Robert Young (author)

Infobox Person
name = Robert O. Young


caption = Robert O. Young
birth_date = c. 1950 or 1952
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
other_names =
known_for = Advocating an alkaline diet
occupation = Author, entrepreneur
nationality = American

Robert O. Young (born c. 1950 or 1952) is an American author of books relating to alternative medicine and the alkaline diet. He formerly lived in Alpine, Utah and has lived at Rancho Del Sol, an avocado and grapefruit ranch in Valley Center, California, with his wife, the author and chef Shelley Redford Young, since approximately 2003.

Education and professional affiliations

Young obtained an undegraduate degree from the University of Utah, where he studied biology and business, in the early 1970s, [http://www.phmiracleliving.com/press-kit.htm Robert Young Website Media Kit] ] following which he did missionary work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years in London, England. He received several degrees from Clayton College of Natural Health, an unaccredited distance learning school, including an M.S. in nutrition (1993), a D.Sc. with emphasis in chemistry and biology (1995), a Ph.D. (1997) and an N.D. (Doctor of Naturopathy, 1999).

Young is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, [http://www.asm.org/search/memberdetails.asp?i=1863538] and his website states that he is a member of the American Naturopathic Association.

Work

Robert Young is a proponent of the alkaline diet. He claims that health depends primarily on proper balance between an alkaline and acid environment in the human body; according to this theory, when the blood becomes too acidic, the body will take whatever action necessary to regulate the acid-alkaline balance of the blood. According to Young, in this environment the body will begin to break down and show signs of disease including cancer, obesity, osteoporosis, yeast overgrowth, flu, skin disorders, etc. [ [http://www.phmiracleliving.com/approach.htm The Alkalarian Approach to Optimal Health ] ] The claims underlying alkaline diets like Young's are believed to be medically implausible, and there is no scientific evidence that such diets are beneficial. [ [http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?d=dmtHMSContent&c=465747&p=~br,IHW|~st,24479|~r,WSIHW000|~b,*| Alkaline Diets and Cancer: Fact or Fiction?] , by Stephanie Vangsness, R.D., L.D.N. Intelihealth, published May 3 2006; accessed July 17 2008.] According to the National Council Against Health Fraud, a 2005 MEDLINE search indicated that Young had not published any research in recognized scientific journals, and that none of his graduate degrees was from an accredited educational institution. [http://www.ncahf.org/digest05/05-14.html "Dr." Robert O. Young lacks legitimate credentials] , from Consumer Health Digest #05-14, published by the National Council Against Health Fraud on April 5 2005. Accessed July 17 2008.]

Young offers a course in which he trains people to perform live blood analysis. [http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/jenkins/20050411-9999-1m11jenkins.html Naturopathic technique stirring bad blood] , by Logan Jenkins. Published in the "San Diego Union-Tribune" on April 11 2005; accessed July 20 2008.] According to the Health and Human Services Office and Quackwatch, live blood analysis is an unestablished test with no scientific validity.HHS Office of the Inspector General (July 2001). [http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-05-00-00250.pdf CLIA regulation of unestablished laboratory tests.] ] [http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/Nonrecorg/clayton.html Clayton College of Natural Health: Be Wary of the School and Its Graduates ] ]

He has authored a series of books and videos titled "The pH Miracle". Other books he has authored include "Herbal Nutritional Medications" (1988), "One Sickness, One Disease, One Treatment" (1992), "Sick and Tired" (Woodland Publishing (1995), "Back to the House of Health" (Woodland Publishing, 1999), "Back to the House of Health 2", (Woodland Books, 2003).

Legal issues

In 1995, Young allegedly drew blood from two women, told them they were ill, and then sold them herbal products to treat these illnesses. He was charged with two third-degree felonies, but pled guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of attempting to practice medicine without a license. [http://www.deseretnews.com/cgi-bin/cqcgi_plus/@plus.env?CQ_SESSION_KEY=SNHYAFRAMXCL&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=7&CQ_TEXT_MAIN=YES Herbalist in Alpine pleads guilty to reduced charge] . Published in the "Deseret News" on February 5 1996; accessed July 20 2008.] In 2001, Young was again charged with a felony in Utah, after a woman suffering from cancer alleged that he told her to stop chemotherapy and use one of his products to treat her cancer instead. Subsequently, when an undercover agent visited Young, he allegedly analyzed her blood and prescribed a liquid diet. The case was taken to preliminary trial, but charges were dropped after the prosecutor stated that he could not find enough people who felt cheated by Young. Young himself dismissed the arrests as "harassment" and stated that they were a factor in his move to California, "in part because the legal climate here is more tolerant for dietary researchers such as himself."

Personal

Young is a great-great grandson of Brigham Young. [http://www.phmiracleliving.com/press-kit.htm]

ee also

*Dr. Hay diet
*Food combining

References

External links

* [http://www.phmiracleliving.com Official site of Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young]
* [http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.com/ Robert O. Young blog]