By Lilian H. Hill, PhD
There is so much health news in the media. It's in new
reports, in social media, in books promoting one perspective or another, in
magazines, and just about everywhere you look. Often the information seems
contradictory and the headlines scream. Don’t eat fat! Avoid gluten and
carbohydrates! Drink more water! Alcohol is bad for you, no wait … It’s good
for you as long as it’s red wine. Adopt a plant-based, keto, or Mediterranean
diet! There is just so much noise, it’s enough to make you give up and head to
your favorite doughnut shop.
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The health advice is not limited to diet. Instead, it extends to many other health decisions. Exercise until you sweat or until it hurts (otherwise known as no pain, no gain). Lift weights, do Pilates, Tai Chi, Yoga, walk 10,000 steps, and run marathons. Get outside and meditate! Avoid the sun, except oops, you need some sun to make Vitamin D and avoid depression. Vaccinate, or don’t vaccinate, depending on who you listen to. Take supplements, take vitamins, take your medicines, and take off-label prescriptions to lose weight and overcome addictions. This list could go on and on. |
With all the contradictory and confusing health
information, many people have taken to consulting “Dr. Google” with both
positive and negative effects. It is hard to discern what is valuable and
applicable to your own questions and confronting your doctor with your internet
pearls of wisdom may not go well.
