How do you respond to SAD "scientific facts"

[RawFoodieMom]

I don't want to argue with anybody I know that eats cooked food (basically everyone I know except my husband and daughter, LOL). But when people state things that are simply ridiculous (IMO), I would like to figure out a way to respond appropriately, without alienating anyone, but use that opportunity to try and educate on the benefits and common sense of the raw food lifestyle.

Here's what happened most recently to me. A coworker came in to work, and the very first thing he did was very firmly announce to everyone "DON'T EAT MORE THAN 30 ALMONDS A DAY!!!"... I immediately felt defensive of almonds, LOL. But I held back. ;) I asked him "why not?". He said, "If you eat more than 30 almonds a day, it turns into something else in your body and is REALLY BAD for you." He must have read or watched something on TV that stated this for some reason... But c'mon people, give me a break. If you eat 30 almonds you're fine, but if you eat just one more almond it's all-of-a-sudden toxic to your body? It makes no sense. And is it roasted almonds or raw?? UGH! And I think it would also depend on what else is already in your digestive system trying to get digested. Anyway, he was very adamant about this "scientific fact" that he had heard from who-knows-where. I really didn't know what to say in response... But I felt like all my hairs were standing on end that he was telling everyone this.

How do you respond when people tell you things like this? I just feel like I'm not doing the best job of spreading the word of raw food, and I really want to try. Raw food is not known about at all in my city, so I want to try and spread the word a little. A potluck once in a while would be nice. :)

Any and all feedback appreciated. :)

Debra

[Veganforlife]

Debra - First I would say, "Oh yeah? Who'd you hear that from?" And once he says some local joker, then I would say, "Oh gosh! I guess it's better to eat a happy meal then almonds, which are GOOD for you?" Throw questions back at him. Make him justify his beliefs. You KNOW what your beliefs are.
OR
You can laugh and say whatever (holding three fingers up like a W, then turn sideways like an E).
I choose to ignore people like that. Especially in your town? Let them all think that eating 31 almonds is toxic. Once you start glowing and become this pyramid of health you can tell them it's because you ate 33 almonds! ;) Idiots! He's the same guy that's probably stopping by McPuke's in the morning getting CRAP to eat! Yeah, right. I'm gonna believe him.
::rolling on the floor laughing::

[JGex]

I would have asked said spreader of suspected fallacious information to cough up some hard documentation to back up his public service announcement. He very likely had none, so I would have called baloney on his claims.

Then I would do the homework myself, and pass the true info on if anyone was interested. If not, I'd just keep the knowledge for my own benefit. Then I'd know if it ever came up again.

I've seen a lot of questionable information since I started studying raw foods. I take no one's word for anything..... if it's something I think I really need to know, I research it. Most stuff is pretty easy to prove or disprove.

[RawFoodieMom]

Debra - First I would say, "Oh yeah? Who'd you hear that from?" And once he says some local joker, then I would say, "Oh gosh! I guess it's better to eat a happy meal then almonds, which are GOOD for you?" Throw questions back at him. Make him justify his beliefs. You KNOW what your beliefs are.
OR
You can laugh and say whatever (holding three fingers up like a W, then turn sideways like an E).
I choose to ignore people like that. Especially in your town? Let them all think that eating 31 almonds is toxic. Once you start glowing and become this pyramid of health you can tell them it's because you ate 33 almonds! ;) Idiots! He's the same guy that's probably stopping by McPuke's in the morning getting CRAP to eat! Yeah, right. I'm gonna believe him.
::rolling on the floor laughing::

ROFL... You're so hilarious... Thanks for the laugh...

And you are SO RIGHT!!! I will let them see when my results start speaking for themselves...

Thanks. :)

[eatyourbroccoli]

"if you drink even a tablespoon of diet soda a day, or have 1 stick of sugarless gum a day, the nutrasweet in it turns into formaldehyde in your body and its REALLY BAD for you. or if you have even 1 bite of ANYTHING that proclaims 'Now made with Splenda!' on it, the splenda turns into chlorine in your body and its REALLY bad for you."

that would be my mocking smart-aleck response.

"was this information concluded from one of the proven-to-be-corrupt public health agencies funded by the same guys who told us there were WMD's in the middle east, and then denied ever making that proclamation 6 months later?"

that would be my sarcastic response.

"oh you know what? i read something about that too..but its only for roasted almonds. raw almonds are totally safe :smile: "

that would be my manipulative white-lie response.

[Revvell]

How do you respond when people tell you things like this? Any and all feedback appreciated. :)
Debra

I don't respond to people who say things like this. I leave others to their othernesses and take care of me.

IF someone gets directly in my face about it (fat chance of that happening :D ) I'd say: "That's why I don't watch t.v., read newspapers or listen to the radio. Too much crap there that people believe to be truth". End of discussion.

Revvell

[Morningstar]

Don't forget the other Excitotoxin MSG & the wonders it brings to our bodies


Sodas also- sodium benzoate, a preservative, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
that turn into benzene & Benzene has been linked to leukaemia and other cancers of the blood.

I goggled & could not find info on the "Almond Toxins"

But it seems any info to said person may fall upon deaf ears

There's an old saying that if you can't dazzle them with brilliance then baffle them with Bull$h!t.

And I do think he's got us baffled.


Keep doing what your doing and your results will shine

[DavidZaneMason]

Yeah....I hear you. In the end.....you don't convince anyone with what you say anyway. They are judging attitude...happiness. That's what people REALLY want. Things like success....confidence....joy. Those are the best advocates.

-So how do I answer them? If they ask ME a polite question, then I give my experience. If they are just spouting off some 'scientific' factoid while I'm standing there? I do my best to listen and let them know that I've heard them and appreciate them...and like them.....and then I move on! LOL.

-David Z. Mason

[Veganforlife]

I don't have time for idiots in my life. I'm a pretty good judge of character and for someone to come in and blatantly make a comment like that whilst he smelled of McCrap's - oh brother! [here I'm imagining him smelling of that - he probably had stinky coffee breath at least!) I've had very few people doubt what I am doing is good. I emit this glow that they see and know for themselves they I am what I am preaching. I'm not sick anymore. I don't look sick anymore. I'm not overweight anymore. They see what I'm eating and most are curious and I love this comment, "Oh yeah, I really should be eating like you do..." as they go off to the machine to get some instant something wrapped in plastic! Good grief! ::smacking forehead with hand::
I agree w/EYB too! Ask the bimbo to prove it. YOU surely can prove raw food is good for you, right?
RFM - we WILL have to e-mail each other when the board goes down! Sounds like you work in a place similar to mine. Goofy people, huh? Ay yi yi!!!
::smacks forehead yet a SECOND time::

[rawpriestess]

I would probably not say anything to something this stupid

If someone came up to me and asked me what I thought about this article, or this TV show, or this newspaper heading, I'd probably say, that everything is best in moderation, and that toothpaste is a deadly poison if you have more than one pea sized portion in a day, especially small children, but it is on the market and in all kinds of pretty packaging and pretty tastes.

[garne041]

Hi,
I bet you're not the only one in the office that went "What?....That's totally stupid". Some of them are probably making fun of him.

I'm a seeking SAD (just learning and learning before I take the leap in RAW) and I would have thought "Wow, you just won the Random Comment of the Day Award. Your prize? You get to sit down, shut up and get out of my face! Congratulations!"

Anywho....keep on truckin'.

[Firicia]

I don't quite know what I would say.... but I'd probibly make him watch while I ate 31 almonds ;)

[juliebove]

Well, maybe I am the odd one out here but people rarely ever give me scientific facts about food. On the contrary they often come to me for information about food. Recently I did have someone make the comment that coconut oil was bad for you. I happen to have a whole book about coconut oil so I told him as best I could remember why that way of thinking was wrong. Such as the fact the the old studies done on it were done on partially hydrogenated coconut oil. He didn't know that.

Now if they do say something I don't know about, then I will ask them where they heard this so I can look it up. I always like to learn things and when it comes to food the information always seems to be changing. I collect old books on cooking, food, diet, health, etc. Much of what they say today about nutrition is the same as they said in the old days. Seems to go in cycles.