There’s no doubt that Netflix has cornered the market on documentaries. As a Netflix junkie myself, I’ll admit that my ideal Friday night consists of pizza and well, Netflix. But when it comes to the shows surrounding health and wellness, my relationship with the TV mogul gets a bit complicated.
Enter The Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow: a series about the practices behind Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow’s multi-million dollar lifestyle brand. Honestly, Goop does a great job when it comes to glamorizing the health industry. There’s no doubt that over the last decade, Goop has played a major role in the glitz and glam surrounding wellness. Despite my credentials, I too am guilty of succumbing to misguided claims (my weakness being skincare products).
The problem with this show, and the entire Goop brand, however, is the platform’s use of consumer fear to build profits.
Celery Juice. First, many of those health claims (improved energy, clear skin, better digestion) can be attributed to the benefits of fibrous vegetables (vitamin and water content). And since we are unfortunately a culture obsessed with weight loss, realize that any “cleanse” will indeed cause weight loss due to the calorie deficit. The caveat? This restrictive method is unsustainable and unhealthy, will wreak havoc on your metabolism, and perpetuates an oppressive culture that idolizes a body standard and lifestyle unattainable to most. On the contrary, if you’re someone who likes the taste of overpriced juice, then you can totally add it to your morning routine as part of a balanced meal. But just an FYI: drinking our calories is less satiating than chewing our calories.
The bottom line? Any detox or cleanse that is sold to “clear the mess” in your body stems from unsupported science. Our body is naturally designed to manage its own detox; from the liver and skin to our intestines, we are metabolically wired to excrete waste that builds from natural metabolism. Another issue? Glorified detox cleanses suggest that our current livelihoods are damaged and in need of “fixing.” That’s not a positive platform for anyone.
