Somewhere in the small print of most nutritional supplements, exercise devices, or wellness products are the words “consult your doctor before use.” This disclaimer is a simple statement meant to protect the product manufacturer from liability. You will also almost always see the words “for informational/educational purposes only,” and that “the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.” In this day and age, people are very quick to blame others, file complaints, and sue, thus requiring companies to take steps to protect themselves.
There are a few things to consider here. The old-time family doctors use to know you and your family intimately. They knew your health history, often knew your parents (and likely your grandparents), lived in the same town as you, and took care of the whole you. Today is much, much different. Today’s doctors see way more people, have much less time to spend per visit, and the chitchat is limited to how you feel at that moment or where it hurts. Those visits often end with a referral to another specialist, some medical testing getting ordered, or a quick prescription being written. Many things never get discussed, such as the status of your job, the quality of your relationships, the foods you are eating, the amount of exercise you are getting, or the sleep you are getting… all critical components and major factors, when addressing the health of an individual. So, the entire doctor-patient relationship and interaction has completely eroded.
There was a time when medical doctors were considered gods. They were regarded as the upper echelon, the smartest, and the ones who seemed to know everything. My grandparents, and for a long time my parents, took what the medical doctors said as gospel. If they said to do it, you did it. You didn’t ask questions. You trusted their recommendations and followed orders. Well… those days are long gone. Some still put all their trust and faith in their medical professionals, but most are now asking questions. With the continued decline in our healthcare system, the obvious influence of Big Pharma and their commitment to profit over outcomes, the latest COVID fiasco, and our access to data, information, and other experts online, people are taking their health and the health of their families more into their own hands.
In regards to “consulting your doctor” before using a new health product, wellness device, diet regimen, or specific workout, this assumes that your doctor is an expert in whatever it is you are asking about. As we now know, most chronic illness is the result of poor lifestyle choices. Most medical practitioners have little to no education or training when it comes to lifestyle initiatives. U.S. medical schools offer an average of only 19.6 hours of nutrition education throughout their entire program. In a 2016 study, Case Western Reserve University found that there was an average of only 2.8 hours of instruction on obesity, nutrition, and physical activity counseling. That’s crazy! According to an article in U.S News and World Report, Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center, stated that the medical school “curriculum is crowded, and it’s hard to make room for new priorities,” and that “the basic structure of medical education was put in place in 1920, long before lifestyle-related chronic disease was a major public health focus.”
That pretty much sums up the problem, and my point in writing this blog post. If our biggest health issues are the result of poor lifestyle choices, then lifestyle modifications are the answer. If it’s hard to make room for what is now the number one priority, how skewed are our medical schools??? And if our healthcare professionals get little to no training in lifestyle modification, then they can no longer be considered the experts. I don’t ask my electrician about plumbing issues, nor do I ask my auto mechanic about heating and air conditioning issues.
Why would I consult my medical doctor before using a particular wellness intervention, such as red light therapy, taking a fish oil supplement, taking vitamin D or a whole food multivitamin, or starting a particular workout program, if that doctor has no knowledge of, training in, or experience with these interventions? And here is the biggest concern… because these medical professionals have to protect themselves from liability, they will usually err on the side of caution, and simply recommend avoiding those things. That keeps them safe. But it can heavily restrict you and prevent you from getting the very things that may reverse your disease, fix your condition, and lead you to better health.
The internet is loaded with bogus information, misleading claims, and unqualified so-called experts, but it is also loaded with highly valuable, life-improving, health-boosting information. You must become your own expert. Obviously, we need medicine, we need medical doctors, and we need our healthcare system, but do not be fooled into thinking it is there to make you well. It is very good when it comes to traumas, emergencies, and crises, but for wellness and prevention… not so good. I will “consult my doctor” on many things, but I will not “consult my doctor” when it comes to lifestyle interventions.
I have hundreds of post-graduate hours in nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and all things lifestyle-related. If you break a bone, need stitches, or have a life-threatening emergency, all my lifestyle modification training won’t be too handy, so I would not be the doctor to consult. But if you are struggling with lifestyle-related conditions, metabolic syndrome, and chronic illness, I would be very careful if you are relying on doctors with little to no training, expertise, or experience with lifestyle modification.
Back to the liability thing… and to cover my own butt… I am not telling you to ignore your medical doctors’ recommendations or giving you medical advice. I am merely trying to get you to think and ask questions. After all, most people are turning to alternatives and natural therapies because the medical care they have been getting simply isn’t working. Should you “consult your doctor?” I do think you should. Just make sure it’s the right doctor that you are consulting!
