This little article is not actually about clueless doctors but rather about clueless people. Do not take offense. No one is clueless without reason but everyone is being mislead by money-making industries that tell us to cook things faster, eat them faster, dump weight faster, get well faster… we are all heading in the direction of “faster” but where exactly are we going so fast? And do we get there?
I am reading a book titled Fat Chance by Robert H. Lustig, M.D., M.S.L. There is also a video on the subject called Sugar: The Bitter Truth ; the video is long and hard to follow if you are not attuned to biochemistry and metabolism. The link is provided for your interest but here I want to discuss the book he wrote on the same subject, which is with me all the time; I treasure it like gold. I would like to spend a little time on introducing just one subject the book covers, which is close to all of our hearts since we all have been told to take antioxidants, vitamins, etc., nearly all of our lives–in fact even before since our mother’s were likely told to take prenatal vitamins throughout their pregnancy. There are various research articles for scientists to know why taking vitamins is not a good idea but most of those articles are not available to the public. This book, however, is available at a very reasonable price (cheap price for a book worth gold in my opinion) and it contains the summary of all of the current wisdom about vitamins and antioxidants. So I would like to talk a little bit about our habits of the magic pill for everything.
The magic pill phenomenon is visible everywhere. I run two groups on Facebook, one for migraine prevention and treatment and one about clueless doctors. The one for migraine prevention is my favorite in terms of how many people are simply not capable to envision the world without some magic pill. They would rather try every single pill on the planet, even if it hurts some of their organs, just to see if their migraines go away even if taking migraines away is as simple as providing the right minerals to the brain cells to live and produce voltage. And these minerals are available already in everyone’s kitchen free.
There is a section in the book Fat Chance that is talking about micro-nutrients and a very small one-paragraph section titled: I used to Care, but Now I Take a Pill for That… And this is what I would like to talk about. Because other than my husband and I, I don’t actually know a single person who is not taking some form of vitamins or nutrients. I must admit, I do get Vitamin B-12 injections because my body is not able to absorb that vitamin from food but I had my blood tested to be sure. And for sure I cannot do it alone, so I must have it in other ways.
How many of you who take vitamins and antioxidants have been tested to see if you need them? Don’t answer… I know what the answer is. It is very close to zero albeit some of you may actually have gone ahead with the simple blood test and I applaud you for that. This little article is for those who have not taken that test and who see an advertisement for a new vitamin or supplement product and run to try.
About 30 years ago, Lusting states, our health as a nation (and we are talking US only in this case) has declined tremendously. Just at about that time vitamins and micro-nutrients have become popular. They were added to milk (vitamin D), added to cereals (all vitamins), some were even added to sport drinks (though some of that was pulled already since they hurt people). According to Lustig, currently about 50% of the people in the US takes some form of vitamin, and our nation has never been this unhealthy in history. In fact “high-dose Vitamin E has been linked to increased rates of mortality” (page 153). Vitamin D is one of those vitamins that all you need to do is go out to the sun for 15 minutes a day before the sun rays burn and without sun protection–so early morning before 10 am or afternoon after 3 or 4 pm–and your body will get all the vitamins it needs–unless of course you have a health condition showing that you must take it as pills since your body cannot create it and you are deficient–a blood test.
Another problem that is often discussed but few truly can relate to is fiber and the associated bacterial colonies in the gut necessary to have healthy digestion and clearance. Fiber pills are sold by the million, some are soluble, others are insoluble fibers (we need both)–but most people prefer the soluble because it tastes better. Most people also do not eat insoluble fiber in their diets at all. Prepared foods do not have insoluble fiber in them so one must eat foods that have them–but even in those foods most people spit the fiber out since they cannot be chewed. Yes. That is the whole idea. They cannot be chewed easily and our bodies do not digest them but guess who do: the bacteria you eat in little capsules or in your yogurt all the time. If you don’t eat the insoluble fiber, the bacteria you gobble up goes out starved and you gained nothing only killed a bunch of good bacteria.
So why are we so clueless that we cannot understand the consequences (bad as they are) that follow our actions driven by speed and efficiency rather than health? Because we are always running somewhere but are we getting anywhere?
If one is running all day and eats in the quick, getting a heart attack at an early age, was it worth running into death so fast with supplements? If one is trying to run all day but is throwing up from a migraine as a result of lack of nutrients to the brain, are we achieving anything? Are we really reaching the places we are heading so fast without eating right?
I truly believe that we can reach all of our goals by eating right. Slow down America! Do get to wherever you are going in great health!
Clueless Doctors & Scientists 
well I loved your points here. I am still learning so much about nutrition and the body- but I am grateful that in the late 80’s my mom and her friends told me about chemicals in food. whew – and so that was a nice start to adulthood – to just be aware of chemicals.
anyhow, I learned a lot more about minerals and mineral pairs- this past summer -when my son had his first back injury – and I researched a bit about his recovery. Wow – I was fascinated about the changing needs we have in minerals – and when you noted that about migraines – well I fund this so interesting. and I do not have a lot of time right now to follow your links – but would love to later on. sounds so interesting. anyhow, learning about the changing needs and the mineral pairs – well this just confirms what you say about not taking supplements so flippantly. because first, we do not absorb vitamins and minerals while taken together – and then our needs change – and so while healing – our mineral needs change for that day –
also – many of the supplements taken are made with binders and crap that hurt our kidneys. My mother had kidney failure – which was brought on by a blue dye that she was injected with for a test – sand well, I BELIEVE SHE COULD HAVE CLEANSED TO heal that failure, but only see that now – instead – she went the medical route and after two transplants is holding her own – but an alternative route may have been more holistic, cheaper, and well, kept her own kidneys working! hindsight!
well there is so much in this post that I can piggy back on but I will just have to wrap up with THREE final thoughts. 🙂
first, agree with you on the sugar thing. and I heard that some enemies in other countries call Americans “sugar pigs” and they say chemical warfare against our country is to send in some strains of parasites and fungi that feed off of sugar and make people very sick (obesity, migraines, etc.) and there is a new condition (emerged around 2001) called morgellons that some suspect is related to this – some say this is not really a disease – but either way — internal parasites are the culprit for many diseases and I am not sure if you came across those in your research (curious).
Second, LOVED this that you wrote: “our actions driven by speed and efficiency rather than health”
and third, glad I found your blog. your book is going to be great when it comes out. 🙂 you do not write like an angry person, but with a creaming heart that wants to inform – and I like that a lot. 🙂
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Thanks for liking my points. I too am still a student of nutrition and metabolism. It is a lot more complex than I thought since it is not what you eat but how you eat it, with what you eat it and thus how that other food you eat it with changes the metabolic pathway. I never realized that eating–just as an example for sugar–fructose, which is in sugar–is good for you when you eat it with the fiber found in the fruit but becomes a poison when eaten without the fiber. It is an interesting twist because you’d think that sugar is sugar but turns out that it is not true.
I agree; the US is a sugar pig population–the book I am reading Fat Chance is incredible. It explains how childhood obesity develops and now we have obese newborns! There is so much to learn!
I am trying not to sound angry but you know that I am. Doctors just killed my mother and I ordered all the medical records discovering that they placed right on top of my mom’s advanced directive copy I gave them a paper saying she has no advanced directive.. really? How clueless is that? And with her wearing an allergy bracelet, they give her the very medicine she is allergic to simply because neither the doctor nor the pharmacy within the hospital knows what the drugs contain. This whole industry must go down the drain and be replaced by a functional one.
Oh yes I am angry and I am mad. But not mad toward the readers; mad toward the doctors and the administration that lets them be this clueless and provides them a new license every year. They will know I am mad… My readers I hope to educate to be prepared against such clueless doctors! 🙂
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I am so sorry to hear about your mother. ❤ my sympathies to ya…
and well, I like how you said that people can still find a doc, but the right one – and some other things in a different post….
but wow – it is so scary what is going on- I once read about some of the accidents and mishaps that happen and I was shocked by the statistics. And that is just what was reported or acknowledged – so more awareness is needed big time…
A
lso, I just recently learned a lot about a health area – and maybe some day (later) I can share more w/ you.
anyhow, again, sorry for your loss – and your book is going to be good…. I just know it. 🙂
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yes indeed. It is very scary. Thanks about my mom. She died for no reason other than clueless doctors…
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yep. Unfortunately what most people forget is the metabolic process of the vitamins, minerals, foods, drinks, etc., they put into their bodies. It isn’t what you eat but what it becomes as a result of your body’s condition at the time and how it is metabolized. That can also be changed by how you eat the stuff and with what. I have a migraine book blog but I think I will be transferring the blog articles from there over here since that is a store for the sale of the book and so its blog is not showing the articles only the latest ones.. so I will link to a blog here I create specifically for migraines only I so far had no time. But if you want to read as much as you can see now on that site, visit my migraine book site and click on the blog links–but that is limited. To actually page into the book, you need to go to the publisher’s site or through Amazon or Barnes&Noble or whatever site. It is available in e-book and also in paperback. 🙂
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well do not even get me started on vitamins and supplements – because I agree with you on this
“what it becomes as a result of your body’s condition at the time and how it is metabolized…”
and as noted – my momma had those kidney problems – well for years guess what she took? those stupid GNC ultra mega vitamins – and well, the kidneys had to process all of that excess each day. also, not all vitamins are created equal – and ones with coal tar, binders, and who knows what else – well we could go on and on – now couldn’t we. 🙂
anyhow, have a great day my new blogging friend – 🙂
~yvette
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Decades ago, read the book “Sugar Blues” out of print now, but you may find it in a library… We took everything out of the pantry that had sugar in it. 98% of what we had there, and threw it out. Now my wife cooks our food from scratch, and feel am healthier at 84, than my father was at 65…. Have outlived both parents, and feel that Ill live at least ten or 20 years longer than they did. My wife has also outlived both parents.
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Have been taking 500mgs of C four times a day since 1972… Have not had a cold or the flu in all that time. Never had a Flu Shot. My Dr stopped trying to give me one ten years ago. After over 50 years on drugs for pain in my spine from my shoulder blades to lumbar area. Watching Dr Oz discuss research with a TENS unit, looked into it. Bought one, except for a 6 inch area of my upper back, pain Id rated from 1-10 as 15 (and Ive been wounded in combat) this was worse, but has been reduced to a 5. With further use, believe it will reduce further. After the first four weeks of using the TENS, stopped all meds. Yes, I believe Drs are over-medicating, even if not doing it for money.
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if I may chime in here to RJ, I heard too much supplemental C on a regular basis is not ideal – but hey – if you are 84 – it is obviously working your body – and congrats on your health!!! 🙂 ~yvette
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Yes, I totally agree. In fact now there is a question of any vitamins have any benefit as well. In fact Vitamin E was already found to actually cause serious troubles… There have been some experiments on placebo versus vitamins and people on placebo did exactly as well as those with vitamins…
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well I read about a few studies that showed high vitamin C intake (only a certain L-ascorbic acid) helped recovery when someone was afflicted – but in people who had no illness it seemed to pull from other levels of stuff. And the suggestion form that was to increase vitamin C when ill – but on a regular basis – “eat” your vitamin C and go for 65 mg per day = but food sources were best –
the other thing – and I have learn this hands on – not all vitamins are created equal – some are a bunch of nothing – and in that case I can see the placebo matching the intakes – plus – the mind is so powerful in immune building. anyhow, I have found the NOW brand to be one of the best EVER! and that is after many years –
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true… so go ahead and have your sun.. lol 🙂
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Oh, I only pump 250 mg Mg daily, and like to go out in the hot sun (mostly around 90 F here) at 12.00 noon.
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lol… is the sun regulated by the FDA? I’d be careful if I were you… it may not be pure and packaged all wrong… the photons may not hit the right spot in the right angle. You should get a prescription for the sun Roald… it is not over the counter!
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The FDA has no authority here, sugar!
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one more thing (real quick like)- wanted to share this link to a different blog I just started following recently too – and it was on the topic of sun – I still need to read it more, but it connects to this topic a bit… 🙂
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-some-sun-exposure-will-protect-you-from-deadly-skin-cancer/#axzz30KVAoLk4
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