An Apple A Day
Jeffrey I. Barke, M.D.
We are all very aware of how stress, poor nutrition, restless sleep, and a lack of exercise can adversely affect the status of our health. What is less commonly known is how our bodies can heal themselves from the abuse we inflict upon them. The problem is that we always seem to focus on what is wrong with us rather than on how to remedy the hurt before it does too much damage. That is, how should we support the natural healing processes in our body.
Over the coming weeks, I plan to take a look at the history of the American healthcare system in this space, highlighting what we do well and areas that need improvement.
One glaring area that requires an immediate course correction is our obsession with disease and pharmaceutical solutions, rather than on healthy living and disease prevention in the first place.
Why are osteopathic physicians (DOs), doctors of naturopathic medicine (DNMs), functional medicine providers, and even chiropractors (DCs) often more skilled at teaching and advocating healthy eating, dietary supplements, and stress reduction than traditional MDs? The answer, in part, is that most MDs are given little if any training during medical school on these important topics. My impression is that most MDs have never even reviewed a serious study on nutrition let alone have read a nutrition book.
I attended medical school at the University of California Irvine and graduated with an MD degree in 1990. While there I remember the only lectures on nutrition or healthy living were in the context of specific diseases caused by vitamin or nutrition deficiencies — such as scurvy or rickets. These are diseases rarely seen in most economically advanced countries.
Could the real reason that we don’t teach healthy living lie in the fact that good health offers the medical profession few financial rewards? Put another way, it is hard to sell a drug if people are healthy.
Imagine a TV commercial wrapped around a message dealing with how to get off statin medications, scrap the blood pressure pills, or forget the diabetes drugs. What about a 30-second spot on why Viagra is unnecessary?
In the United States, approximately 42% of the population is considered obese and 66% regularly use one or more prescription drugs. The older you get the more prescription drugs you are likely to take. Here are some more shocking facts to consider:
Shortly after 1985 — when the FDA first allowed direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceutical drugs — the use of prescription medicines skyrocketed.
In 1997, the FDA eased a rule obligating companies to provide a detailed list of a drug’s side-effects in their commercials. (You remember: “May cause unexpected bowel excretions or an erection lasting more than 3-hours.”) In the absence of such unpleasant realities, drug sales increased exponentially.
The FDA is partially funded, by direct contributions from the pharmaceutical industry. Like most other companies, they expect to get value for their money. But can you see a conflict of interest as a looming reality!
I am not anti-pharmaceutical. In fact, before I cleaned up my diet, I regularly took a prescription acid reflux medication. Many prescription medications can be life saving such as: Insulin for diabetes, asthma inhalers, Epi-pens for severe allergic reactions, cardiovascular medications and others. I am also all for free market capitalism but only with a level of transparency for consumers and commentators. But, if the FDA has to rely on big pharma to meet some of its financial responsibilities, then how can we trust this government agency to be totally unbiased and have the best interest of the American people?
If we are to change this trajectory we need to start with improving education: at medical schools as well as of the general public. But that will take some time to have an impact. In the interim, I would suggest that patients ask their own doctors what book(s) on nutrition he or she would recommend. If they cannot answer you with any degree of confidence, consider finding a doctor who can.
If you asked me the same question, I would suggest as a starting point: HOOKED — Food, Free Will, and How the Food Giants Exploit Our Addictions by Michael Moss. It might just open your eyes to how to get healthier and begin the process of removing prescription medication from your lives.