Ashwin Hariharan

I once almost choked to death while eating food. I did my own research and discovered that I’m not alone. Thousands of people choke every year while eating, and hundreds of them die. That’s why I don’t feed my kids. It’s dangerous. Now, plenty of people will point out that food supposedly "prevents starvation", and that might be true - but it’s not fair to completely ignore all the dangers food poses: choking, allergies, gingivitis, and garlic breath. I’m just saying - do your own research and decide what you think is best for your kids. If you choose to give your kids potentially deadly food, that’s your problem. But as a parent, I don't think the government has any right to tell me that I need to feed my kids. 👆 THIS IS HOW ANTIVAXXERS SOUND LIKE, TO THE REST OF US. BTW, did you know, cheese consumption in the US is also correlated with autism?

VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT. Dear friends, we have published the largest analytical study of Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha, Unani and Folk-Traditional Medicinal products that have harmed patients - presenting with liver damage - to our department. This is the most exhaustive analytical study that correlated clinical outcomes in such patients. Interestingly, one of the Reviewers who peer-reviewed our paper (notification after paper publication) and cleared it for publication is a senior professor of Ayurveda (Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana) at All India Institute of Ayurveda. This makes our paper even more impactful. Here is a plain language summary of the study's major findings, highlighting what patients and the public need to know about the safety of alternative medicines: Severe Liver Damage is a Major Risk: The study looked at 386 alternative and complementary medicines taken by patients who experienced liver damage. It found that these products frequently triggered a severe, life-threatening form of liver failure, called Acute-on-chronic liver failure (or ACLF) which resulted in death for nearly 40% of the patients who developed it. Unlabeled Products Can Be Deadly: Taking "unlabeled" products—those sold without proper ingredient lists, manufacturer details, or batch numbers—was a strong predictor of death. The risk of dying increased the more unlabeled products a patient consumed, showing how dangerous an unregulated supply chain can be. Data revealed a dose-response relationship where death rates escalated progressively, reaching 42.9% among patients who consumed three or more unlabeled products. Dangerous Levels of Heavy Metals: A shocking number of the tested products were heavily contaminated with toxic metals like mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium, often at levels far above safety limits. Exposure to cadmium, in particular, was strongly linked to patients developing the most severe form of liver failure. Exposure to cadmium was strongly and significantly associated with the development of ACLF (75.9% in exposed versus 22.6% in unexposed patients). Hidden Prescription Drugs: Almost one-third of the products secretly contained modern pharmaceutical drugs, meaning patients were taking them without knowing. These hidden drugs included steroids, antibiotics, and painkillers, and some were even banned or well-known to cause liver damage. "Natural" Doesn't Always Mean Safe: Over 40% of the products contained plant ingredients that are medically documented to be toxic to the liver. Well-known herbs like Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) and Ashwagandha were among the most common potentially harmful plants found in the products. Secret Animal Ingredients: Testing revealed that nearly a third of the products contained undisclosed animal ingredients (such as dairy, marine products, or animal extracts). This is a major concern for vegans, vegetarians, and people with religious dietary restrictions who believe they are taking plant-based medicines. Risks from Concentrated Plant Extracts: The study discovered that high concentrations of certain common plant fats and compounds (called phytosterols) were tied to higher rates of severe liver failure. This shows that highly concentrated "natural" extracts can act differently in the body and become harmful, even if they come from everyday plants. Lead Reseacher: @arifhussaintm FULL PAPER (free to read): frontiersin.org/journals/gastr…

Good morning. Felt like treating this delusion right away. This is a textbook case of "retroactive pattern-matching" which is the (dumb) intellectual equivalent of firing arrows at a wall and then painting bullseyes around them. This is a special category of mental health disorder Indian social media sympathizing with pseudoscientific Ayurveda suffers from - The "We Knew It First" Syndrome. Claim 1 - "Ayurveda described atherosclerosis thousands of years ago as Dhamani Pratichaya" In the Ayurvedic classical text, Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana Chapter 20, Dhamani Pratichaya ("hardening of vessels") appears as an item in a list of 20 diseases attributed to "kapha dosha" imbalance. Kapha Dosha is an imaginary energetic bodily fluid - among Kapha, Pitta and Vata humoral theory which became obsolete in late 18th century. Ayurveda also claimed the mind is inside the heart. Observing that arteries get blocked is not a discovery. Ancient Egyptians documented atherosclerosis in mummies as well as Greeks too. Noticing that fat accumulates in vessels is about as revolutionary as noticing that drains get clogged. Claim 2 - "PLTP enzyme = Lekhana (scraping) principle" This is where the claim goes from wrong to comical. PLTP is a specific ~81 kDa glycoprotein that transfers phospholipids between lipoproteins, facilitates cholesterol efflux to HDL via ABCA1-mediated pathways, and operates through precise protein-lipid interactions at the molecular level involving apoA-I-containing lipoproteins. Calling this "Lekhana" (scraping) is like saying ancient people invented aviation because they observed birds flying. Claim 3 - "Guggulu is the ancient world's PLTP" This is the crown jewel of the delusion, and the evidence here is deliciously ironic. The landmark JAMA 2003 randomized controlled trial tested standardized guggul extract in adults with hyperlipidemia. The result? Compared with placebo participants in whom LDL-C decreased by 5%, both standard-dose and high-dose guggulipid actually raised LDL-C by 4–5%, for a net worsening of 9–10%. There were no significant changes in total cholesterol, HDL-C, triglycerides, or VLDL-C. Six participants also developed hypersensitivity rashes from guggulu. So Guggulu is the ancient world's delusionally harmful PLTP. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12915429/ Wait. It does not end there. A later RCT combining guggulu with Triphala (another Ayurvedic BS) showed equally dismal results: three months of treatment showed no better effects than placebo on serum levels of total and LDL cholesterol, BMI, or waist circumference: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33242870/ A Natural Standard Research Collaboration review concluded bluntly: there is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of guggul for any medical condition: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK72258/ But wait once more. Here's the part that should concern everyone: guggul and its bioactive compounds have been implicated in possible and probable drug-induced liver injury with a severe liver damage, and there have been reports of acute liver failure requiring liver transplantation: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC75… In summary, what's happening here is a well-known rhetorical trick: take a vague ancient description, wait for modern science to discover something specific, then retroactively claim the vague description was "the same thing." This works because vague claims can be mapped onto almost anything. More examples: "Ancient texts described channels in the body" → Therefore they knew about ion channels! "Ancient texts said food gives energy" → Therefore they knew about mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation! "Ancient texts said the sky has lights" → Therefore they knew about nuclear fusion in stellar cores! If you "scrape" the base of the skull of these types of people on social media, you will only find guggulu molecules, not neurons.

Lead found in 26% of vegetable samples in Bengaluru: CPCB flags contamination deccanherald.com/india/karnatak…

One irony I’ve noticed in certain younger crowds, (especially among certain yoga/spirituality–adjacent circles, functional medicine types, etc.): is how hyper-optimized they get about tiny insignificant health variables. If you have a piece of chocolate in front of them, they will shake their head in disapproval & say "oooh sugar is poison 😱" & will try to micromanage every ingredient & throw around buzzwords like 'gut microbiome', 'natural immunity', 'microplastics', 'inflammation' etc obsessing over marginal gains. Yet those same people will also smoke a cigarette or a joint in a day, or have no problem with drinking alcohol once a week or so - substances that are either established Group 1 carcinogens or at least far less studied. If you then question them, suddenly the philosophy shifts to 'everything in moderation' or 'you have to live a little'. Like… bro c'mon make it make sense 😂. You find "toxins” in seed oils & gluten but not in literal smoke? 😂 . Pick a philosophy and be consistent, no?

Ashwagandha is heavily promoted on social media by fitness influencers and gym enthusiasts as a wonder supplement, but the science behind its claimed benefits is surprisingly weak. The few clinical trials that exist are small, poorly designed, and often funded by the supplement industry itself, making the results unreliable. What is much better documented, is that Ashwagandha can harm the liver. The US Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network now lists Ashwagandha as one of the top herbal products causing liver damage. The largest case series from India (by me and my colleagues) showed that Ashwagandha caused serious liver injury on its own, without any contamination or adulteration, and in people who already had liver problems, it triggered liver failure and death. Several other cases worldwide have needed emergency treatment including plasma exchange, and some have been evaluated for liver transplantation. Ashwagandha continues to be popular despite having no solid proof of benefit and no proper safety data — making it a preventable cause of liver disease fueled by marketing, not medicine. Buyer, beware.

@theliverdoc Sad thing is, it's not just nutritionists, but also lot of personal trainers in the gym are advising their clients to take supplements beyond whey protein (like ashwagandha, ginseng extract, green tea extract etc).

Just putting my two cents here. FoodPharmer taught you how to read labels on food products. Now please start doing the same for dietary supplements that your "dietitian" , "nutritionist" , "wellness influencers" promote and brainwash you to buy. In the first image: The Fat Burner Capsule and Fat Burner Premix are the most concerning. These commonly contain: Green tea extract (containing high levels of plant chemical EGCG) - well-documented cause of liver injury, especially in concentrated forms and in fasted states Garcinia cambogia - multiple case reports of acute liver failure Usnic acid - potent mitochondrial toxin - also related to severe liver injury Bitter orange/synephrine - multiple hepatotoxicity reports Proprietary "thermogenic blends" - often undisclosed combinations. If you see anything labelled "proprietary blend" on a supplement, please do not even touch it with a 10ft pole. In the second image: Noni Juice Concentrate There are multiple documented cases of noni-associated liver injury in humans and animal studies showed liver cell damage and necrosis and 40% mortality with chronic consumption - attributed to anthraquinones in the fruit. ShapeShift Fat Burner Premix (Lemon Flavour) Fat burners typically contain green tea extract (with high levels of EGCG), garcinia cambogia - both well-documented hepatotoxins, especially when taken in fasted states as this regimen suggests. These types of "nutritionists" and "health coaches" belong to the jail, or the kindergarten. Education is important before punishment.

@IanCopeland5 To all the idiots supporting these parents, this is what you sound like: “You’re lying pieces of shit about this medical science you’ve developed to prevent a lung illness, but I trust you completely about the medical science you’ve developed to transplant lungs!”

This is a recycled myth built from misreading observational geriatric data, and it collapses once you apply basic epidemiology and clinical trial evidence. 1. Japan’s longevity does not come from high cholesterol Yes, Japan has high life expectancy. No, that is not because elderly Japanese have high LDL. Japan’s outcomes track with: Low lifetime LDL exposure (dietary pattern, not late-life labs) Low obesity Low smoking in women High physical activity Strong social cohesion Universal healthcare Late-life cholesterol snapshots do not represent lifetime exposure, which drives atherosclerosis. 2. “High cholesterol = longer life in the elderly” is reverse causation This is the key error. In older adults: Low cholesterol often reflects frailty, malnutrition, cancer, inflammation, or chronic disease People already sick tend to have lower cholesterol and higher mortality That does not mean cholesterol is protective. It means illness lowers cholesterol. This is called reverse causation, and it is a first-year epidemiology concept. 3. Observational studies ≠ treatment decisions Those studies: Are non-randomized Do not test statins Do not measure lifetime LDL burden Do not show benefit from raising cholesterol They describe who is already dying, not what prevents disease. 4. Statins in older adults: what the evidence actually shows Randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses show: Statins reduce heart attacks and strokes in older adults Benefits persist into the 70s and early 80s Absolute benefit is often greater because baseline risk is higher Side effects: Muscle symptoms occur in a minority and are usually reversible No consistent evidence of cognitive harm Statins reduce dementia risk overall in large population studies The “statins rot grandma’s brain” claim is simply false. 5. The 230 cholesterol scare story is a straw man No competent physician treats a number in isolation. Decisions are based on: Overall ASCVD risk Prior heart disease or stroke Diabetes, blood pressure, smoking Functional status and goals of care Frailty, limited life expectancy, or intolerance → don’t treat High risk, good function → treat That’s medicine, not profit. 6. “Follow the money” fails reality Statins are generic, cheap, and off-patent They save health systems money by preventing expensive hospitalizations If profit were the motive, cardiology would push far pricier drugs first (they don’t) Bottom line High cholesterol in the elderly is not protective Low cholesterol in sick elders reflects underlying illness Lifetime LDL exposure still drives atherosclerosis Statins help selected older adults live longer and better This argument confuses survivorship bias with science This isn’t “protecting grandma.” It’s misusing statistics to scare families away from evidence-based care.

Ajit Doval lectures IIT students on “passion for nation” and asks youth to “take revenge through nation-building.” Meanwhile, his reality check: • Son Vivek Doval holds UK citizenship, runs hedge fund from Singapore & Cayman Islands. • Son Shaurya got MBAs from Chicago & London, worked as investment banker abroad before returning. Nation-building sermons are easy when your own family enjoys foreign passports and offshore finances. Practice what you preach, Sir.

@TheeOnlyKi65942 💯. Any being sufficiently developed and advanced to be considered Divine would not wish to be worshipped or called God. And conversely, any being wishing or demanding to be worshipped or called God is insufficiently advanced to be considered Divine.

A being that exists outside of time and space would have no use for the "glory" or "praise" of primates. The demand for worship is a human insecurity, not a divine requirement. A God who creates an entire universe just to...

Very true. India (& organized religion in general) is full of ironies. Take the example of the famous Temple in Mumbai dedicated to the Goddess of Wealth. One would imagine that if gods actually delivered what they represent, then at-least the temple and its immediate surroundings would reflect wealth & prosperity, considering it's situated in the financial capital of India, no less! But instead, it is so dirty & shabby, lined with beggars sitting outside asking for money. The irony is - in its vicinity, it would be hard to find a more dirtier & poorer space than this temple.

Unpopular opinion: People do chest thumping about sanatana dharm but places near our temples are too diry, full of beggers. Whether you go ganga ghat or vrindavan mathura, No foreigner will visit again tbh, It's birthplace of our god and it's still very dirty, compare our holy cities with macca and vatican city, you will get your answer

@_Ochiedike No. Religion is the lazy man’s approach to morality, and a very poor one at that. Religions don't have a monopoly on goodness or purpose. They've just been very good at marketing themselves as if they do.

Do we really need religion to have morals? Yes or No

If you're like me exploring & building Agentic AI, this is a recommended read: Organizing AI Applications: Lessons from traditional software architecture @booleanhunter/organizing-ai-applications-lessons-from-traditional-software-architecture-1cb777351afb?sk=264019e48591ec364ab878ab17d2e47d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@booleanhunter… The problem with most AI agent framework tutorials is that they just show some isolated piece of code or very basic examples. The real headache is figuring out how to organize a slightly more complex project. Moreover, if you're vibe-coding, ClaudeAI or Copilot will generate working code in whatever random place which seems convenient. So the need for clean architecture is more relevant than ever. In this article, you can learn some scalable patterns that can work for your project and help move past the prototype stage.

Gig workers aren't rushing into 10-minute deliveries for the thrill or passion. Many do it out of necessity in a country with structural underemployment & few better alternatives for semi-skilled youth. Secondly, progress often requires forcing better standards. Just like banning child labor, mandating seatbelts, or labor laws didn't happen voluntarily. Car drivers / Factory Workers aren't doing indenture labor too, but they too had to call for better safety standards. If the system puts a segment of people by design, correcting the inequality is a good thing and it makes the places we work better and fair.

“10-minute delivery is exploitation.” So don’t deliver? It’s job, not indenture labor. You’re free to do it. Free to not do it.

No serious advocate of raising minimum wage is calling for an extremely high wage floor. Studies on minimum wages (from OECD countries to developing economies) generally show that well-designed increases have small or negligible effects on overall employment. Sometimes even positive, due to reduced turnover & higher productivity. Goal isn't to impose unrealistic wages but to ensure gig work is sustainable. History has shown us that progress often requires "forcing" better standards. Just like banning child labor, mandating seatbelts, or labor laws didn't happen voluntarily. Workers fought for them.

Kunal Kamra wants minimum wage laws for gig workers. Okay, let's set the minimum wage of gig workers to one lakh per month. Would this solve all their problems or all of them would get instantly fired ? Socialists try to show their concern for the poor by raising the level of minimum wage laws. Yet they show no interest in hard evidence that minimum wage laws create disastrous levels of unemployment, that minimum wage laws do overwhelmingly bad compared to the little good they do.

This is nothing. I LITERALLY created an agent to replace my entire family during the holidays: .claude/ - agents/ - daughters/ - snack-negotiator[.]md - why-asker[.]md - sibling-conflict-instigator[.]md - screen-time-lobbyist[.]md - spouse/ - calendar-synchronizer[.]md - dinner-decider[.]md - social-commitment-rememberer[.]md - gentle-reality-checker[.]md - parents/ - unsolicited-advice-generator[.]md - guilt-trip-scheduler[.]md - grandkid-spoiler[.]md

@dolce_deuce Okay. Maybe you are right. Gaza is probably not the right example in this case.

@booleanhunter @bhatoti @htTweets The conclusions drawn by her wouldn't make Gaza/etc the ideal place to live because your own life is at risk, rich are no different from common people...if only you had read the actual article 😂

This article in @htTweets today definitely made me pause for a little bit.

@dolce_deuce @bhatoti @htTweets Why do you assume that I didn't read? I get where the author is coming from, but I don't necessarily agree with certain points and conclusions she draws based on her experiences.

@booleanhunter @bhatoti @htTweets Bro always research. Look for the actual articles on your own rather than jumping on guns based on cutout tweets. That's actually the true definition(um, actually requirement) of a "rationalist".