Science in Holistic Health
Is it Important?

Lots of criticism is leveled at the holistic health field for being "unscientific" or "not evidence based." As a result, we go to great lengths to show how scientific holistic health is. We quote study after study in an effort "prove" how valid we are.

But let me ask you this: How important -- really -- is science? Is it even important at all?

And my answer is: Well, yes, science is important...BUT...

We need to look with a jaded eye at the science that is presented to us. Most of the science we are exposed to is through the media and advertising. Most studies that we hear about are carefully packaged, commercialized and politicized to support an agenda. We rarely get the whole story. Whenever a new study comes out that addresses a polarizing issue, you can count on two things:

1. One side of the issue will hail it.
2. The other side will lambaste it.

Every time!

A recent example of this showed up following a study that was published in the March 12, 2012 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine entitled, “Red Meat Consumption and Mortality.” As the title suggests, the article was less than supportive of red meat.

Remember those two things that I just said we can count on? They happened.

The hail:
Michael Greger, MD, writing for Care2.com, a website in Australia that is very supportive of a vegan lifestyle said, “…the results of two major Harvard studies were published, following more than 100,000 men and women—and their diets—for up to 22 years. They found that red meat consumption was associated with living a significantly shorter life—increased cancer mortality, increased heart disease mortality, and increased overall mortality.” He also criticized the criticisms in the

The lambaste:
The American Meat Institute immediately issued a statement which included this sentence: “Red and processed meat continues to be a healthy part of a balanced diet and nutrition decisions should be based on the total body of evidence, not on single studies that include weak and inconsistent evidence…”

(BTW – I’ll discuss my views on red meat in next week’s post. Teaser: It's delicious. And healthy...BUT...)

For now, here’s the take away:
Don’t rely on research findings that you read. They paint a picture that is, at best, incomplete and, at worst, false.

So, how we decide what to believe…?

First:
When making health decisions, remember my basic philosophy of holistic health:
“Turn your health inside out!”
Whatever turns your health inside out serves you the best.

Then:
Simplify!
Ask yourself, “How close is this to Nature’s design?” The closer, the better!

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