In a perfect world, the best information on how to stay healthy and prevent disease would be all around us.
No matter what health agency or practitioner you consulted, their advice would be truthful and centered on safety and effectiveness, with no influence or bias in any way.
Hopefully, you realize we don’t live in a perfect world and much of the information we are exposed to is at best not 100 percent accurate and at worst downright harmful or fatal.
And the biggest determining factor as to what is recommended versus that which is vilified is the almighty dollar.
While the question should be, “What is safest and best way to address this health concern?” sadly it has morphed into, “What will make the most money?”
With that in mind, I thought it was time to talk about some common ways people have been misled by the health and medical community.
Take this quiz and see if you have been misled:
- It’s always important to use sunscreen this time of year when going outside
False.
Using sunscreen blocks your body’s production of vitamin D. In addition, most sunscreens are downright toxic.
Getting 20-30 minutes of unprotected sun exposure is all your body needs to produce vitamin D. Just make sure to never get a sunburn.
If you want to use sunscreen, be sure to choose “broad protection” (UVA and UVB) mineral-based varieties (like Badger).
- Blood pressure can only be reduced with medication
False.
Getting regular exercise, having a healthy diet including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoiding processed foods and excess alcohol consumption can all go a long way in reducing blood pressure naturally.
Also, Omega-3 essential fatty acids have been proven to lower blood pressure. In addition to incorporating fatty fish (like salmon) into your diet, a fish oil formula like VitalMega-3 can help ensure your body has health-supporting levels of these crucial fats.
- Sugar free options are always healthier
It depends.
If something is sugar free because it instead has artificial sweeteners, you’re better off eating rat poison.
If sugar is a concern for you and you want to use a low-cal sweetener, opt for stevia—it’s not a lab creation and has a much safer track record.
And better yet, stick to real foods like fresh fruits and vegetables that are naturally sweet and tasty.
- A clean bill of health after a check-up means everything is OK
False.
A “clean bill of health” only means your doc didn’t detect any problems in your check-up. That doesn’t mean something isn’t brewing.
It’s important to note that most doctors don’t test for nutrient levels or assess your gut microbiome—arguably two of the most important health measures.
- The best indicator of how healthy (or sickly) you will be is your family history
False.
While you may have genetic predispositions to certain diseases, your lifestyle habits will determine whether those disease genes will be “triggered” or lie dormant.
- You can “slide” on your diet if you take a multi-vitamin
False.
The best multi-vitamin in the world cannot undo the effects of a poor diet.
Multi-vitamins are meant to supplement or enhance a healthy diet—not be a replacement for one.
- It’s OK if you don’t have a BM every day
Most times false.
You should have a BM at least once a day, or possibly even two to three times.
Some people report that they only go every other day. That may or may not be a cause for concern. If someone has been an every-other-day pooper all their life, it’s probably fine.
But if your BMs used to be more frequent and suddenly you’re having days without them, then constipation may be an issue.
- It’s normal to gain weight as you age
False.
It may be common but it’s not normal.
While it’s a fact that our metabolism slows as we age, that’s no excuse for packing on the pounds.
Having a healthy diet and exercise habits throughout your adult life can help ensure you control your weight well into your golden years.
- There is no one “right diet” for everyone
True.
There are tens of thousands of diets in existence, and many have claimed to be “the best.”
Generally speaking, a diet should be centered on wholesome real foods, provide a variety of nutrients and adequate energy for the body’s processes, and not exclude any specific food groups.
That being said, in certain circumstances (such as celiac disease, food allergies or intolerances) avoidance of the offending foods is crucial.
- Flu shots are your best protection against the flu
False.
Flu shots are designed to protect against 3 or maybe 4 strains of the flu.
But since there are about 200 different flu or flu-like viruses in existence, the shots don’t provide much in the way of protection. Plus vaccines can actually depress your immune system functioning for several weeks, making you more vulnerable to viruses of all kinds (including the flu and COVID).
In addition, vitamin D (as found in our Optimum DK Formula with Fruitex- B) has been shown in studies to be far more effective in preventing the flu than shots.
- Your cholesterol level is highly influenced by how many high-cholesterol foods you eat
False.
Your body only gets about 15 percent of its cholesterol from your diet. The rest is manufactured by your liver and other cells.
The main factors behind how good (or bad) your cholesterol level include the health of your liver, how efficient your digestion and BMs are, and the level of inflammation in your arterial walls. (Fish oil formulas like VitalMega-3 can be helpful here too in reducing arterial inflammation.)
- If you have an autoimmune condition, chances are you will develop another
True.
Unfortunately, autoimmune conditions stem from hyperactivity on the part of your immune system. The immune system is triggered into over-reacting and sees normal cells and tissues as a dangerous invader, thus launching an inflammatory attack.
Once the immune system is hyper-stimulated, it can target different areas of the body and result in more than one autoimmune disease.
- Low fat options are always healthier
Not necessarily.
If something is naturally low fat (like fresh fruits and vegetables), then this statement is absolutely true.
But if you’re talking about a processed food and it either contains unhealthy fats or the naturally occurring fat has been replaced by sugar, you’re cutting your own throat if you eat that garbage.
Again, you can’t go wrong if you stick to wholesome real foods.
- Which of these are effective ways to reduce stress:
- Exercise
- Prayer
- Adopting a pet
- Acupuncture
- Taking anti-anxiety medication
- Meditation
- Alcohol
Hopefully, you answered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. If not, please reread the hundreds of blogs I have written about stress. 😊
- Calories are all that matters when trying to lose weight
False.
You also need to ensure you are eating nutritious foods, getting regular exercise and overcoming external barriers (such as certain medications) to your weight loss success.
If you need help with weight loss, check out my Want to Lose Weight? Stop Dieting! program or book a coaching session with me!
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
