Robert O. Young

Young's website states he attended the University of Utah on a tennis scholarship and studied biology and business in the early 1970s. He did not graduate.{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-criminal-trial-robert-young-ph-miracle-2016feb03-story.html |title=Split verdict in 'pH Miracle' case|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=3 February 2016 |author=Teri Figueroa|access-date= 19 January 2017}} He then performed missionary work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years in London. Young, who is not a medical doctor, has received doctorates for naturopathy and nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health (formerly American College of Holistic Nutrition), a defunct correspondence school that was not accredited by any agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.{{cite news | url = http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20070211/NEWS/702110399/1007/DATELINE09?p=5&tc=pg | title = State's diploma mills draw academic ire | first = Adam | last = Jones | work = Tuscaloosa News | date =February 11, 2007 | access-date = February 14, 2007}} | page=5In 2008 Clayton's website stated that it was "A non-traditionally accredited school of naturopathy". {{cite web|url=http://www.ccnh.edu/ |title=Educating the Leaders of Natural Health |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726152327/http://www.ccnh.edu/|website=Clayton College of Natural Health |date=2008|archive-date=July 26, 2008}} The prosecution at his 2016 trial said his doctorate was purchased from a "diploma mill",{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38650739|title=The dying officer treated for cancer with baking soda|author1=Giles Yeo|author2=Tristan Quinn|date=19 January 2017|publisher=BBC News|access-date=19 January 2017}} and it was pointed out that he had gone from a bachelor's to a doctor's degree in eight months.

Young has residences in Alpine, Utah and Rancho Del Sol, an avocado and grapefruit ranch in Valley Center, California, with his wife, Shelley Redford Young.{{cite web |url=http://pbw.co.utah.ut.us/scripts/pbcgi70.exe/uc1/u_functions/uof_addresssearch?as_address=1371+E+490+S&as_zip=84004001&as_year=&as_continue=0 |title=Utah County Property Owners 2008 |publisher=Pbw.co.utah.ut.us |access-date=2012-09-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506014255/http://pbw.co.utah.ut.us/scripts/pbcgi70.exe/uc1/u_functions/uof_addresssearch?as_address=1371+E+490+S&as_zip=84004001&as_year=&as_continue=0 |archive-date=2009-05-06 }}

Young has authored a series of books and videos titled The pH Miracle (2002), The pH Miracle for Diabetes (2004), The pH Miracle for Weight Loss (2005), and "The pH Miracle Revised" (2010). Other books he has authored include Herbal Nutritional Medications (1988), One Sickness, One Disease, One Treatment (1992), Sick and Tired (1995), Back to the House of Health (1999), and Back to the House of Health 2 (2003).

The book titled Sick and Tired includes a foreword by celebrity Anthony Robbins in which he refers to Robert O Young as a genius multiple times.

Young promotes an alkaline diet based on notions that are not compatible with the scientific understandings of nutrition and disease. He claims that health depends primarily on proper balance between an alkaline and acid environment in the human body, and that an acid environment causes cancer, obesity, osteoporosis, yeast overgrowth, flu, skin disorders, and other diseases.{{cite web|url=http://www.phmiracleliving.com/approach.htm |title=The Alkalarian Approach to Optimal Health |publisher=Phmiracleliving.com |date=2003-03-02 |access-date=2012-09-07}} Young writes about pleomorphism, a school of thought that was prominent in late-19th-century microbiology that asserts that red blood cells transform into bacteria when the surrounding environment becomes acidic - a theory that has been proven wrong since the development of germ theory.{{cite book | last=Young | first=Robert | year=2001 | title=Sick and Tired | publisher=Woodland Pub. | url=https://archive.org/details/sicktiredreclaim0000youn | url-access=registration | quote=Young Robert Sick and Tired text. | pages=[https://archive.org/details/sicktiredreclaim0000youn/page/22 22], 161–166 | isbn=978-1-58054-030-8 | access-date=2012-09-07}} Young's fundamental claim is that the human body is alkaline by design and acidic by function, and that there is only one disease (acidosis) and one treatment (an alkaline diet).{{cite news | url = http://www.wcmessenger.com/holistic/part_two.shtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120225191755/http://www.wcmessenger.com/holistic/part_two.shtml | archive-date = 25 February 2012| title = Holistic Healing part 2 | website= WCMessenger.com | author=Mandy Bourgeois and Joe Duty}}Young, Robert. [http://www.consumerhealth.org/articles/display.cfm?ID=19990303223214 Overacidity and Overgrowth of Yeast, Fungus and Moulds.] Canada Consumer Health. May 1997.

Young's books recommend a low-stress lifestyle and a high-water-content, high-chlorophyll, plant-based diet.{{cite book | last=Young | first=Robert | year=2002 | title=The pH Miracle | url=https://archive.org/details/phmiracle00robe | url-access=registration | quote=pH Miracle. | pages=[https://archive.org/details/phmiracle00robe/page/37 37], 41, 50–80 | publisher=Warner Books | isbn=978-0-446-52809-2}}{{dead link|date=September 2012}} He recommends moderate intake of high-carbohydrate vegetables, some grains, and fresh fish.{{cite book | last=Young | first=Robert | year=2002 | title=The pH Miracle | url=https://archive.org/details/phmiracle00robe | url-access=registration | quote=pH Miracle. | pages=[https://archive.org/details/phmiracle00robe/page/58 58], 81–91 | publisher=Warner Books | isbn=978-0-446-52809-2}}{{dead link|date=September 2012}} Young recommends abstaining from "acidic" foods—sugar, red meat, shellfish, eggs, dairy, processed and refined foods, stored grains, artificial sweeteners, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, and sodas—because he believes that such foods overload the body with acidity and cause disease. Young claims that disorders such as weight gain, water retention, high cholesterol, kidney stones, and tumors are all life-saving mechanisms for dealing with excess acidity in the body.

Research supporting alkaline diets, like that promoted by Young, is limited to in vitro and animal studies.{{cite web |url=http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?d=dmtHMSContent&c=465747&p=~br,IHW%7C~st,24479%7C~r,WSIHW000%7C~b,* |title=Alkaline Diets and Cancer: Fact or Fiction? |first=Stephanie |last=Vangsness |website=Intelihealth |date=May 3, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117202816/http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?d=dmtHMSContent&c=465747&p=~br%2CIHW%7C~st%2C24479%7C~r%2CWSIHW000%7C~b%2C%2A%7C |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }} A number of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the medical literature have concluded that there is no evidence that alkaline diets are beneficial to humans.{{cite journal |vauthors=Fenton TR, Tough SC, Lyon AW, Eliasziw M, Hanley DA |title=Causal assessment of dietary acid load and bone disease: a systematic review & meta-analysis applying Hill's epidemiologic criteria for causality |journal=Nutr J |volume=10 |page=41 |year=2011 |pmid=21529374 |pmc=3114717 |doi=10.1186/1475-2891-10-41 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Fenton TR, Lyon AW, Eliasziw M, Tough SC, Hanley DA |title=Meta-analysis of the effect of the acid-ash hypothesis of osteoporosis on calcium balance |journal=J. Bone Miner. Res. |volume=24 |issue=11 |pages=1835–40 |date=November 2009 |pmid=19419322 |doi=10.1359/jbmr.090515 |s2cid=28279996 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Fenton TR, Lyon AW, Eliasziw M, Tough SC, Hanley DA |title=Phosphate decreases urine calcium and increases calcium balance: a meta-analysis of the osteoporosis acid-ash diet hypothesis |journal=Nutr J |volume=8 |page=41 |year=2009 |pmid=19754972 |pmc=2761938 |doi=10.1186/1475-2891-8-41 |doi-access=free }}

According to a book review by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, some aspects of his diet, such as the emphasis on eating green leafy vegetables and exercise, would likely be healthy; however, the diet overall "is not a healthy way to lose weight."{{cite web|title=The pH Miracle for Weight Loss Book Review|url=http://www.eatright.org/Media/content.aspx?id=10484#.UCWWzvXNlfs|publisher=Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics|access-date=10 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306011735/http://www.eatright.org/Media/content.aspx?id=10484#.UCWWzvXNlfs|archive-date=6 March 2012}}

Quackwatch describes Young's claims as "fanciful".

{{main|Live blood analysis}}

Young bases some of his theories, research, and written works on the alternative medical approach of live blood analysis. Young teaches microscopy courses in which he trains people to perform live blood analysis as well as dry blood analysis. Young has stated that he teaches live blood analysis solely for research and educational purposes, and not for use in diagnosing medical conditions, which the San Diego Union-Tribune characterizes as "a legal distinction that some might find elusive in practice".

Live blood analysis is used by alternative medical practitioners, who claim it to be a valuable qualitative assessment of a person's state of health. Live blood analysis lacks scientific foundation, and has been described as a fraudulent means of convincing patients to buy dietary supplements and as a medically useless "money-making scheme".{{cite news | last = Ernst |first = Edzard |author-link = Edzard Ernst | date = 2005-07-12| url= https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,,1526339,00.html | title = Intrigued by the spectacular claims made for Live Blood Analysis? Don't be. It doesn't work | work= The Guardian | access-date= 2008-11-17}}{{cite news|last=Freyer |first=Felice |date=2005-06-21 |title=Chiropractor ordered to halt blood tests |work=Providence Journal |url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20050621_chiro21.2342042.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050623021301/http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20050621_chiro21.2342042.html |archive-date=June 23, 2005 }} Live blood analysis has been described by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as an "unestablished laboratory test", or test that is not generally accepted in laboratory medicine.{{cite web | url = http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-05-00-00250.pdf | title = CLIA regulation of unestablished laboratory tests | publisher = U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | date = July 2001}}

In 1995, Young allegedly drew blood from two women, told them they were ill, and then sold them herbal products to treat these illnesses. He was charged with two third-degree felony counts of practicing medicine without a license, but pled guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge.{{cite news | url = http://www.deseretnews.com/article/469857/HERBALIST-IN-ALPINE-PLEADS-GUILTY-TO-REDUCED-CHARGE.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091126070255/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/469857/HERBALIST-IN-ALPINE-PLEADS-GUILTY-TO-REDUCED-CHARGE.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 26, 2009 | title = Herbalist in Alpine pleads guilty to reduced charge | work = Deseret News | date = February 5, 1996 | access-date = July 20, 2008}}[http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/jenkins/20050411-9999-1m11jenkins.html Naturopathic technique stirring bad blood], by Logan Jenkins. Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on April 11, 2005; accessed July 20, 2008. Young argued that he had never claimed to be a medical doctor, that the women had entrapped him by asking to be part of his research, and that he "looked at the women's blood and simply gave them some nutritional advice."

In 2001, Young was again charged with a felony in Utah, after a cancer patient alleged that Young told her to stop chemotherapy and to substitute one of his products to treat her cancer. Subsequently, when an undercover agent visited Young, he allegedly analyzed her blood and prescribed a liquid diet. The case was taken to preliminary trial, but charges were dropped after the prosecutor stated that he could not find enough people who felt cheated by Young. Young dismissed the arrests as "harassment" and stated that he moved to California because the legal climate there was more tolerant. On May 12, 2011 Quackwatch published a critical analysis of Young's qualifications and practices.{{cite web |url=http://www.quackwatch.com/11Ind/young3.html |title=A Critical Look at "Dr." Robert Young's Theories and Credentials |publisher=Quackwatch |first=Stephen|last=Barrett |access-date=28 August 2013 }}

In 2014 Young was arrested in San Diego and received 18 felony charges relating to practicing medicine without a license, and of theft.{{cite web | url=http://www.cbs8.com/story/24544235/accused-fake-doctor-pleads-not-guilty-to-felony-charges | title=Controversial alternative health provider pleads not guilty to charges | publisher=CBS8.com | date=25 January 2014 | access-date=25 January 2014 | author=Richard Allyn}} According to the Medical Board of California's press release chronically ill patients were paying Young up to $50,000 for his treatments.{{cite web | url=http://www.mbc.ca.gov/About_Us/Media_Room/2014/news_releases_20140124_young.pdf | title=Medical Board investigation leads to arrest of a Valley Center Man for the unlicensed practice of medicine | publisher=Medical Board of California | date=24 January 2014 | access-date=25 January 2014 | first=Frank| last=Miller | pages=1}} His trial started in Vista Superior Court in November 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/dec/17/ph-miracle-trial-robert-young-update/|title=pH Miracle author's trial grinds on|first=Teri|last=Figueroa|date=17 December 2015}} In February 2016, jurors found Young guilty of two counts of practicing medicine without a license.{{cite news|last1=Figueroa|first1=Teri|title=Split verdict for 'pH Miracle' author|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/feb/03/criminal-trial-robert-young-ph-miracle/|access-date=4 February 2016|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=3 February 2016}} As of January 2017 he was facing a three-year jail sentence and was also to be retried on six charges of fraud, after a jury deadlocked 8–4.{{cite news | url=http://escondidograpevine.com/2016/03/17/convicted-ph-miracle-naturopath-robert-young-faces-additional-charges-and-civil-suit/ | title=Convicted pH Miracle naturopath Robert Young faces additional charges and civil suit | work=Escondido Grapevine | date=March 13, 2016 | access-date=March 16, 2016}} To avoid a retrial, Young pleaded guilty to two more counts of practicing medicine without a license. The 44-month sentence in the plea agreement included a declaration by Young that he has no degrees from any accredited schools, and that he is not "a microbiologist, hematologist, medical doctor, naturopathic doctor, or trained scientist".

Young was sentenced at the end of June 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/pH-Miracle-Author-Robert-O-Young-Sentenced-431659933.html|title='pH Miracle' Author Robert O. Young Sentenced}}

In November 2018 he was ordered to pay US$105 million to a cancer patient who had sued him for claiming to be a doctor and advising her to forgo traditional medical treatment.{{cite news|last=Figueroa|first=Teri|date=4 November 2018|title=Jury awards $105M in suit against pH Miracle author|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-phmiracle-civil-verdict-20181102-story.html|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|location=San Diego|access-date=4 November 2018}} The judge later reduced the cost to just over $25 million.{{Cite web|author=Hargrove, Dorian|date=2025|title=Founder of pH Miracle Diet found guilty of elder abuse and treating patients without a license|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/founder-of-ph-miracle-diet-found-guilty-of-elder-abuse-and-treating-patients-without-a-license/ar-AA1yD4qN|website=MSN|language=en-GB|archive-date=March 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328222239/https://mem.gfx.ms/me/mecache?partner=msnews&wreply=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.msn.com|url-status=live}}

In February 2025 he was convicted by a jury in North County, San Diego, on a range of charges including elder abuse, theft from an elder and practising medicine without a license.

In 2007, Kim Tinkham, diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, adopted Young's protocols, promoting them on her own website and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She claimed to be "cancer free by all medical terms" in 2008, but died of cancer in 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/the-impending-end-of-a-horrifying-testimonial-for-an-alternative-medicine-breast-cancer-cure/ |publisher=ScienceBasedMedicine.org |first=David|last=Gorski |title=Death by "alternative" medicine: Who's to blame? (Revisited) |date=6 December 2010 |access-date=2012-09-07 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/301197 |website=Digital Journal |title=Kim Tinkham, the woman whom Oprah made famous, dead at 53 |first=Van|last=Bockstaele |access-date=2012-09-07 }}

In 2020, at a meeting of the conspiracy theory group International Tribunal for Natural Justice, Young made a speech that included comments about Bill Gates and vaccines ("For the purpose of sterilization and population control, there’s too many people on the planet we need to get rid of. In the words of Bill Gates, at least three billion people need to die”; international health agencies are "using chemical warfare against all of us.") that went viral on social media, which were dismissed as false by numerous factcheck organizations.{{cite web | title=Fact check: No evidence Bill Gates said 'at least 3 billion people need to die' | website=Reuters | date=2021-01-29 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-bill-gates-fake-3-billion-q-idUSKBN29Y20D | access-date=2021-06-09}}{{cite web | last=Funke | first=Daniel | title=Bill Gates didn't say '3 billion people need to die' to reverse climate change | website=@politifact | date=2021-01-25 | url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/jan/27/instagram-posts/bill-gates-didnt-say-3-billion-people-need-die-rev/ | access-date=2021-06-09}}

• List of unproven and disproven cancer treatments

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Robert Young (author)}}
• {{official website|http://www.phmiracleliving.com/ }}

{{Naturopathy}}

{{Plant-based diets}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Young, Robert O.}}

Category:1952 births

Category:Alkaline diet advocates

Category:Alternative cancer treatment advocates

Category:American Latter Day Saints

Category:Living people

Category:Naturopaths

Category:People convicted for health fraud

Category:People from Alpine, Utah

Category:People from Valley Center, California

Category:Plant-based diet advocates

Category:Pseudoscientific diet advocates

Category:University of Utah alumni