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When Evidence Says No, but Doctors Say Yes

  • March 01, 2017

A new evaluation of health care in America has been co-written by The Atlantic and ProPublica, highlighting the never-ending epidemic of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment for conditions that really don’t need treating at all. The authors referenced a 2013 study that found 146 studies that proved or strongly suggested that a current standard practice either had no benefit at all or was inferior to the practice it replaced; 138 articles supported the efficacy of an existing practice, and the remaining 79 were deemed inconclusive.

This is a travesty that needs to stop now. From mammograms to invasive heart procedures to overprescribing of antibiotics and opioids, the U.S. health care system seems focused on medical waste and overtreatment, which does nothing but compound your health risks.

The proof is in the pudding: Despite all this treatment to the tune of sizeable health care expenditures, Americans are among the sickest citizens of the developed world, ranking only 50th worldwide for life expectancy. Americans also rank near the bottom for everything from infant mortality to obesity, heart disease, and disability.

It’s time to take a whole body, whole health approach that focuses on getting and staying healthy. We can do this by addressing the things that cause ill health, beginning with what we eat. Real food — organically grown, fresh, whole foods — needs to replace our reliance on processed foods that are full of hidden sugars and empty calories.

You can get up to speed on this by reviewing my comprehensive Nutrition Plan.