8 Ways Companies Use Pseudoscience To Sell You Stuff

3. Medicalisation

One step further than simply sexing up your food to make it more sciencey, is to turn it into medicine. Alongside the techno-foods, you have an endless array of supplements and "active ingredients" that claim to cure all manner of ills.

The whole "fish oil" thing is a classic example. Most people have a vague notion that fish oil is "good for your brain", but there are those who claim that it will do everything from boost your IQ to reduce your child's antisocial behaviour and boost their exam results.

It's tempting to believe that the reason your kid is such a brat is that they're just not getting enough Omega-3. It's easier than acknowledging the complex social and political forces at work, and it's certainly much easier to sell in pill form.

If you're stupid, you can take oil supplements, if you're fat you can hit up some raspberry ketones, if you're weedy then just smash back a creatine supplement.

"Eat well-ish, do some exercise and try not to be a dick" is boring and doesn't make much money, so companies have now managed to literally bottle your insecurity and sell it to you.