A Naturopaths take-aways from netflix’s “Apple Cider Vinegar”
I recently finished Netflix’s TV series “Apple Cider Vinegar” which is based on the story of Belle Gibson, a health influencer who faked having brain cancer and claimed to cure it with a whole-foods diet.
I would first like to say that this was a great TV show. It was well made, and highlights some really important issues that have only gotten more complicated (since the scandal with Belle Gibson).
I am a bachelor degree qualified naturopath, so I am in an interesting junction between both the wellness industry and mainstream healthcare. In this blog post I will explore the complexities of this junction and my experience as a naturopath of peoples perceptions of health and wellbeing and the messages I took away when finishing the TV show.
Attitudes toward the self:
A character in the show Milla felt she had given herself cancer by behaving like a classic 22 year old - partying regularly, working a stressful job, & eating poorly (like most people in their early 20’s). There is a narrative in wellness culture, that if you work hard enough, eat organic, meditate for 1 hour daily, fast monthly, are incredibly strict with yourself and adhere to a strict regime then you won’t get sick because you don’t “deserve” to get sick, as you’ve put in the work. And if you do get sick, then it’s somehow your fault, you might not have been strict enough or “good enough”. This is not the case. Bodies get sick. It is an unfortunate part of life, but it happens. Now, this is not to say that looking after yourself is pointless, and there’s nothing you can do to stop yourself from getting sick. There are things that you can do to promote health and wellbeing, and diet and lifestyle changes that will help fight illness. My point is if you get sick it isn’t your fault, you haven’t done anything bad to deserve it.
This attitude is very individualistic and put the onus on the person who is unwell, and doesn’t acknowledge the systems that are in place that cause harm and unwellness to people (poverty, lack of food literacy, insecure housing, lack of education, lack of access to food - basically the social determinants to health). For example take a single mother of 2, working multiple jobs to try and pay for food, rent, childcare, & bills. It’s not that health isn’t a priority, it’s just that she’s trying to keep her head above water and put food on the table, while being exhausted. The attitude that “you’re not working hard enough” is a very privileged and reductionist point of view that lacks nuance and holistic understanding.
This narrative of ‘strictness’ that plays out in the wellness culture verges on ‘purity’ and creates a really unhealthy relationship with oneself, the people around them, and their attitude towards food and eating. If someone is obsessing whether food is organic, sugar free, or is free of seed oils and gets upset when it is not those things, and will not eat if those qualities in the food are not present, I would say that is disordered eating. That is not a healthy mindset to be in and can quickly slide into an eating disorder. Orthorexia is a proposed eating disorder (It’s not in the DSM-5 yet) and is well documented. Orthorexia is the obsession with “clean” or “healthful” eating, and will often cause anxiety or distress around food choices which becomes all-encompassing. Food is not meant to harbour fear. Food is meant to nourish you, mind body and soul.
Attitudes towards Western medicine:
Contempt for western medicine and doctors is a common thread in this show and in our lives. To be completely honest, I understand why people may feel this way towards mainstream medicine. I have unfortunately had many experiences with doctors who were belittling, dismissive and at times, I have felt like i’ve had to fight hard to advocate for myself. This is not to say that all doctors are terrible people, there is a bigger problem. The healthcare system is strained, GP’s are time poor and overworked. This doesn’t excuse poor practice, but we have to take a holistic view of the situation.
Grifters like Belle Gibson play into the frustration people feel with western medicine and take advantage of vulnerable people for profit gain and click-bait. Capitalistic algorithms from tech billionaires just add fuel to the fire. Instagram is rife with influencers giving health advice with no qualifications.
It can be frustrating for me as naturopath because often we get painted with the same brush as the Belle Gibsons’ of the world. People often don’t realise naturopaths are holistic evidence based health practitioners. Some people view naturopaths as snake oil merchants who are praying on vulnerable people, other people are disappointed to discover we are scientifically trained and won’t tell people to go off their meds and to not go to their doctors. Ultimately naturopaths want to work collaboratively with doctors and others as part of a healthcare team.
Final takeaway - Money
The final thing that really stood out to me in the show was the money. It’s really expensive to be unwell, especially when someone has cancer. In the show one character has to undergo a cancer treatment that costs $60,000. His family are renters and have to decide between saving his life and trying to take out a loan. There is another scene where a different cancer patient goes to Peru for an ayahuasca ceremony, she has a good trip and decides to stay the Sharman then pulls out an eftpos machine and charges her for her extra time. I’m not saying that people don’t deserve to be paid for the work that they do, but the point I think the show made so well is that the costs of wellness is incredibly high and capitalism has infiltrated every aspect of our lives, even spaces that are considered sacred.
It’s a reminder that the wellness industry makes a lot of money. The pharmaceutical industry is often criticised for making money off unwell people, but it’s not acknowledged that the wellness industry makes even more money than pharmaceuticals. In Australia, the pharmaceutical industry is worth approximately $12.9 billion per year whereas the wellness industry is worth approximately $22 billion annually.
It makes me sad to think that some people are fighting for their lives and have to pay so much for treatment. So I understand why it’s so appealing for people to believe their is a simple answer and a magic bullet to cure you of all your ailments. But as one character says if someone is selling you something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
To wrap up I recommend watching ‘apple cider vinegar’ on Netflix. I also suggest that people don’t take health advice from random influencers on the internet. If you are looking for holistic support in your health, go see a qualified Naturopath, Nutritionist, or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner.