Wellness is a Scam
Summary
A straphanger delivers a blistering critique of the wellness industry, which rakes in $1.8 trillion annually compared to pharma's $700 billion. The math doesn't add up. America isn't well despite all that spending. She tears into juice cleanses as expensive eating disorders and defends MSG, which a dietitian told her actually has less sodium than regular salt. Kareem's on board. Justice for MSG. The conversation bounces from supplements to Chinese food stigma, questioning why Americans throw money at wellness products that clearly aren't making anyone healthier. It's a rant that connects corporate profit margins to personal frustration, all while sitting on the subway.
Full Transcript
So what's your take? Wellness is a scam? 100% agree. But I want to hear why. So the pharmaceutical industry—famously very popular in America—it makes around 700 billion a year. A little bit less than that, the wellness industry makes about $1.8 trillion.
Wait, what is wellness? Wellness is a really large category. So it could be supplements, it could be cleanses and diets. But I think the thing that I'm looking at is like the return on investment just does not seem to be there.
No, it's like we're spending so much on wellness and it's like, I don't—do we think that America's well? I do not think America is well. I'm buying cleanses. I bought it, and it's like, don't eat well? You're really paying for an eating disorder. That's how I think juice cleanses are. And I think that's a thing that really kills me about wellness—juice is expensive. The other thing that pisses me off is MSG.
MSG? Madison Square Garden? No, no. MSG, like what's added to Chinese food. And it's delicious. I found out from a dietitian that it has less sodium than salt, and it's actually better for you than salt in certain cases.
Justice for MSG. Bring it back. Let's eat Chinese food.