Julian Whitaker

[[File:Julian Whitaker.png|thumb|165px|Julian Whitaker]]
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{{Cquote|No matter what you’ve been led to believe, a high cholesterol level is not a reliable sign of an impending heart attack.|||Julian Whitaker<ref name=Whitaker">[http://whitakerwellness.com/health-concerns/lower-cholesterol-naturally/define-cholesterol/ Does Cholesterol Really Matter?]. Julian Whitaker.</ref>}} 

'''Julian Whitaker''' is an American [[alternative medicine]] practitioner, anti-vaxxer<ref>[https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/battling-antivaccinationists-at-freedomfest/ Steve Novella vs. Julian Whitaker on vaccines at FreedomFest]</ref>, [[cholesterol denialist]] and [[vitamin woo]] promoter who operated the "Whitaker Wellness Institute" in [[California]]. He holds an MD from Emory and was a board certified physician in the field of integrative and preventative medicine.

In 2019, Whitaker retired and the Whitaker Wellness Institute was closed.<ref>https://whitakerwellness.com/</ref> He has promoted the [[ketogenic diet]].<ref>https://www.faim.org/should-you-try-a-ketogenic-diet</ref>

==Woo==

Whitaker promotes [[chelation therapy]], is part of an [[anti-vaccination movement]], and practices "anti-aging medicine". Note that "anti-aging medicine" is a specialty not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Whitaker recommends using [[human growth hormone]] to slow down aging. He is also a [[mental illness denial|mental illness denier]], putting him in the same league as [[Scientology]]. Apparently, [[vitamin supplement|vitamins]] can cure mental illness. Whitaker is a huge promoter of vitamins curing everything. He also believes he can cure asthma in 4 days, as well as thinking he can make you ''almost'' immune to [[cancer]]. His newsletter, which is full of tripe, such as claiming he can cure arthritis in three days, is on [[Quackwatch]]'s list of non-recommended publications.<ref>[http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/nonrecperiodicals.html Quackwatch &mdash; list of nonrecommended periodicals]</ref>

The [[National Council Against Health Fraud]] have received complaints from Whitaker's former patients.<ref name="Quackwatch">[https://quackwatch.org/ncahf/articles/s-z/whitaker/ Julian Whitaker, M.D.]. National Council Against Health Fraud.</ref>

{{quackbox|Whitaker promotes megavitamins for many inappropriate uses. In fact, Whitaker is a founding member of the Orthomolecular Medical Society, an advocacy group for questionable megavitamin therapy. Whitaker is an promoter of chelation therapy for vascular diseases. Although approved for heavy metal detoxification, chelation therapy is not approved for any other medical problem. Following a hearing by the California Medical Board on chelation therapy abuses, Whitaker was described by the Sacramento Bee (2/5/95) as “one of chelation’s most vocal advocates.”|<ref name="Quackwatch"/>}}

==Cholesterol denialism==

Whitaker is a [[Statin denialism|cholesterol and statin denialist]]. He believes that high blood cholesterol levels do not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and statins are "ineffective, expensive, side effect–riddled fraud".<ref name=Whitaker"/> He is grossly misinformed and not up to date with recent medical research demonstrating the opposite of what he claims.<ref>[https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-cholesterol-controversy/ The Cholesterol Controversy]. Science-Based Medicine.</ref> Unsurprisingly, his solution to treat various cardiovascular disorders is a dubious nutritional supplement regimen.<ref name=Whitaker"/>

==Eggs==

Whitaker has written that "Don’t worry about eggs raising your risk of heart disease. Contrary to popular perception, eating an egg a day does not increase risk".<ref>https://whitakerwellness.com/degenerative-eye-disease/</ref> However, there is no "popular perception" that a single egg per day will increase heart disease risk. The American Heart Association have concluded that "Healthy individuals can include up to a whole egg or equivalent daily".<ref>https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000743</ref>

==External links==
*[http://www.drwhitaker.com/ His website]
*[http://www.whitakerwellness.com/ Yet another one of his websites]
*[http://americanloons.blogspot.com/2013/02/412-julian-whitaker.html Julian Whitaker] -- [[Encyclopedia of American Loons]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitaker, Julian}}
[[Category:Alternative medicine promoters]]
[[Category:Anti-vaccination movement]]
[[Category:Cholesterol and statin denialists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Low-carb fanatics]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]

Categories: Alternative medicine promoters, Anti-vaccination movement, Cholesterol and statin denialists, Living people, Low-carb fanatics, Pseudoscience promoters