Don't believe a word I say until you evaluate it.

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This will likely be my longest blog ever, and maybe my last if Kyle and Carson give me the boot.

The only reason I am writing this is that I am becoming seriously concerned about a number of people I have become fond of during my time here. Since I have spent 55 yrs. studying in the medical field and about our bodies I feel sure I am biased and probably overly protective.

I realize that this is a site designed to help people reach their financial goals and that is a great way to help people improve the quality of the life of a family. However, if you reach that goal and do not have reasonably good health it will not have a lot of meaning. You will spend the money you have worked so hard and long for trying to get your health back.

My sincere urging to each of you is this. Whatever your goal is, be sure to be careful about from whom you get your advice and guidance. If after studying medicine all of my life I tire of it or lose my license or fail to make a living in the field I might go on the internet for a few months, weeks or days, read some books, etc. and feel that I am a financial guru. If, with my new found expertise, I build a web site to give advice and guidance and want to teach you how to become financially independent would you consider me an expert? I think not because you are so much more aware of what all that entails you would not be impressed. If I was adamant about my expertise and had no doubt or question about my advice I was giving freely it would even make you more aware that my level of expertise was not all that I thought it to be.

Maintaining or recouping your health is at least as complex as developing good financial health. Our body is an unbelievably complex group of cells and organs with such complex regulating systems that no living human understands fully very much of the overall functioning and the healing and repairing and minute by minute functioning.

With our rapidly declining quality of our health care system it is absolutely crucial that you develop the knowledge and the skill to be the director of your own quest to achieve optimum health.

To be successful you must learn what to study, how to evaluate advice and be willing to devote some time and energy to the process. There is NO shallow and superficial advice that will make you a healthy person. It is not about a particular diet, a special vitamin or supplement, a special exercise or piece of equipment or any other single thing.

I used to think that anything written in a book or that was in a library was gospel. I didn't even question it's accuracy or validity. While in Medical School I learned that very learned people can get fascinated by the sound of their voice or their name in print and write and publish articles right and left. No matter what you write or profess you will collect a number of believers, especially if it knocks some widely recognized entity like "Big Pharma" or Allopathic Medicine, neither of which I am now or will defend. What we must realize is that just because someone is coming down hard on something that we respond to emotionally does not mean that their is any accuracy to what they are saying.

So, how can we evaluate what we read or hear on T.V. or see in an ad? The answer is that it is very difficult and sometimes we cannot be sure. At least consider the following:

  • If it is a study or a report the first thing you want to know is who funded it. Once you know that you will have a good clue as to the real reason it was even published.
  • What is the background education and credentials of the person making a statement or giving you advice. If their expertise has been recently acquired they are probably a work in process. Without some years of experience they may not yet be ready to be directing or prescribing to others.
  • If their thoughts and opinions are based on research they should list the sources from which they obtained their information.
  • If their information comes with multiple products for sale be sure to evaluate carefully the basis for the claims made for the product. Nothing we say about a product can make it so unless there is data to back up the claims. Know what the data says.
  • If the adviser makes definite black and white statements that are opinions expressed as statements be very cautious. The more people know about a subject the more clearly they know that their opinion could be incorrect.
  • If you are reading "an unbiased review" and it winds up as an attempt to get you switched to a competitive product that is dishonest. So how could you believe anything else they say?
  • Maybe the most reliable of all is this. Does what this person says really seem reasonable after I think about it? Does it pass the smell test? Does it seem likely?

The most common area of misinformation.

Diets, fasts, detox, vitamins, supplements,pro-biotics and weight loss and cravings.

I am only going to say a few words about these because each one could require a chapter in a good book.

Weight Loss and Cravings:

In my opinion if you have a problem in this area it is most likely from not eating enough. It is my belief that cravings are most often caused by a deficiency of something your body is not getting. This leads to more eating of starchy foods or sweets because they most quickly raise the blood sugar and give temporary relief.....for an hour or so. Very few people who eat 5-8 helpings a day of green leafy vegetables and fruits have cravings if they also eat enough protein in the form of legumes, beans, etc. We have known for years that "diets" do not work and that ultimately we must accept that we must live sensibly to be healthy. If we journal each time we want to eat and give some thought to what we are actually feeling it is frequently not hunger. There are 15-17 very common feelings we can identify with a desire to eat other than hunger.

Fasting and Detox:

So far,the only proven way to extend the life span of an animal is calorie restriction and not feeding the animal all it wants. If our goal is to achieve optimum health we can do that and also improve the quality of our life with feeling better. In regard to fasting: we know that our 70 to 100 trillion cells are working and functioning every minute of every hour of every day to sustain our life and provide our good health. So how does it make good sense to fast for days at a time and not provide our body the nutrients that it must have to heal and repair and generate new cells? Our body can convert some foods to other things it must have but there are some essential things it must have that MUST come from our diet. So how many days to you want your body not to have those? And why??

Vitamins and Supplements:

Do you need them? This is usually easily answered. Do you consistently eat a well balanced diet? If not then you need them. I personally prefer a liquid supplement extracted from foods instead of all synthetic chemicals. It should have a very high ORAC value for maximum help. Our body gets a lot more benefits from the natural foods than from supplements but they are much more help than neither the foods nor the supplements. If you eat a good and well balanced diet and drink plenty of good water and exercise you will rarely if ever have a need to detox, in my opinion. I am aware others do not agree.

In Summary:

  • Don't take what I say as gospel, or what any one else says. Evaluate the information thoughtfully. Do some research in credible places and sources. Get a lot of opinions and compare and evaluate them. Trust your judgment and common sense. Then observe what results you are getting and change course when needed.
  • Be aware that just because we may be a self professed guru does not mean we have great knowledge and should be advising you regarding something so precious as your health. A great deal of what we thought was gospel 30 and 40 yrs. ago we now know to be inaccurate based on new data and new research.
  • Be aware that Dr. McCauley, Dr. Mercola, Dr. Weil and others have all created a big following by criticizing Big Pharma and Conventional Medicine as just money hungry vultures and then each has created marketing machines for their own products which are expensive and lucrative. So as always, learn to follow the money!

I am no fan of the FDA who gets over 60% of their budget from Pharmaceutical Companies, or of "Big Pharma" or of the Cancer Industry or even the AMA. There is a revolving door between Big Pharma and Monsanto, who is more profit hungry and unscrupulous, in my opinion, than any of the others mentioned and 6 or7 highly paid folks who have gone from one to the other and been influential in promoting vested interests. On the other hand, I saw a Naturopath as a patient last year which required only 2 days to get an appointment with. After over $4,000 in lab work and fees it would be 6-7 weeks before I could get an appointment to go over my results. All the big money was in getting new people in. But I heard several remarks about the Big Pharma which looked like their supply of "Natural Products".

I hope as each of you pursue your financial goals in this great setting you will also learn to focus your intelligence on how best to achieve optimum health also and do your due diligence with any opinions or advice you get regarding your health.

Best Wishes to each of you.

I am not interested in launching into debates or making an attempt to change any minds. These statements are my opinion only and I respect yours if different.

Harold

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Recent Comments

26

Wow Harold, this is a remarkable post! I don't think you have to be concerned at all about Kyle and Carson! It is so good to read another post by you, I do so enjoy them! I have had to work hard to regain my health. My nurse told me this past summer that at the time of the car accident because of the other challenge I was dealing with that started before the car accident, they did not expect me to live. It has been hard to find the truth and the balance to be able to regain my health! But I have kept praying and been led! Yet as you say it is still a process of evaluation! And for me evaluation with prayer! :)
Christa

Christa, I am thankful you are continuing to get better. We need you around here! It seems that the truth usually lies somewhere between the extremes, doesn't it? Best wishes to you always.
Harold

Yes it does Harold and sometimes that can be challenging to discern! God's Blessings to you, Christa

Thank you Harold. I have only just got to the computer after a very long day and only read the beginning of your blog. I have copied and pasted it and saved it (just in case it does disappear) and will read it tomorrow. I trust you to write really useful posts, so will read it tomorrow and write a proper comment then.

In any case, thank you for taking the time to write helpful posts.

Thank you. I doubt there is anything in it you are not aware of. Hope you are doing well.
Harold

I have now read every word of your post and you are right. I was already aware of a great deal of what you are saying, but it was nevertheless a great reminder and motivator to think carefully when shopping and cooking in order to avoid cravings. (I tend to get them at night, especially when I am pushing myself to get some more work done when I am already tired.)

But I think your article is also very relevant to all of us here who are trying to build our own websites. We need to remember that when we publish something on our website, we have a responsibility to give people the best information we can and to act in their best interest. Our desire to make money should never cloud our good judgement.

Thank you very much!
Isabella

I agree with you. I am free to do anything for my own health I feel strongly about. Before I urge you to follow I need to be very sure there is very credible evidence to justify it and then only give it to you as my opinion, not state it as fact. Have a great day.
Harold

Thank you for posting this Harold. Very insightful.

Thank you Ben.
Harold

Excellent well thought out article. It is my opinion that there is some truth in most disciplines. You just have to be careful not to swallow everything hook, line and sinker. There is also error is most disciplines. It is wise for us all to be responsible for our own health. We all need to educate ourselves well. Thank you for publishing this.
Glenda

Glenda, I think there was a time when we could actually rely on others to guide us with a greater degree of safety than we can now. It is not only unwise now to depend on others, it is downright dangerous. We have our health and our lives at stake. Those who have young children have an awesome responsibility. Thanks for your thoughts.
Harold

I believe Kyle and Carson are reasonable men. For months on end my blogs were anything but financial related. When I was not able to pay my dues on time, Kyle himself wrote to me and worked with me until I could pay. There was no pressure or negativity.
I am sure they appreciate your efforts to help us focus on being/staying healthy. Carson has a very sick little child himself.
My husband and I are trying to get an intestinal bug. So I skimmed over this blog. I will try to really read when I am up to it. Praying that my Mom does Not get it.

Kyle and Carson have created suck a unique program that people with a wide variety of needs and interests can have them met here. Pretty amazing. Hope you both are well soon.
Harold

Woops. Better get off to the gym!!

That sounds like part of a great plan. Take care.
Harold

Hi Doc,

Really liked your article. Have booked marked the page. Thank you.

PS And if you are around my part of the world, do drop by for a dose of 'healthy' food and glass of the best!

I would truly enjoy that. I saw a map last night of where the population of Australia lives and was stunned to see what a huge percentage live in the coastal areas. I think most of the world admires your country and it's citizens.
Harold

Thank you Harold for sharing your well-thought-out opinions. I agree with you 100%. Lately I've read other people's opinions about fasting and it's not really something that has anything to do with internet marketing. Without proper advice and due diligence fasting is down-right dangerous and I personally don't see any reason to do it. Others are trying to ram their particular beliefs and diets down our collective throats. Again, nothing to do with IM. I do hope that everyone who is considering changing their diet reads what you have to say - their very life could depend on it. ~Marion

You know, Marion, I firmly believe that those of us in WA genuinely want to help each other. It is just that, no matter how firmly we believe, we always have to realize we could be wrong so we have to be so careful about feeling we should be responsible for others lives and health. We certainly have the right to do what we wish with our own health but need to be so careful about trying to influence others.
Thank you for your note and thoughts.
Harold

Well said my friend. I found this read to be quite enjoyable.

Thank you Tony. That is a great picture of you with your bio. I can't even imagine how you could ever learn enough to do the work you have done with these little monsters called computers. They just have a mind of their own.
Harold

As I am on my way out the door, I was only able to read half of your post, but I will finish it later today.

From what I've read so far, regarding the overall "claims" together with your personal expertise on the area. I have nothing more than thumbs-up on your personal view on the matter. (Can't wait to finish reading the post)

Erik

Thanks Erik. I would enjoy knowing any further thoughts you have and I hope things are going well for you at WA
Harold

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