Is Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop brand trustworthy?

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Is Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop brand trustworthy?

• By Ponderly

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Fact Box

• Gwyneth Paltrow is an award-winning actress,
  producer, and director known for her role as
  Pepper Potts in Marvels Iron Man and Avengers
  films (2008-2019), among other productions like
  Contagion (2011) and Shakespeare in Love (1998). 
• Gwyneth Paltrow created Goop as a personal weekly
  newsletter that eventually became a successful,
  yet controversial wellness and lifestyle company
  since its inception in 2008.
• In 2018, Goop was reportedly valued at 250
  million and generated over 45 million in
  revenue.
• Over the years, Goop was the subject of scrutiny
  due to its aphrodisiac Jade Egg and This
  Smells Like My Vagina exploding candle.
• The Goop brand is described as a 'modern
  lifestyle brand' that offers wellness advice from
  doctors, travel recommendations, as well as clean
  beauty, fashion, and home products.

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Sheryll (No)

• Many of Goops products are sold based on dubious
  health claims. For example, there was the
  infamous jade egg, which Goop claimed that
  inserting into the vagina could improve sexual
  health, even though there is no scientific
  evidence to back this up. The brand also promotes
  Detox Guides, which have been widely dismissed
  as pseudoscience.
• Some of Goops products are also just dangerous
  for regular use. Using the jade egg can lead to
  infections and toxic shock syndrome, and Goops
  recommendation to steam your vagina once caused
  a woman to be hospitalized. In 2018, one woman
  also died after undergoing live bee acupuncture,
  which Goop claimed could reduce inflammation and
  skin scarring. Goop also sells a bottle of
  vitamins aimed at treating conditions related to
  menopause, but these vitamins contain a
  potentially dangerous amount of biotin.

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Sheryll (No)

• Many question whether Goop is motivated more by
  financial interests than the well-being of its
  consumers. During an In Goop Health conference
  in 2019, some attendees questioned the 1,300
  hotel price tag and claimed the overall
  experience was subpar, with one even calling the
  summit a weekend-long sales pitch. 
• Goop has also gotten into legal trouble for its
  products. In September 2018, Goop entered a legal
  settlement to resolve a lawsuit brought by 10
  California District Attorney offices, where
  prosecutors alleged that Goop made several
  unsubstantiated medical claims about their
  products. The suit was filed after Truth in
  Advertising warned of over 50 unsubstantiated
  health claims made by Goop. It is, therefore,
  inconceivable to consider Goop trustworthy when
  its business model relies so much on
  sensationalized wellness trends.

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Joanna (Yes)

• Gwyneth Paltrows Goop can and has been called
  many things, but untrustworthy shouldnt be on
  that list. Goop takes thorough measures to ensure
  the authenticity of its recommendations. Firstly,
  it collaborates with experienced physicians on
  the vitamins and supplements regimens posted on
  Goop Wellness. These experts cite peer-reviewed
  research to support the efficiency of these
  treatments. 
• Moreover, Goop has had a highly vetted team
  dedicated to fact verification since 2018. The
  team comprises a full-time fact checker, a
  lawyer, an expert on nutritional science, and a
  director of science and research. With their
  help, the brand ensures higher transparency while
  avoiding accusations of spreading misinformation. 

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Joanna (Yes)

• But all that aside, Goops recommendations arent
  as outrageous as most critics claim. Many of
  these have been backed by science. For instance,
  The Goop Labs first episode featured four Goop
  staffers who took psilocybin (magic mushrooms) to
  help with different wellness issues. This isnt
  news, as theres sufficient research indicating
  psilocybins therapeutic outcomes for people
  suffering from depression, PTSD, and anxiety. 
• Besides, some featured treatments were publicized
  long before Goop without critics batting an
  eye. In 2013, Kim Kardashian introduced the world
  to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) facials. Yet, when
  Goop tackled the subject in 2020, publications
  like Rolling Stone didnt waste time debunking
  it. One reason for Goop's constant criticism may
  be Gwyneth herself. Being called the most hated
  celebrity in the world by Star Magazine affected
  her brand. Regardless, Goop has provided
  sufficient evidence to prove its trustworthy. As
  for those suspecting it, they can heed the
  brands advice to consult their physicians before
  trying its recommendations.

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