Drink this salt to lose weight. And other weird stuff from the 1930s.

You can actually follow this scientific plan for 2¢ per day.

Oct 2, 2022

Advertisements for drinks that “help you lose weight fast,” — but is actually a straight-up laxative has been around for longer than you think.

In the early 20th century, Americans were inundated with ineffective and dangerous drugs and deceptively packaged foods.

To make things worse, people had no way of knowing what was actually in the products they bought.

In 1906, the passage of the Pure Food and Drugs Act marked a monumental shift in consumer protection by requiring that foods and drugs bear the responsibility for truthful labeling statements that meet certain standards for purity and strength.

But it had its shortcomings.

The law offered no way to remove inherently dangerous drugs from the market. And since it set such a high burden of proof for misbranding, the agency was rarely able to take action.

Let’s take a look at JAD SALTS.

According to their ads from the 1930s, anyone can “grow thin” and quickly clear themselves of depleting poisons for just 2¢ per day with a teaspoon of JAD Salts.

But, it wasn’t just your normal table salt. No, it’s this insane concoction:

If you’re anything like me, you probably thought, “I bet it’s meth. It’s gotta be meth. 1930’s. Dieting. Meth.”

“JESSE WE HAVE TO COOK! JESSE!!!”

Surprisingly, it's… not. It’s a bizarre mixture of mostly lithium (bizarre choice) and laxatives (with purified grape and lemon juice to make it healthy.)

Lithium carbonate is a weird add because in many cases, it actually causes weight gain and mellows people out. Traditionally, it’s prescribed as a treatment for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder.

Hexamethylenetetramine is a precursor to C4. So, there’s that.

Sodium phosphate = Laxative.

So the ad claiming their medicine, “banishes excess moisture weight,” is just a diplomatic way of saying you’ll — well, you know.

Your colon will get a cleanse, that’s for sure.

Jad Salts, which combined several chemicals into a purge and diuretic, was seized by FDA in the early 1920s for claims to cure rheumatism, dizziness, joint pains, and other problems. However, Jad’s maker joined the ranks of “reducing racketeers” by the early 1930s when Jad was relabeled to treat obesity, yet another spurious if not unsafe product beyond the reach of the law.

It’s the same thing today.

All over Instagram.

Just rebranded with whatever new “detox tea” or “cleanse” label diet companies come up with.

Snake oil has been around for as long as people have had something to sell.

Just trust science. We’ve come a long way.