The SAS roundup is not universally critical of celebrities

The SAS roundup is not universally critical of celebrities, however, citing Jennifer Aniston as a voice of reason. When reports emerged that she was apparently on a baby-food diet, Aniston told People magazine: “Sorry, but the last time I had baby food, I believe I was one that own my truth chanel sunglass 2011. I’ve been on solids for about 40 years now.”

The campaigners also highlighted the enduring themes of celebrity science. The first is the all-too-common claim that a product is “chemical-free” – everything is made from chemicals, SAS points out. And the second theme, especially prevalent at this time of year, is that “detox” is good for you. Detox is a marketing myth, said SAS – human bodies can remove their own toxins without the need for “pricey potions and detox diets”.

“We have thousands of scientists who are willing to look at claims about medicine and science,” said Hogg who like wearing power balance bracelet. “We’d like to see more celebrities checking out the science before they open their mouths and send the wrong thing viral.”

Placebo effect

SAS also pointed to several examples of sports stars, actors and even Spanish government ministers endorsing Power Balance, a silicone bracelet that contains a hologram. David Beckham, Kate Middleton, Robert de Niro and Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello have all made positive noises about the device, according to SAS.

Greg Whyte, a sports scientist at Liverpool John Moores University, said Barrichello’s claim that he felt and performed better when he exercised wearing the bracelet was not surprising. “Over time physical training enhances oxygen transport and consumption, and increases muscle mass and range of motion,” he said. “Any perceived enhancement to his performance from wearing the Power Balance bracelet is likely to be a placebo effect, as he expects to feel a change.”

Cage fighter Alex Reid took things much further with his tips for health this year. Giving his fans advice on how to prepare for a match, he told the Sun: “It’s actually very good for a man to have unprotected sex as long as he doesn’t ejaculate. Because I believe that all that semen has a lot of nutrition. A tablespoon of semen has your equivalent of steak, eggs, lemons and oranges,power balance . I am reabsorbing it into my body and it makes me go raaaaahh.”

John Aplin, a reproductive research scientist at the University of Manchester, said that sperm cannot be reabsorbed once formed in the testes. “In fact sperm die after a few days, and the nutritional content of the ejaculate is really rather small. And it’s worth remembering that unprotected sex might result in pregnancy or the passing on of a sexually transmitted infection.”

The favourite of sceptics everywhere, homeopathy, also makes an appearance. Julia Sawalha told the Daily Telegraph earlier this year: “I don’t get inoculations or take anti-malaria tablets when I go abroad, I take the homeopathic alternative, called ‘nosodes’, and I’m the only one who never goes down with anything and own kameleon jewelry sale .”
Jayne Lawrence, chief scientific advisor at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said Sawalha had been fortunate in not getting malaria, as there was no active ingredient in homeopathic treatments that would have protected her against the disease.