Time without 12 dozen funerals?

Acetaminophen has averaged 56,000 emergency-room visits and 458 deaths annually, according to 1990-1998 statistics ... but really, who's counting? On Aug. 24 the FDA released a report that the anal-leakage weight-loss products Alli and Xenical (nonprescription and prescription versions of the active ingredient orlistat) combined for 32 cases of serious liver injury and six liver failures. The FDA's response? "Consumers taking Xenical should continue to take it as prescribed, and those using over-the-counter Alli should continue to use the product as directed." Because, OF COURSE, that echoes the FDA warning given earlier in the year regarding three reported cases of liver distress possibly linked (the FDA never concluded causation, only trial by insinuation) to the country's most popular diet pill: "The [FDA] is warning consumers to immediately stop using [these] products." Sounds the same to me. No argument here. Besides, with "normal" liver injury occurring at a rate of one in every 100,000 Americans per year, we simply CANNOT stand idly by while one in 3 million users of a dietary supplement MAY suffer elevated liver enzymes that COULD imply liver toxicity ... though not conclusively. That's an unacceptable risk! We'll have none of those odds. None, I tell you! They should ban ephedra, too! Huh? On ... good ... check that off the list.

Face it, we need our governmental agencies and lawyers-turned-lifetime-politicians to protect us ignorant consumers. We're simply too dumb to do what's best for ourselves. Our government officials, however ... they know what's best for us! They're in it for the people, for truth! No politician, or media talking head or pen would demonize anything that wasn't truly deserving of such, so of course we should all stand in line and agree that supplements are bad.

Hypocrisy's a bitch, ain't it?

I'm not trying to convince you that saving dietary supplements is a more important freedom than others within the crosshairs of being stripped. It's just that I don't know crap about tax law. I do, however, know how to interpret a good bit of medical literature and opinions, and I'd like to think I can call "bullshit" when I see it. Get involved. muscleandfitness.com

In strength,

C

Want to read more on the great supplement double standard? Check out my blog at muscleandfitness.com/chris_lockwood/

RELATED ARTICLE: PACK ON SOLID WEIGHT & BURN MORE CALORIES ... INSTANTLY

Pro bodybuilders know how to easily add muscle in the off-season: Just packing on extra pounds of fat takes advantage of gravity's sure-fire way of forcing muscles to grow. The increase in bodyweight places more stress on the muscles (and skeletal system), which means more muscle mass over time. My wife likes abs (plural), so here's my tip: Whenever I go for a walk or hike with my family or dogs, I wear either a 50-pound V-Max weight vest or a loaded backpack to increase the load on my musculoskeletal system. Doing so also burns significantly more calories and seriously increases the intensity of the exercise for a better cardio benefit. Enjoy!

BY CHRIS LOCKWOOD, MS, CSCS (PhD Candidate)