Chronic Disease & Education – The Answer for Our Times
THIS ARTICLE PUBLISHED MAR 3 ON BASIL & SPICE.COM AND GOOGLE NEWS TOP STORIES OF THE DAY
Heart disease, Diabetes, Obesity, Cancer – It is no secret that at present, the U.S. is mired in an unprecedented epidemic of these and other deadly chronic diseases. But, how serious is the situation really? The answer: 1 in 3 individuals in the U.S. currently have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease; nearly 70 million of our population is clinically obese (not just overweight) and more than 2 out of every 5 individuals in the U.S. now face a lifetime risk of cancer. These numbers represent us; They tell the story of how we are doing individually with our health, and collectively as a nation. And, frankly, how we are doing does not look good.
So, what is the remedy for the health and chronic disease crisis that appears to be overwhelming our nation? Are the answers to be found only in better insurance policies, adding more money into the System, and/or in better medical technology? I believe not. Rather, I believe that the time is ripe for another strategy – one that appears to have been universally overlooked. And, that strategy is: Education. But, it is not ordinary education I am talking about here. Rather, I am talking about education that will help the average individual arrive at lasting knowledge & clarity with respect to the critical choices that have a profound effect on one’s health. Why bother with education of the kind I am describing?
Simple. In his book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan accurately observes that we live in times in which most anyone with a medical degree and enough resources can topple the existing “food pyramid.” Incidentally, the precise contents and design of the “food pyramid” themselves are often the final product of political battles that are fought every few years by multiple groups that have a stake in it. Add to this, the ubiquitous presence and perpetual entry of new “diet” books on the market - and it is little surprise that the average person is overwhelmed with confusion and anxiety about how best to eat to achieve the simple objective of sound, long-term health.
Given the above, the question arises: Is it possible to arrive at final answers with respect to our basic food and heath-related choices? And, my answer is a resounding, Yes! Notwithstanding all the factors mentioned in the previous paragraph, I believe that not only are knowledge and clarity possible with respect to knowing how to eat; they are the pre-requisite conditions for creating health. Knowledge and clarity ARE the antidote to anxiety. And, arriving at clarity alone is worth the study and struggle that a good scientist endures.
Today, we do have the benefit of greater knowledge vis-a-vis which food/health-related choices can serve us best in the long run, but the benefit of such knowledge seldom reaches the average person. As a research scientist who has been studying health, nutrition, and medicine for nearly 20 years now, I remember that from my earliest days of study, I was obsessed with the quest for knowledge, which in turn leads to clarity. Even today, I find that the most important thing I can teach an audience is not just “what to eat,” but how to discern objectively whether what I, or any another scientist/speaker is sharing with them, is accurate. It should be obvious why this is so crucial, but to really spell it out, here is why: A good researcher is after the truth. Period. He/she is not after an agenda, profit or sales. Further, a good researcher invests in learning and teaching about OBJECTIVE CRITERIA that can help anyone arrive at the truth.
In our Western world of nearly infinite food choices, I believe that education regarding optimal choices that can promote health is now absolutely crucial to help us turn the tide of the avalanche of chronic diseases that is falling upon us. And yes, the choices recommended by any scientist must necessarily be grounded in objectivity, NOT opinion. We arrive at such objectivity by relying on a body of corroborative scientific research, and further, by evaluating the observational evidence passed down to us over the centuries. And, of vital interest, both research and observational evidence tell us that certain foods and ways of eating ARE INDEED better than others.
What then, are these foods and ways of eating? The answer to that question will be addressed in a book that I am completing now, and that will be available on the market later this year. In the meantime, in the next few weeks, I will write periodically on some of the most ideal food and health choices you can make with respect to achieving and maintaining good, sound health. Stay tuned for that, and remember – When it comes to your health, there is simply no investment more worthy, and no time better spent than that utilized in truly educating yourself.
