Why I don't trust science for my health.

I’m often given a hard time when people see that I don't associate with general rules of health. I’m accused of being ignorant to science and anything thats proven to be helpful with modern medicine. It’s easy for people to assume that because I disagree with a few ideas or that I am skeptical to new research that I am just a hippy who refuses to use anything but essential oils and thinks I’m better than doctors. Thats a very unfair conclusion to jump to. Back in 2011, I was so thankful to have medical insurance when I broke my elbow in a bike accident (Although I could have filed a lawsuit as the doctor misdiagnosed my elbow as dislocated after viewing the x-ray, leading me to need 2 surgeries and osteopathic work in the future).That being said, I don't trust “science” when it comes to my health. What I mean by this is that I don't take mainstreams understanding of what is scientifically proven as fact right away. I am the epitome of a health devils advocate. I question & test everything.So whats wrong with trusting science for your health?1. It’s easy to have an idealized view of modern medicine:I often hear things like “We have the best medical schools in the world.” or “We are the leading experts in cancer research. We are so close to having a cure”. “The rate of which people are dying from heart attacks has significantly decreased due to new pharmaceutical drugs” etc.I used to think like that. America is best. We have the best everything. We are so progressive. Go us!But the more I have studied health, the more my eyes have been opened to how unhealthy we are. Despite having the best medical doctors and “scientifically proven” pharmaceutical drugs in the world, the United States is within the top 10 countries with the highest rates of cancer, heart disease, infertility, autoimmune disease, and obesity. We are number 1 in autism rates, depression and mental health disorders (despite having the best antidepressants). Truth be told, these statistics don't encourage me to put all my hope in new science.1. We think “science” means unanimous.Those who hear the term, assume it’s a gold stamp of approval and that all scientists are in agreement on the issue. We bow down to someone with a PhD. No further questioning necessary. Those who disagree simply don't understand “science”.The reality is that much of what we are told is proven as fact remains in question. Do all doctors agree on the safety of vaccinations? Do all scientist believe that glycosphate is harmless? Do all health professionals believe that eating a low-fat diet is the way to avoid heart disease? Absolutely not, but I can guarantee you at each opinionated professional will have at least 20 scientifically-proven articles to back up their claim whether it’s true or not.Regardless of the fact that anything can be proven or disproven, if you slap “science”, on a study and throw in a few key words like “hard-facts” you can easily fool people into believing an idea as fact. I have been guilty of this many times.My point? You cannot make an informed decision in health by only hearing one side of the story. I did that in my early days and I ended up as a tired, depressed, hypothyroid, anemic vegan (who’s doctors praised me as asked my secret for having such low cholesterol). Now I trust my gut, and am healthier than I have ever been.3. We fail to question who is funding the research.Who is to determine what is proven as “science”. The FDA? CocaCola? Monsanto? Is it science if it’s published in a magazine? Or only the magazines that are medically progressive and not those who use traditional medicine? It is science because you agree with it? Or is it science because it’s simply labeled “science”?In a perfect world every study conducted would be double blind and the research wouldn't be funded by a company that will financially benefit from one outcome. But in America? Give me a break. Many of the “proven studies” are sponsored by massive corporations that have a lot to gain from their desired outcome. Even the California dietetics association last year was sponsored by McDonalds! Do you think you can get honest studies from a company who is profiting the unhealthiness of Americans? Didn't think so. And I’m sure that when the Wheat Council presented on how gluten-intolerance is just a fad, they didn't fail to deliver some persuading science to back up their claim.Like-wise, did you know that most medical schools, and individual professors are financially funded by specific pharmaceutical companies?“Of Harvard's 8,900 professors and lecturers, 1,600 admit that either they or a family member have had some kind of business link to drug companies — sometimes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars — that could bias their teaching or research. Additionally, pharma contributed more than $11.5 million to the school last year for research and continuing-education classes.” - TIME magazineAccording to Dr. Mercola, who was previously a paid speaker for drug companies “drug companies spend $4 billion each year on direct-to-consumer ads in the United States, but 400% more, a massive $16 billion, to influence your doctor. That is $10,000 for every single doctor in the United States.”Taking advise from someone who is paid thousands of dollars to promote a specific drug doesn't exactly scream credible. 4. Many of those “hard-facts” are later disproven.Let just be honest for a moment and recognize that scientific knowledge is constantly changing and that is a beautiful thing. Science is about evolving information and growing in understanding.Remember way back when the earth was flat? Or how about when pluto was a planet, and then it wasn’t. I do love science. It’s wonderful that our understanding to truth is constantly changing, but this is a massive reason why I don't use new mainstream scientific research for my health. Will the research change in 10 years? Probably. And unlike deciding whether or not Pluto is a planet, my health is not worth risking based on the newest “proven” research. So I stick to the basics. Organic, high-quality food with some traditional supplements that have been tested for more than 5 years.If you still think I’m full of bologna (I’m not. Read above sentence) let’s take a look at a few times where “science” got it very wrong, effecting the health of our country at large:1. Tobacco used to be considered a healthy habit, and was encouraged by Doctors- It took several decades for evidence showing that Tobacco causes cardiovascular disease to emerge!2. Aspartame is a healthy alternative to sugar that causes weight loss- Decades after aspartame was introduced, it was proven to be a neurotoxin which causes parkinson like symptoms, Alzheimer's, and weight gain.3. Dietary cholesterol causes heart disease. Vegetable oils and margarine are heart-healthy options- Still considered scientifically accurate somehow, although dietary cholesterol is completely different from cholesterol in the blood and it is considered the mother of all hormones. 4. Agent orange is perfectly safe- Sprayed over Vietnam during the war, agent orange is responsible for causing cancer in veterans, & the vietnamese people, during and decades after the war. It is also to blame for the shockingly high levels of genetical mutation in children born in Vietnam to this day5. Fluoride added to water, helps maintain dental hygiene- Dr. Trendley Dean came up with this theory in 1938 but there is not one single, double-blind study proving that flouride reduces cavities. In fact, it was later proven to cause the erosion of tooth enamel shown as white spots as well as hypothyroidism. Recently the U.S. has, for the first time in 50 years suggested lowering fluoride levels in drinking water.Those are only a few times where mainstream health claims,  backed up by short-term studies were later proven inaccurate.I don't know everything, and am not claiming to, but what I do know is that I am the healthiest that I have been in my entire life (aside from my elbow) and that’s from trusting my body over any new short-term studies. Again, I’m not trying to dishonor doctors. I am very thankful for them and don’t want to support an anti-doctor stereotype, but I think it’s very important to understand that whats proven as science is often misleading and problematic for long-term health. Shared at Real Food Forager