Coffee Break: Longevity, Quackitude, a Supplement that Works, and a Short Meditation on Orthodoxy

An article featured on Naked Capitalism critiques the longevity movement, pseudoscience, and the culture surrounding dietary supplements. It opens with a discussion of Ikaria, a Greek island where individuals reach the age of 90 at a rate ten times higher than elsewhere in Europe, experiencing lower incidences of heart disease, cancer, depression, and dementia. A study from 2013 by Dr. Gerasimos Siasos of the University of Athens indicated that regular Greek coffee consumption improved endothelial function in 142 seniors. However, the article points out the study's limited sample size and citations. It argues that true longevity stems from a plant-based diet, social connections, physical activity, naps, and fulfilling work, rather than coffee alone. The piece also critiques Mikhaila Peterson, daughter of Jordan Peterson, for advocating the carnivore (Lion) Diet, attributing health problems to mold, and marketing costly testing kits and supplements on her podcast and biotoxin.com. It notes her transition from seeking scientific proof to expressing uncertainty about the truth. Additionally, the article supports creatine as a beneficial dietary supplement, highlighting its use by athletes like Linford Christie and its possible cognitive advantages, in contrast to NADH, which may be broken down in the stomach. Lastly, it contemplates the nature of truth and orthodoxy, referencing Fr. Stephen Freeman's insights on the deceptive narratives in reality.