3.3.15: Making Decisions About Vaccination, The Myth Of Super Foods, & Listerine's Origin Story

An overwhelming majority of medical researchers and pediatricians advocate for vaccinating kids. Vocal anti-vaxxers include celebrities Jenny McCarthy and Rob Schneider. On today’s show we’ll find out why women are more likely to distrust doctors and go anti-vax.

Plus, we’ll bust some of the myths behind anti-oxidant rich super foods, and find out how advertisers turned Listerine into a cure-all – and virtually created the concept of bad breath.

Listen to the full show and click Read more for individual segments.

Don't Blame Parents For Vaccine Resistance

• Ruth Grahamis a New Hampshire based freelance journalist and a regular contributor to Slate where we found her article: “Don’t Blame Parents for Vaccine Resistance.”

Apothecary Museum Offers Time Capsule Of Early American Medicine

• The Stabler-Leadbeater apothecary museum in Old Town Alexandria, just outside D.C. is a fully preserved 19th century pharmacy that lets visitors take a step back in medical time. Lauren Ober spoke to the museum curator Callie Stapp, and brings us this story.
• You can listen to this story again at PRX.org.

The Myth of Super Foods

• Dara Mohammadiis a science and health writer, we found his article: “The Truth about ‘Miracle Foods’- From Chia Seeds to Coconut Oil” at The Guardian.

Gentrifying Acai

• Early in the acai boom, reporter Kelley Weiss reported from Brazil on the local fruit that burst onto the global market.
• You can listen to the story again at PRX.org.

Listerine's Origin Story

• Sarah Zhangis a staff writer at Gizmodo, where she wrote about the origins of Listerine. 

Global Hygiene Habits

• Olga Khazanis a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she covers health. Find her article here: "How Often People in Various Countries Shower"

The Mind Reader

• Our next story is about one of the people who can look inside your brain: a healthcare worker, who would rather be playing music. Joshua McNichols produces the podcast Day Job.
• You can listen to this story again at PRX.org.