In a surprising turn of events, renowned hepatologist Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as The Liver Doc, has publicly criticized actress Nayanthara for promoting the benefits of hibiscus tea on her social media. This controversy erupted after the actress shared a post claiming that hibiscus tea has various health benefits, which The Liver Doc promptly debunked, leading to a heated exchange online.
Nayanthara’s Claims and Initial Retraction
Nayanthara, who recently appeared in the blockbuster film Jawan alongside Shah Rukh Khan, initially shared an Instagram post praising hibiscus tea. She highlighted its long-standing use in Ayurveda and claimed it was “high in antioxidants” and beneficial for conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart-related ailments.
However, after The Liver Doc criticized her for spreading “misleading” information, Nayanthara deleted the post. The Liver Doc’s swift debunking seemed to have had an impact, but the story didn’t end there.
Doubling Down with Support from a Nutritionist
Instead of letting the issue die down, Nayanthara returned with a new post, this time backed by her nutritionist Munmun Ganeriwal. Ganeriwal defended the claims about hibiscus tea, asserting that there was nothing problematic with Nayanthara’s endorsement. Nayanthara then reshared Ganeriwal’s post with a caption that read, “Whoever needs an explanation, please go through this post.”
This move sparked further outrage from The Liver Doc, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment. He tweeted, “Hopeless. Just absolutely hopeless. Still not taking any responsibility for misguidance and promoting the pseudoscience peddling nutritionist. Quite sad state of awareness on healthcare here.”
The Liver Doc’s Fierce Rebuttal
The Liver Doc didn’t stop at mere criticism. He launched a detailed thread on X, systematically debunking the claims made by Ganeriwal and calling her a “quack.” His thread began with a strong statement:
“Ok, so after the actress Nayanthara indirectly ‘abused’ me and silently deleted her post on hibiscus tea benefits, her ‘celebrity nutritionist’ Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal, whom I called a ‘quack,’ has responded strongly against me… proving that she is indeed a quack.”
He further dismantled the studies and journals that Ganeriwal cited to support her claims, labeling them as “embarrassing” and dismissing them as “garbage, predatory, pay and publish, non-indexed, non-peer reviewed toilet paper,” while describing another as a “dubious 3rd-rate, non-indexed, scientific database unlisted toilet paper.”
A Pattern of Criticism
This isn’t the first time The Liver Doc has found himself at odds with celebrities over health claims. Recently, he was also in the news for criticizing actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Samantha had promoted alternative medicine therapy for treating respiratory viral infections, which The Liver Doc strongly opposed, citing a lack of scientific evidence.
A Battle Between Science and Celebrity Influence
The ongoing feud between The Liver Doc and Nayanthara raises important questions about the responsibility celebrities have when sharing health information. With millions of followers, their endorsements can significantly influence public perceptions and behaviors regarding health practices.
Nayanthara’s decision to stand by her claims, despite expert criticism, highlights the ongoing tension between scientific rigor and celebrity influence. While many of her fans continue to support her, The Liver Doc’s critique serves as a reminder of the importance of evidence-based health advice.
Final Thoughts
As this saga unfolds, it serves as a reminder for both celebrities and the public to critically evaluate health claims and prioritize scientifically backed information. While Nayanthara’s intentions might have been benign, The Liver Doc’s fierce rebuttal underscores the potential dangers of spreading misinformation in the age of social media.
Whether this incident will prompt a more cautious approach from celebrities when discussing health topics remains to be seen. For now, it seems that The Liver Doc is on a mission to hold influential figures accountable for their health-related endorsements.
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