# Unpopular Opinions: Oprah Is Bad **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 22, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098 "2022-08-22T16:41:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/21 "2022-08-30T04:55:17Z")
My only experience with Weight Watchers was observing my father’s involvement. Whenever I visited my parents (back when they were alive, of course), I’d drive my dad to his meetings. I immediatley got the feeling it would for Dad because he was a great “joiner”; Optimists International, Freemasons, American Legion, and a couple of others. That’s what WW seemed to be like to me: people joining and sharing their motivatinal stories. And it did work for him. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/22 "2022-08-30T20:34:28Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Most likely, perceived benefit against GERD among heartburn sufferers drinking vinegar is based on temporary dilution of strong gastric acid refluxing up into the esophagus. Drinking water alone can do this. And water doesn’t have the potential of damaging your esophageal mucosa on the way down (normal esophagus pH is 7, or neutral, compared to the pH of 2-3 of acetic acid (vinegar). But that’s the point. The vinegar works when water doesn’t. (Water almost never does, it just temporarily gives relief for a few seconds to a minute.) It works when things like baking soda or antacids don’t work. (As antacids rarely do, unless you take a ton.) And the fact that some people go on to use full on hydrochloride capsules and continue to do so suggests that the low-acid hypothesis has merit at least for some. Hence it’s the interpretation that seemed the most plausible to me. But, regardless of the reason why, it does seem to work on a continual basis for some people, so I do push back a bit when I see it mocked “because it’s an acid.” Occasionally you do find that folk remedies had some kernel of truth to them, that seem counterintuitive. It doesn’t mean I think Oprah doesn’t push pseudoscience, or that I don’t think poorly of her for doing so. It’s just that it seems this one aspect may actually have merit, and thus isn’t the best one to mock. I think mocking something that actually works for some people actually makes them more likely to believe that (other) quackery might be true, too. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/23 "2022-08-30T21:06:46Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > (Vinegar) works when things like baking soda or antacids don’t work. (As antacids rarely do, unless you take a ton.) Antacids, while not a perfect solution to GERD, have both proven effectiveness and a logical mechanism of action. > [@](#): > > Occasionally you do find that folk remedies had some kernel of truth to them, that seem counterintuitive. Most often, you don’t. If there’s sufficient evidence for a treatment, it transforms from folk medicine into medicine. > [@](#): > > I think mocking something that actually works for some people actually makes them more likely to believe that (other) quackery might be true, too. That’ll show us. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/24 "2022-08-30T21:21:39Z")
Oprah owes everyone an apology for inflicting Dr. Oz on us. Now that he’s a Trump-endorsed politician wannabe, she REALLY needs to disavow him. Regarding the huge ego involved in “Oprah Winfrey’s O: The Oprah Magazine, featuring Oprah Winfrey”: on the one hand, anything like that is very off-putting. However, I think it’s somewhat (not entirely) justifiable as a means to show Black female empowerment. Trump achieved his notoriety by being a white male born into a privileged family - it was essentially handed to him with little effort (other than a huge capacity for bullying) on his part. At least Oprah fought for the opportunity to be a wealthy, powerful, universally known egoist. I wouldn’t be surprised if part of her motivation for milking every drop of publicity from her fame and fortune is in order to give young Black women a role model. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/25 "2022-08-30T22:57:29Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > (Water almost never does, it just temporarily gives relief for a few seconds to a minute.) It depends on what kind of GERD you have. For me, it is the best thing that helps me. If I’m having stomach problems, I switch to drinking water for a while and that on its own can take care of it. If you have refractory acid reflux though, water won’t help, it may even make it worse. PPIs don’t help either. > [@BigT](#): > > But, regardless of the reason why, it does seem to work on a continual basis for some people, so I do push back a bit when I see it mocked “because it’s an acid.” Occasionally you do find that folk remedies had some kernel of truth to them, that seem counterintuitive. Anecdotally. It is not confirmed by research and it is a home remedy. For me, for example, vinegar will set off my GERD. It’s like recommending you put out a house fire by tossing gasoline on it. My GERD is the result of a pH being too low, and vinegar will reduce the pH, because yes, it is an acid. It’s not just counterintuitive, it doesn’t work. > **[Effectiveness of Nutritional Ingredients on Upper Gastrointestinal Conditions...](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8839470/)** > > Nutritional ingredients, including various fibers, herbs, and botanicals, have been historically used for various ailments. Their enduring appeal is predicated on the desire both for more natural approaches to health and to mitigate potential side... > Several studies indicate apple cider vinegar (ACV)’s usefulness in lowering postprandial glycemic response, specifically by slowing of gastric motility, which would seem paradoxical with respect to its potential value for upper GI symptoms [[41](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8839470/#B41-nutrients-14-00672),[42](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8839470/#B42-nutrients-14-00672),[43](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8839470/#B43-nutrients-14-00672)]. However, these studies were small and yielded heterogenous outcomes. ACV was used in the gum formulation mentioned above, and while subjects found beneficial effects in relief of heartburn and acid reflux, it is challenging to elucidate whether this effect was due to the ACV or the other ingredients [[44](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8839470/#B44-nutrients-14-00672)]. > [@BigT](#): > > It doesn’t mean I think Oprah doesn’t push pseudoscience, or that I don’t think poorly of her for doing so. It’s just that it seems this one aspect may actually have merit, and thus isn’t the best one to mock. I think mocking something that actually works for some people actually makes them more likely to believe that (other) quackery might be true, too. Homeopathy “works” for lots of people too. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/26 "2022-08-30T23:04:51Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Taking a swig of apple cider vinegar while in the throes of acid reflux is a life saver. LIFE SAVER. For real? Reflux gets me bad about 2-3 times a month. I’ll have to try this. Do you know the mechanism of relief? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/27 "2022-08-30T23:15:56Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Do you know the mechanism of relief? No I don’t, but have you ruled out _regression to the mean_? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/28 "2022-08-30T23:51:55Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Do you know the mechanism of relief? My mom said it would work and it does 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/29 "2022-08-30T23:55:51Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Do you know the mechanism of relief? The theory that I’ve read is that the lower esophageal sphincter gets relaxed if the pH of your stomach isn’t acidic enough, and that drinking vinegar raises the level of acidity enough for the LES to close, thus preventing acid from coming back up. But again, this is an unsupported theory. Here’s an article from the Harvard Medical School discussing the supposed remedy. It’s not fully critical of it but it does not recommend it either. > **[Apple cider vinegar... for heartburn? - Harvard Health](https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/apple-cider-vinegar-for-heartburn-2018032813530)** > > There is a lot of anecdotal information about people using apple cider vinegar to treat heartburn, but no published research examining the validity of it.... ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/30 "2022-08-31T00:06:01Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The theory that I’ve read is that the lower esophageal sphincter gets relaxed if the pH of your stomach isn’t acidic enough, and that drinking vinegar raises the level of acidity enough for the LES to close, thus preventing acid from coming back up. But again, this is an unsupported theory. If that theory was valid, then the first spurts of acid refluxing up through the lower esophageal sphincter should force it to close - you wouldn’t need to drink a weaker acid to accomplish the job. Arguing that apple cider vinegar fixes GERD through a dose of acid makes as much physiologic sense as claiming that you can alleviate or cure a bunch of diseases by eating an alkaline diet and raising your blood pH, which is impossible.\* Plenty of testimonials for that exist. \*you _could_ potentially raise your blood pH above the range in which the body tightly regulates it, i.e. by acquiring a serious lung or kidney ailment, or through ingesting a toxic chemical. But then you’d probably be dead. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/31 "2022-08-31T00:14:49Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > My mom said it would work and it does “Your mom” is hardly an authority. My _investment advisor_ told me to drink pickle juice when I have a reflux attack. Now, that’s a relevant authority! (For real, though, pickle juice also works great.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/32 "2022-08-31T00:49:23Z")
The biggest benefit to apple cider vinegar is that it makes my kitchen smell like Gramma’s whenever I use it. That’s good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/33 "2022-08-31T01:01:36Z")
Why are people making brief asides about peeves with Oprah Winfrey in an informative IMHO thread on Apple Cider Vinegar and GERD? 😝 Another in the set of reasons to love the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/34 "2022-09-03T18:26:46Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > The surgeon who did my sinus surgery explained to me how ACV, contains an enzyme(?) that helps to thin mucus. It’s concentrated in ACV because the apples are fermented with the skins on. > > I used to use it when I was badly congested, with great effect. Mixed with equal parts honey, it is also wonderfully effective on many sore throats. Possibility related to the mucus-thinning enzyme. ---
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/35 "2022-09-03T18:36:24Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > At least Oprah fought for the opportunity to be a wealthy, powerful, universally known egoist. I wouldn’t be surprised if part of her motivation for milking every drop of publicity from her fame and fortune is in order to give young Black women a role model. I’ve always admired Oprah the person for her success in overcoming incredible obstacles. At the same time, I simply can’t stand Oprah the talk show host, etc. I once tried to watch a “Best of” episode & every single clip included Oprah. Apparently, no guest ever said/did anything remarkable without Oprah’s reaction being better. I do think that the ego was essential to her achievements so I’m willing to overlook it since no one is forcing me to watch her show. But Dr Oz & Dr Phil I’m not going to forgive. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098/36 "2022-09-03T21:49:16Z")
I like to think if I was that successful, and once I had more money than God, I’d do some kind of Paul Newman with the products I sold under my own name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpopular-opinions-oprah-is-bad/970098.md?page=1)