Monday, October 15, 2012



Paleo Diet Lawsuit Dismissed By Court in Blow to Free Expression

The guy was just a diet blogger.  The case was dismissed on the  technicality that the State had only written to him, not yet harmed him so far

“A state licensing board in North Carolina tried to suppress a blogger who talked up and advised people on the health benefits of the ‘paleo’ diet (that is, eating as we think cavement ate, no grains or processed foods), telling him directly what he could or could not say about his belief that the high-meat, low-carb diet helped him with his diabetes. The case was dismissed by a federal court late last week.”

Source

The State can tell you what to eat?  It's not far from that.  You apparently need a license to give diet advice in North Carolina.  I am pleased that the matter is going to a higher court.  I can't see how the ruling is consistent with the 1st Amendment.

Diet is a well known means of dealing with diabetes so this guy is not way outside the ballpark  -- though I myself doubt the generalizability of his claims.


15 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2012/10/12/florida-passes-plan-for-racially-based-academic-goals/

Anonymous said...

If this was in the UK, JJ would have put Britain in the title but because it's the US, the title is not something like "American state suppresses free speech on diets".

Bird of Paradise said...

Throw the judge out of the country

Anonymous said...

The reason his actions are seen as illegal is because what he's telling people can be seen as "medical advise", thereby requiring a state issued license.

stinky said...

If comments about what's healthy to eat are "medical advice" then every grandmother in the country who says "eat your vegetables, dear" is a criminal now.

BTW, I've been eating paleo-ish (not really strict, but in that direction) myself for a couple of years now cuz the args for it made sense to me. I've lost about 20 lbs of fat and gained about 10 of muscle in that time.

Anonymous said...

This is a combination of an industry attempting to use the force of government to create barriers of entry into nutritional expertise, as well as the State exercising its natural tendency for fascist oppression. The story doesn’t seem to mention if he was charging money for his advice. If not then the State doesn’t have a leg to stand on legally. The nature of government is to control and oppress, it is a vile but necessary evil and should be chained like the ravenous beast.

Anonymous said...

You are quite right Anon 9:33. But if the oppressive state declares his advise, be it free or not, to be health-related, ie. "medical advise", then they can require a license.

And yes stinky, if that grandma runs a blog giving people the same kind of health advise, they'll get her too.

Anonymous said...

Hey! Uncle Sambo! My body, my choice. Mind your own damn business.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't be surprised if big junk-food corps like McDonalds had a hand in surpressing views on a healthy diet!

stinky said...

I wouldn't be surprised if big junk-food corps like McDonalds had a hand in surpressing views on a healthy diet!

The US govt guidelines are no more healthy than McD's food.

Besides, McD's can alter their menu, and would in response to demand, at a moment's notice and they would still make money. And even today, presuming you're willing to throw away the bun, a McD burger ain't that bad, nor are their salads, eggs, etc.

Introducing the usual leftie litany is not a solution here, merely a distraction. Can['t help yourself?

Anyway, if you want the "cook's tour" of paleo, done right:

1. Avoid sugar and lower your carbs
2. Skip the wheat, too.
3. Avoid PUFAs (i.e, the veggie oils, treat 'em as furniture polish; they promote inflammation)

Them's the three paleo "biggies." Do them and all the little stuff, such as the macronutrient balance of your diet, tends to fall into place on its own.

Archevore is a good site for learning more and for getting lotsa good tips, as is paleo hacks, or mark's daily apple.

Anonymous said...

2:47 please give us one shred of evidence to support your ignorant claim

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha - the fat Americans dismiss any criticism of their gross eating habits as the rantings of leftist food-nazis. Just look at what yanks consume at IHOP, KFC, or Taco Bell or Dairy Queen and countless other outlets, and the endless pizzas and chips they stuff themselves with at home. It's no wonder they're huge and literally eating the planet alive out of all proportions to their numbers (ditto their consumption of global resources in general / and corresponding pro rata pollution!!).

stinky said...

2:47 please give us one shred of evidence to support your ignorant claim

Well, in his defense, he simply said he "wouldn't be surprised," which is a comment on his own lack of awareness rather than on the veracity of his imputation. He's probably right about the former.

Me, I wouldn't be surprised if he can't get a date, for reasons that are obvious.

[Oh, and btw lonely troll, I'm a physically fit Canadian, so both your premises are, well, wrong again.]

Anonymous said...

People, come on. THE INTERNET IS NOT THE DEFINITIVE RESOURCE FOR MEDICAL ISSUES. SEE YOUR DOCTOR!

Anonymous said...

Hey self-described "physically fit" Canadian (5:53 AM)- Please explain the connection between 2:47's comment and "he can't get a date", and why that's "for reasons that are obvious"? And how do you even know it's a "he" and not a "she" ??