Toxins

Is it true that germ theory has "NEVER" been proven? No, that's not true: This claim was posted without corroborating materials, nor medical credentials for the person to whom the claim is attributed. The germ theory is a scientifically established explanation for infectious diseases. A medical professional told Lead Stories that "intoxication theory," a supposition that disease is the body's…

Do cut onions placed around a house purify the air by pulling viruses, toxins, bacteria and fungus out of the air, and will this process keep people from getting sick? No, that's not true: This folk remedy goes back hundreds of years, but there is no scientific evidence that cut onions have the ability to act as an air purifier,…

Does a heavy consumption of grapes reverse kidney failure and cancer? No, that's not true: An expert told Lead Stories it is "false that grapes alone can treat and reverse cancer and kidney failure." While early small studies suggest that grapes contain antioxidants that may be beneficial to human health, there is no proof that eating grapes -- or grape…

Does the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine cause an "Astonishing Drop in Male Fertility"? No, that's not true: The shot temporarily lowers sperm count, much the same as after a "simple viral infection," according to Itai Gat, one of the authors of a study published June 17, 2022, that looked into the connection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said…

Do flu shots "contaminated with formaldehyde and polysorbate 80" pose a potential health risk to those vaccinated against influenza? No, that's not true: Some flu shots do contain formaldehyde and polysorbate 80, but the amounts are too minimal to cause any harm to the average person, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told Lead Stories. The claim about contaminated…

Does this juice recipe "cleanse" a person's kidneys and liver and "get rid of urinary tract infections"? No, that's not true: A dietician and professor both told Lead Stories that the kidney and liver are self-cleaning organs and "once you have a UTI - which is a bacterial infection, you need to take an antibiotic" to treat it. A urology…

Is monosodium glutamate (MSG) a neurotoxin that will kill brain cells and cause headaches, migraines, learning disabilities and Lou Gehrig's Disease? No, that's not true: The alarming message in this video is not supported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which classifies the food additive to be "generally recognized as safe" (or GRAS, the commonly used FDA acronym for…

Does liquid chlorophyll heal acne on the skin? No, that's not true: The director of clinical trials for the dermatology department of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center told Lead Stories that no data from clinical trials support drinking chlorophyll. An Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson said drinking chlorophyll can have adverse effects. The claim appeared in a Facebook…

Is it true that soaking your feet in cold water with this weight loss tablet will help a person lose weight as soon as the first night? No, that's not true: A registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) told Lead Stories there is not a "magical portal in your pinky toe" to help you absorb a chemical. The Academy of Nutrition and…

Is an online video advertisement that implies women can rapidly lose weight and "eliminate toxins" by inserting a "detox pearl" into their vagina realistic? No, that's not true: Doctors of gynecology who are members of the leadership team at The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) told Lead Stories that this claim is medical misinformation. A weight loss doctor…