Always.
I've been at a lecture one night and heard one thing, then another the next night and
heard the complete opposite.
How is this possible?
Is one of the lecturers right and the other wrong?
Are they both right?
Are they both wrong?
Well, here's the truth.
We're getting fragmented answers because we have fragmented research.
Particularly when it comes to testing on people.
When you start to break down your research into very specific variables, like they do in scientific studies, you run into a very serious issue (particularly when you deal with human subjects).
The issue is this:
You can't control all the variables!
As much as scientists want to be able to control the variables, here are two that they can't.
Humans forget and humans lie about what they eat. :-)
Here are 5 ways to help understand where the flawed info comes from and how you can help
yourself become more savvy and not fall to the confusion.
1. Don't believe the news.
You can read the health news, but don't always believe it.
Many news media writers are not health experts.
They just don't understand the body and how it functions. This does not lead to good articles.
Also, most news media you read is the product of a spin game.
This game includes industry press releases that make you think and assume that their product is
best, or effective, or whatever else they want you to think.
You may think these articles are written by unbiased journalists, but they're not.
The industry owns the media.
The industry writes many of the articles.
(As for good journalists, please make it a point to listen to Michael Pollan!)
2. Listen critically.
When someone tells you something, ask for more details. It's your responsibility to be the
detective here.
You can't hear a statement like, "92% of nutrients are destroyed when you blend your
food," and not question it. (This has been stated by a real health expert over and over again that many people respect, but it's just not true.)
If you take what they say as law, chances are eventually, you'll be burned.
What are the questions that you ask?
- Where did you hear that from?
- Where can I read that study/book/article?
- Who funded that study?
These are just a few questions that might lend you some more solid evidence and truth.
3. Know many don't have the whole picture.
Most experts aren't out to scam you.
Chances are they only have part of the picture.
So when you do question them, please do it in a way that is respectful.
No one can read all the scientific and health literature. So maybe you're the one who is
going to supply the information that they need to form a different opinion.
I can't tell you how many times I've been at a lecture and someone has raised their hand to
challenge the expert angrily.
It never works out for anyone.
Even if the person has a valid point.
If that's you, don't do it anymore. Pull the guy or gal aside afterwords and SHARE
information.
Again, the expert rarely knows everything and may need you to help them out.
Furthermore, the scientists, the chemists, the biologists and the authors don't always have
the whole picture either.
4. Use the 80/20 rule.
The people who don't get confused about their health and the conflicting information
understand this simple rule.
20% of what you do will give you 80% of your health results. The other 80% will give you
20% of the results.
So if you focus on the 20% that works, you'll get great results and not have to worry about
the minute details.
Inside of the 20% that gets the most results are these health practices...
- Eating whole foods.
- Exercising regularly (more than regularly).
- Eliminating stress.
- Getting good sleep.
- Having amazing relationships.
- Living your passion.
Focus on these first, get them right, and then you can play around with the other "extra
curricular" or additional aspects of health!
If you want to do more research on health, here's one book you can check out...
http://www.renegadehealth.com/
This book answers over 140 popular questions on the raw food diet like...
- Are cooked minerals really inorganic?
- Are raw recipes healthy?
- What should we think about certain raw food gurus who look older than their age?
- Is it better to eat raw foods before cooked foods?
- How to kick the sugar habit forever
- How to transition to the raw food diet
- Can you eat raw and drink hot drinks like herbal teas?
- What is the best water to drink?
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