Actor Hector
Elizondo popped up on my T.V. "I exercise to keep my body
healthy," went the gist of his script. "To keep my mind healthy I
take these!" He held up a box of Ginkgo-Gunk pills (name changed
to prevent endorsing the guilty).
One wonders if the supposed "exercise"
regimen for his body is also a pill. Doubtful. So why should a
pill keep one's mind in top working order? Want to keep your mind
in great shape? Want to use your mind so you don't lose it? Try
exercising your mind. Work logic puzzles. Fill in
crosswords. Practice math problems. Read challenging material.
Just as you exercise your muscles by working them, you exercise
your mind by working it.
Am I knocking Ginkgo-Biloba derived
products? Not necessarily. Personally, I've not tried them, nor
have I seen any scientific evidence attesting to them. I'm still
not willing to knock them, though. Just as vitamins, minerals, and
other supplements are essential to the body, I'm willing to
consider a mind supplement. However, many of those same "body"
supplements would probably be far more effective mind supplements
than the latest fad herbs. The main point I wish to stress is --
they are supplements. They are to supplement other things,
not be you regimen.
The main problem I have with the
advertising from the makers of Ginkgo-Gunk is that they (and
promoters of similar products are just as guilty) would seem to
have you believe all you need do is take their version of the herb
of choice and all your mental problems are solved, that nothing is
either more effective or required. That is simply not the case.
Los Angeles, CA
December 23rd, 1998
hotmail.com)
