139: AlgaeCal's Calcium Claims: Science or Salesmanship? Video
Movement Logic: Strong Opinions, Loosely HeldShow Notes
In this episode, Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf investigate the bone supplement company AlgaeCal and ask whether its marketing claims are supported by good evidence. They unpack the company's promotion of algae-derived calcium, its use of strontium supplements to claim increases in bone density, and why improvements on a DEXA scan don't necessarily mean stronger bones. Along the way, they explain how appeals to nature, authority, and fear are used to sell expensive supplements to women worried about osteoporosis.
The conversation also examines the growing "doctor-to-brand pipeline," using Dr. Vonda Wright as a case study in how medical authority can become intertwined with supplement marketing. Sarah and Laurel discuss why they declined an invitation to collaborate with AlgaeCal, why exercise remains the cornerstone of bone health, and how consumers can recognize misleading health claims before spending hundreds of dollars on products that may not deliver meaningful benefits.
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RESOURCES
92: Make Dr. Loren Fishman Make Sense [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movement-logic-strong-opinions-loosely-held/id1614469934?i=1000698848361]
91: LIFTMOR, Not Less: An Interview with Belinda Beck [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movement-logic-strong-opinions-loosely-held/id1614469934?i=1000696118548]
93: Should You Avoid Spinal Flexion with Osteoporosis? [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movement-logic-strong-opinions-loosely-held/id1614469934?i=1000700877251]
113: Debunking Menopause Grifters: Mary Claire Haver and Vonda Wright [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movement-logic-strong-opinions-loosely-held/id1614469934?i=1000731912781]
Doctor vs Brand Instagram Post [https://www.instagram.com/p/DS5cUmlEpdh/?img_index=1]
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