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 Nutrition or Medicine?
One of our most important messages is this: there exists a critical
difference between the world of nutrition and the world of medicine;
the world of foods and food supplements; and the world of drugs
and pharmaceutical and medical treatments.
Foods and supplements for the most part are biomodulating in effect;
meaning that the balanced synergy of all the parts is more important
than the single effect or even the combined effect of the individual
parts and pieces. In other words, the whole is usually more important
than the parts…
In the world of medicine and drugs, the opposite holds true. With
drugs, the very specific effect of one isolated biochemical substance
(even if it is derived from a whole food) is more important…temporarily…than
the balanced synergy of the whole. In other words…and we must
emphasize the word temporarily…the part is usually more important
than the whole…
This critical difference sets up two completely different "contexts",
in which some very different rules apply.
Ignorance of these very different contexts and very different rules
is the cause of much unnecessary suffering in our world today.
Inside the context called "medicine", we are dependent
on the expertise of physicians, pharmacists, and the drug manufacturers
to make sure the right medicine, in the right dosage, for the right
symptoms and conditions is given, taken, and monitored. Because
of the many toxic side effects of each and every drug, and the potential
dangers that exist when two or more pharmaceutical substances are
taken at the same time… the world of medicine and drugs is
dominated by legally binding restrictions and regulations and endless
precautions and procedures.
Inside the context called nutrition the very opposite is true.
We are completely free and independent in our ability to choose
the foods, beverages, cooking techniques, and nutritional supplements
we put into our own bodies. In nutrition, there are no prescriptions,
set dosages, toxic side- effects and endless outside monitoring
of results.
The responsibility for choosing what nutrition goes into our own
bodies is ours alone. The responsibility for the results of those
choices is ours alone, too.
The responsibility for choosing what medicine goes into our bodies
is not "ours alone"…even if we are a physician!!!
The responsibility for this decision is a shared responsibility
between physician and patient.
There is one fundamental truth that really explains every question
and confusion that arises in our lives in the often entangled areas
of nutrition-health-medicines-foods-drugs-supplements:
We are relatively ignorant about the miracle of our own bodies
and about what truly nourishes our bodies best!
As we continue our journey to better nutrition let's keep in mind
one simple question:
What nourishes me best?
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