Famous personality with more than 4 lakh followers on Instagram, orthopedic surgeon Dr Manan Vora’s book ‘But what does science say?‘, which was recently launched at the Pune Book Festival held at the Fergusson College Grounds, debunks 101 health myths prevalent in India. From debunking the widely claimed benefits of ashwagandha and turmeric to stressing the safety of microwave ovens and whey protein, the book covers important everyday topics.
speaking with The Indian ExpressDr Vora spoke about his journey as a doctor, creating content on social media and misinformation about health in India.
Speaking about what motivated him to start making videos on Instagram, Dr Vora said, “I did Covid duty in the first wave but not in the second wave, so I had more time on my hands. I saw a lot of random people making videos about health and the coronavirus, which made me think that if people with no faith and qualifications can do it, why can’t doctors do it? So I released my first video.”
Asked about online misinformation arising from alternative medicine, Dr Vora said, “This topic is very controversial as modern medical practitioners can try to comment on it at any time. They are trying to sell their services or make people sick so that they can make more money. It is misconstrued that Ayurveda or Homeopathy is natural and modern medicine is artificial. At the end of the day, it is not about what is scientific and what is herbal or natural.”
He said about the effectiveness of social media in making emotional appeals to the audience on medical issues without qualification, ‘Because social media gives a platform to everyone, you cannot resist it. Some influencers are not doctors but speak from a place of sound research and science. There are some doctors but talk about a lot of confusing stuff. Some have found that going into the healthcare industry or the anti-pill and trying to offer a natural solution to everything is a good way to get ideas. So, everything is agenda driven. “
1. Cracked knees cause arthritis.
no Sound is the bursting of gas bubbles due to pressure.
2. Microwave radiation destroys vitamins in food or causes cancer.
Heating food in the microwave is harmless and does not cause cancer.
3. Immune boosters are essential for staying healthy.
The immune system is already led by white blood cells. Immunity boosters are like ‘sand on the beach’.
4. Detox products help cleanse the body of toxins.
There is little evidence that detox products work. Our liver, kidneys, skin, lungs and digestive system deal with toxins better.
5. Sunscreen only protects against sunburn
Sunscreen not only protects against sunburn, but also against premature aging and skin cancer.
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