There are many debates within the scientific and healthcare communities when it comes to causes of, and contributors to, the rapid rise in chronic illness. In an effort to explain the boom in diabetes, asthma, allergies, auto-immune diseases, heart disease, cancers, autism, learning disabilities, etc., it is logical to look at what in our environment has changed in the past several decades.
While the scientific community jumped all over the genetic link to disease, that theory has unraveled based on the facts that our genes do not dictate disease (less than 5% of cancers are genetic), and more compelling is that while the rate of chronic illness has skyrocketed in the past fifty years, our genes have not changed. If our genes have stayed the same for thousands of years, they simply cannot be responsible for the rapid and relatively recent spike in the chronic conditions.
Since we do not have answers to why we are getting so sick, it makes great sense to look into the changes in our environments and lifestyles in recent decades for the answer. Many have questioned the expansion of genetic modification of foods (GMO’s) and the role they might be playing in our declining health. Others have been pointing their fingers at the wireless signals (primarily the fifth-generation rollout, i.e., 5G) and their potentially negative impact on cellular function and overall health.
Controversial topics like GMO’s and 5G are not new. Big changes in the way we live have been under scrutiny for probably tens of thousands of years. The debate on whether or not pesticide and herbicide use contributes to ill health has been going on for at least sixty years. The debate on whether or not organic is a better choice than non-organic continues to rage on. And the concerns about the role of artificial sweeteners, coloring, and flavoring, and their impact on everything from children’s behavior to cancer, are as strong as ever.
So, what’s my take on all of this? I believe the more we mess with nature, the sicker we will become. The human body is extremely dynamic, and adapts over time, but the key words there are over time. The concern I have is that not only are the changes we are making incredibly big, but that it is so much change happening so fast. Our bodies are unable to keep up and adapt. The result? Dysfunction, ill-health, and disease.
Most of you know how critical I am of big pharma, but I am critical (and suspicious) of big anything (Big Food, Big Insurance, Big Energy, Big Tech, etc.). With “big” business comes big money. And when big money is involved, there’s big lobbying, big influencing, big data manipulation, and big agendas. Where there is big money to be made, there will surely be science to back up its safety, its benefits, and its necessity. And that big money and influence will often dictate policy, regulations, laws, and procedures, despite the concerns, questions, and even science brought up by smaller (non-invested) groups of scientists, researchers, doctors, and citizens.
Because we don’t have to look too far back to see the playbook of big business manipulating data, science, political leadership, and policies (Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, etc.), I remain cautious and try to avoid the things that might be harmful to my health. I don’t need a study or conclusive proof about everything. When it comes to human health, organic HAS TO be better than non-organic. No pesticides or herbicides HAS TO be better than some pesticides or herbicides. And no exposure to electromagnetic radiation HAS TO be better than being exposed to it.
Since avoiding all of these potentially harmful things is impossible, I do my best to limit what I can, make better choices when able, and don’t allow myself to become overly fearful, anxious, or burdened by the fact that a lot of this is out of my control. I also know that, while many cite certain concerns as the answer to today’s declining health, there is no single answer to the health crisis we are witnessing. So, stick with doing the best you can, with where you are, with what you have. Make the most natural and sensible choices possible, and it HAS TO have a positive impact on your health and life.
