The old saying is……Don’t judge a book by its cover, right? Think about that for a second. What does that mean to you? Have you ever done that?

Would you say that in today’s world we can agree for the most part that cigarettes are not healthy? Statistics show that 90% of lung cancer is from smoking. But think back in the day from the 1950’s-80’s for sure….back then it was NOT common knowledge, right? Even a certain cigarette brand put “organic tobacco” on their so-called book cover of the cigarette package. They advertised it was better for you as they added filters and lowered the nicotine levels and convinced folks it was okay. So what is my point?

It is important to get all of us thinking and take a pause on these so-called labels or “book covers” and really look at the “meat of the content” no pun intended. “Don’t trust what you see, even salt looks like sugar“…..The covers are meant to sometimes deceive us to think something might be healthy even if it is not.

Would you consider Organic Orea’s healthy?

Just because it has a label in which the intention is for you to think it is “healthy” does not mean it always is. Just because someone is an omnivore or a vegan does not imply they are healthy. It is the food choices within those models that are important. A vegan could eat organic Oreos, potato chips, and diet soda all day, technically that is vegan and not considered a nutrient dense way of eating. So be careful when looking at “labels” you must look on the inside.

I bet we could virtually agree that flowers would not do their best if we watered it with soda and sprayed it with hairspray? You would probably see some sad slumped over flowers…… or if we put bleach in our car instead of gasoline, it may not run as well as we had hoped, right? Well, if flowers need specific fuel to grow, and our cars need specific fuel to work, why do we think we do not? Science has definitely and clearly proven otherwise!

→Did you know that there are about 24,000 articles published in the English Medical Journal every year. Could you imagine being a Physician and trying to keep up with all of these new articles? If they did, they would have to read about 65 articles every single day (365 days) goodness. They have a lot on their plates and trying to help the best they can with all the other medical components they were trained to do. So with that being said…….There are physicians out there focused on “nutrition” trying to help their fellow physician colleagues and the public stay abreast of the latest science evidence-based nutrition information. One example is Dr. Michael Greger who has a team of researchers including himself where a big part of their job is to read those articles every single day and get important information to the public in a way that is easy to understand. You can access their website yourself where you can watch free videos and articles uploaded almost every day! It is a science-based public service provided by Dr. Michael Greger, providing free updates on the latest in nutrition research for your general information! Also, NutritionFacts.org is a member of the True Health Initiative, a global voice for lifestyle as medicine. 

→Did you know that science in 2013 debunked that fish oil was good for us? It may actually be causing more heart disease! Yes, there are safer alternatives to get your DHA + EPA.

→Did you know that recent studies suggested that frequent milk consumption and higher dietary calcium intakes in middle-aged women were shown to not have protection against hip or forearm fractures? Women consuming great amounts of calcium from dairy foods had significantly increased risks of hip fractures, while no increase in fracture risk was observed for the same levels of calcium from non-dairy sources. The World Health Organization recommends only 500 milligrams of calcium intake per day and we can get that through our whole foods. Come to find out dairy products provides us with 60-80% estrogen and may affect our hormones in our body negatively. Dermatologists have started to catch on that dairy may be a huge contributor to a lot of skin conditions, especially acne. And, The National Dairy Farm Magazine reported that most dairy herds about 89% of them are infected by BLV (Bovine Leukemia Virus) which is closely related to a virus that causes leukemia and lymphoma in humans.

→Did you know that calcium supplements may do more harm than good? In a recent study along with meta-analysis studies, they have observed a statistically significant increase in heart attack risk by 86% among those that take calcium supplements. However, there did not seem to be an associating with cardiac risk by ingesting calcium through dietary means.

• 64% increase in hip fractures with calcium supplements

Disclaimer: These were just some things that raised my eyebrows when learning some of the newest (some old, and it just re-surfaced in science). Certainly, when I share general education, it is meant for your general information only. Recipients should seek medical advice and be closely monitored by their physician or a licensed health care professional before starting or continuing any lifestyle changes such as but not limited to, dietary changes, supplement changes, or physical activity changes, especially if you are pregnant or have any pre-existing injuries or medical conditions. You should read any information provided by the product manufacture and any product label or packaging prior to using any medication, nutritional, herbal, food, homeopathic or other products. Certain medications may have contraindications with introducing or continuing any supplemental or dietary changes, and that medications may need adjustments before and/or during your lifestyle changes. Adverse effects may lead to permanent damage or death if your medication(s) and/or healthcare needs are not properly monitored and amended between you and your physician. Do not disregard or delay medical advice or treatment because of any nutrition-related information that has been shared with you. Your decisions regarding your health and wellness are ultimately your own responsibility and the information provided is not to be taken as absolute nor is it a substitute for your medical care. Nutritional or supplemental suggestions including information that may be provided directly or by linking to a third-party, or any affiliates are intended for your general nutrition-related information and education only and we will not be held accountable for the use or misuse of any suggestions described therein. Please note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. These services or information provided do not promise or guarantee protection from past, present or future illnesses and it should not be construed as dispensing medical advice or claiming to diagnose, treat, prevent, mitigate, prescribe, or cure any diseases, conditions, mental or physical, real or imaginary and that it is not a substitute for regular medical or psychological care.