Studies - Everything is Conditional
TLDR - Studies are often misleading and all variables are not tracked. It is better to understand how the body works than to rely on a study with a million unknown variables.
Expanded
When it comes to health, everything is conditional. There are millions of variables that contribute to health outcomes, making it challenging to pinpoint a single cause for any given condition. Most studies do not account for all these variables, leading to controversial and sometimes contradictory results. Understanding the complexity of health requires a holistic approach that considers the interplay of multiple factors.
The Limitations of Studies
Many health studies focus on isolated variables, which can lead to misleading conclusions:
Sunlight and Cancer: Many studies that link sunlight to cancer focus solely on UV light frequencies using UV arch lamps, not natural sunlight. These studies often overlook the broader spectrum of sunlight, which includes beneficial wavelengths that can improve health. In contrast, studies examining natural sunlight exposure often show that it results in better health outcomes.
Red Meat Controversy: You might find one study claiming that red meat is healthy and another saying it will kill you. This discrepancy arises because there are countless variables involved. For example, are the study participants eating red meat from fast food chains along with sugary drinks and fries, or are they consuming well sourced, nutrient dense meat as part of a balanced diet?
The Influence of Variables
Health outcomes are influenced by an unlimited number of variables, including but not limited to:
Diet: The quality and source of food, not just the type of food, matter. A salad drenched in sugary dressing and accompanied by French fries is not the same as a salad without dressing and accompanied by other whole foods.
Lifestyle: Factors such as physical activity, sleep patterns, and stress levels play significant roles in health.
Environment: Exposure to natural light, air quality, and even electromagnetic fields can impact well-being.
The Importance of Context
To illustrate the importance of context, consider a hypothetical study that finds 75% of people who wake up at 9 AM end up getting cancer. Should we advise everyone to stop waking up at 9 AM? Of course not. Instead, we should investigate other variables that might contribute to this outcome, such as:
Sleep Quality: Are these individuals getting enough restorative sleep?
Lifestyle Factors: What are their diet, exercise, and stress management practices like?
Environmental Exposures: Are they exposed to harmful pollutants or toxins?
Etc.
Given the complexity of health, it's crucial to understand how bodily functions work together rather than relying solely on studies that may not account for all variables. Remember, there is rarely one single cause for a symptom or disease. It's the combination of various factors that shapes health outcomes.