If you’ve been following the vaccine debate, you know that enough people are convinced that the potential risk of vaccination is greater than its benefits that we are experiencing an upswing in cases of measles, a disease once thought to be eradicated in this country. To most in the medical world and the population as a whole, this fear of vaccination is astonishing. After all, smallpox, polio, measles, Whooping cough, influenza along with a host of other diseases were responsible for epidemics of illness and death before vaccination became standard procedure. Yet rational, intelligent people argue against this, swayed by arguments that are based on fear, not science.
But why am I talking about vaccines in a nutrition blog?
Because similar thought processes are responsible for many misguided nutrition beliefs.
Once case in point is “cleanses.” Their purveyors tell us that their products will rid the body of dangerous chemicals and toxins, and often substantiate their claims by referring to research studies. Unlike most, I’m in the habit of actually searching out and reading those research studies, and guess what? Usually they have absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand.
Face it, when we had to worry about getting enough food to stave off starvation, toxins were not big on our list of concerns. In our affluent society, though, where most of us don’t have to worry about where our next meal will come from, we are free to worry about other things. Like toxins. In actuality, death and illness from toxins is extremely rare. Not only that, but the body does a wonderful job of neutralizing and ridding the body of toxins without outside help. Chronic diseases, on the other hand, affect many of us, and we’re not doing a very good job of eradicating them. The Centers for Disease Control report that the incidence of diabetes has increased 133% from 1980 to 2011 (http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/incidence/fig2.htm). Rather than taking cleanses, science has clearly demonstrated that eating more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other minimally processed foods will lower our risk of disease.
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The huge business of dietary supplements is another example. This multi-billion dollar industry has been able to convince the public that they’re the antithesis of big Pharma. They accomplish this largely by positioning their products as “natural.” Too few stop to consider the fact that nature is rife with substances that are both natural and toxic. Think poison mushrooms, arsenic, curare, and cyanide to name just a few. These toxins are produced by plants as a protective mechanism, and they are very effective! Meanwhile, a whole host of scientific studies have clearly shown that people who eat a diet stressing plant foods including a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains are healthier than those who don’t. Study after study has failed to show such an association between dietary supplements and health.
Yes, we all have a right to our own personal beliefs. But please, don’t allow effective marketing to convince you that the earth is flat. Scientific advances have allowed us to enjoy longer, healthier lives than at any time in history. Stick with the science.