I’m indebted to a columnist in South Africa for the description of Patrick Holford as an “international bowel-whisperer”. The Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) occasionally offers continuing education courses and points for its own nutritionists; there must be a potential Masterclass series or even a future ION diploma in “bowel-whispering” and its cultural vagaries. Maybe bowel-whispering is an exciting idea for Holford’s 100% Health Weekend Workshops and will grab the imagination of those who might otherwise be contemplating a defection to Gillian McKeith (the word was defection, I haven’t omitted an a…Oh, never mind).
Holford seems to have had a harrowing time with a well-intentioned TV interviewer.
Those who have seen Maholwana-Sangqu’s mercifully irregular book-clubbing pogroms, er, book club programmes, will know that her approach to reviewing is rather like Snuki Zikalala’s approach to political commentary. A stack of American mass-market thrillers is presented, the sort in which a sword is pawed, a whore is gored, her jaw half-gnawed, the law is floored, and Dear Reader, ignored, becomes bored. Then invited guests are asked to give their opinion, their invitation apparently based on whether they happened to be walking past in the corridor as the show started. I smaaked it lank, says someone from Accounts. It was really, you know, clever, says a focus puller. I had no idea the Vatican was trying to cover up the secret of Christ’s bloodline, exclaims the Deputy Head of News.
But even with this pedigree, what Noeleen said next was appalling. Holford had been asked to summarise a complicated point in a single sound bite, and, after a few game attempts, gestured at the book and suggested that those wanting a more detailed account of how best to take all joy out of eating should simply refer to Chapter Suchandsuch. Noeleen patted the front cover, as if appeasing a skittish polecat.
“I didn’t finish the book,” she blurted, “because it’s quite big and I only got it a few days ago.”
What would Holford’s prescription be for such lamentable lack of attention and inability to focus? Fish oil is a given, as is the standard recommendation for his own Optimum Nutrition formula.
To be fair to Noeleen, not only is the book big, it contains some ideas that are hard to absorb. A reader informs me that on page 16 of Optimum Nutrition for the Mind we learn that the digestive system contains 100m neurotransmitters and produces many neurotransmitters. According to Holford, it therefore follows that when you eat:
in essence you’re feeding two brains.
No wonder columnists are confused by the proximity and think that he is talking out of whispering to bowels. It’s either that or an innovative re-write of the seminal scene from Alien.
I particularly enjoyed the “sword is pawed” sequence. Is it possible to come up with a similar description for Optimum Nutrition for the Mind? E.g., a pill is shilled, advice is dispensed as are supplements at expense but dietitians are incensed.
This post is dedicated to Dr Sarah Jarvis in response to Patrick Holford’s reference to her during his Hidden Food Allergies seminar at the recent Allergy Show. We also dedicate the Cinnachrome and Chromium Review posts to her in gratitude for her spirited performance on GMTV.
7 responses so far ↓
Precious Ramotswe // June 19, 2007 at 9:14 am
I have read about the tour of Bowel Whisperer Patrick Holford with great interest. Myself and my personal assistant, Mma Makutsi, wish that he would visit Botswana as we have many questions to ask him about unruly bowels. I also believe that he may have good advice for the management of my husband, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, whose depression I have previously mentioned.
I myself have recently investigated sinister goings-on at a health clinic and would benefit from Mr Holford’s observations as I know that he reports much wickedness and evil doing in medicine.
What I really wish to know from him however, is whether cake is truly evil or may be medicinal.
Shinga // June 19, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Mma Ramotswe, I hope that you have slept well and may I say that it is a great honour that you have taken time away from your busy detective’s agency to visit us.
I’m sorry to hear that you have questions about unruly bowels and I hope that you do receive some satisfactory advice.
I am a fan of cake, Mma, and find it hard to believe that something so delicious can be characterised as evil. As you have stated many times, Mma, you are a lady of traditional shape and cake helps to give you that substance. People who do not eat cake may be thin and too light to be able to scare away snakes and that surely must be a great risk to one’s health.
With all respect and good wishes to you and Botswana, Shinga
Tifosi // June 20, 2007 at 10:59 am
Whilst I appreciate the need for detail when pulling Holford’s claims apart, it is nice to see the odd light-hearted post like this.
I too am a fan of cake and so far have managed to enjoy it without gaining too much weight (no doubt helped by regular, vigourous exercise).
Given the way the posts here expertly expose the serious flaws in Holford’s thinking and writing and his clear conflicts of interest, it makes me think he mostly speaks from an orifice that makes “bowel-whisperer” all the more apposite.
Shinga // June 20, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Tifosi,
I haven’t canvassed the other contributors but I feel that there is a general liking for cake, here on Holford Watch. In my case, I have a particular weakness for fruit cake - not these light madeira things with a sprinkling of fruit, but the dark, heavy, fabulously-scented, well-matured fruit cake that contains just enough flour and egg to bind all of the fruit together.
Not that I would say ‘no’ to other cakes, particularly if coffee, chocolate or lemon drizzle were to be available.
Thanks for the kind comments - Shinga
Skeptics’ Circle #73: please tick the appropriate boxes « Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science // November 8, 2007 at 2:21 am
[...] [□ Guru/ □ Bowel-whisperer/ □ MP/ □ Journalist /□ believer of myths about the honey-bee/□ Reader of the People’s [...]
Margaret // November 9, 2007 at 9:57 pm
If his bowels are only whispering, he needs to eat more beans.
Patrick Holford and Humour in South Africa « Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science // February 24, 2008 at 3:31 pm
[...] 24, 2008 · No Comments Who can forget the SA columnist who described Patrick Holford as a bowel-whisperer and skittish polecat? Since then we have enjoyed several forthright descriptions of Holford and his recommendations. The [...]
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