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Medical Myths, Lies,

and Half-Truths:

What We Think We Know 

May Be Hurting Us

Steven Novella, M.D.

PUBLISHED BY:

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i

Steven Novella, M.D. 

Academic Neurologist

Yale School of Medicine

P

rofessor Steven Novella is an Academic 
Neurologist at Yale School of Medicine. He is 
active in medical education at every level of 

experience, including patients, the public, medical 
students, and continuing education for medical 
professionals. He also performs clinical research in 

his specialty area, including publications on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 
myasthenia gravis, and neuropathy. 

Dr. Novella received his M.D. from Georgetown University and went on to 
complete residency training in neurology at Yale School of Medicine. He is 
also trained in the subspecialty of neuromuscular disorders, which continues 
to be a focus of his practice. Although he treats all types of neurological 
disorders, he specializes in diseases of nerves and muscles. 

Dr. Novella is the president and cofounder of the New England Skeptical 
Society, a nonpro

¿

 t educational organization dedicated to promoting the 

public understanding of science. He is also the host and producer of their 
popular weekly science podcast, 

The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe

. This 

award-winning science show (2009 winner of the People’s Choice podcast 
award in the education category) explores the latest science discoveries, the 
presentation of science in the mainstream media, public understanding and 
attitudes toward science, philosophy of science, and critical thinking.

Dr. Novella was appointed in 2009 as a fellow of the Committee for 
Skeptical Inquiry, an international organization dedicated to the promotion 
of science and reason; he writes a monthly column for their publication, 
the 

Skeptical Inquirer

. Dr. Novella maintains a personal blog, the award-

winning 

NeuroLogica Blog

, which is considered one of the top neuroscience 

blogs. On 

NeuroLogica Blog

, he covers news and issues in neuroscience but 

also general science, scienti

¿

 c skepticism, philosophy of science, critical 

thinking, and the intersection of science with the media and society.

ii

Dr. Novella is also the founder and senior editor of 

Science-Based 

Medicine

—a group medical and health blog with contributions from 

dozens of physicians and scientists. 

Science-Based Medicine

 is dedicated to 

promoting the highest standards of both basic and clinical science in medical 
practice. This proli

¿

 c health blog is geared toward both the general public 

and health professionals. 

Science-Based Medicine

 is recognized as a top 

health blog and is increasingly in

À

 uential in the ongoing discussion of the 

role of science in medicine. 

Ŷ

iii

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

LECTURE GUIDES

Professor Biography ............................................................................i
Disclaimer .......................................................................................... vi
Course Scope .....................................................................................1

LECTURE 1

Medical Knowledge versus Misinformation ........................................2

LECTURE 2

Myths about Water and Hydration  .....................................................6

LECTURE 3

Vitamin and Nutrition Myths  .............................................................10

LECTURE 4

Dieting—Separating Myths from Facts  ............................................14

LECTURE 5

The Fallacy That Natural Is Always Better  .......................................18

LECTURE 6

Probiotics and Our Bacterial Friends ................................................22

LECTURE 7

Sugar and Hyperactivity  ..................................................................25

LECTURE 8

Antioxidants—Hype versus Reality  .................................................29

LECTURE 9

The Common Cold  ..........................................................................33