The Confusing World of Science
Each week, I actively pursue new research regarding health related topics such as fitness, nutrition, and longevity. I read several journals and always seek out peer reviewed research. Clearly, I’m a fan of science, but at the same time, I realize that science is rarely an exact science. New research comes out weekly, often disproving what we once thought to be fact.
Consequently (and unfortunately), many give up on the idea of science. These folks will often make snide remarks such as, “Why bother reading such journals, when it seems like everything causes cancer.” These individuals have given up entirely, and believe the scientific process is a waste of time. Working as the devil’s advocate, I can almost understand their argument against the argument(s).
For example, a new study recently linked Vitamin E to lung cancer.
As stated within the link above:
Taking high doses of Vitamin E supplements can increase the risk of lung cancer…
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After reviewing this research, it took but a few minutes to find other studies that would give many readers a much different perception. For example, within this link, the following is stated:
Researchers found that high levels of Vitamin E in the blood were associated with the lowest risk of lung cancer…
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A few more clicks at the Google search engine brought me to a research paper that indicated the following:
Vitamin E supplementation (400 IU/day) improves the immune system response in both young and older people, is helpful in the treatment of cystic fibrosis and arthritis, and applied topically has even been found to cure dermatitis(21,30-32). Vitamin E is also helpful in cancer prevention. Scientists at the National Cancer Institute found that supplementation with vitamin E cuts the risk of oral cancer by 50 per cent. Non-smokers can reduce their risk of developing lung cancer by taking vitamin E and men can reduce their risk of colon cancer by 65 per cent by increasing their intake of vitamin E(33-36).
Cited from: vvv.com/healthnews/vitamin_E.htm
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Now, as to where I’m going with this blog entry, I am not suggesting that we all give up on science. I actually believe the opposite, and will continue with my journal subscriptions. With that said, we must not allow ourselves to become lost and confused with science. Realize that the research from today may be disproven tomorrow. Do not assume that you can pop a few high dose vitamins and correct years of lifestyle mistakes.
Everything in moderation usually wins out. If we all lived cleaner lifestyles (ie. more frequent exercise, improved nutritional habits, etc.), the need for vitamins that curbed our risk of cancer would all but vanish. As for transitioning to such a lifestyle, I cannot imagine any other way. When I look at my son, I can’t imagine jeopardizing the time that I will have with him as a parent. I eat to live, rather than living to eat. There is so much more to life than eating, if you just get up and live a little!
Ross
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If you really want to cut the risk of oral cancer (mentioned above)have an annual oral cancer exam. Dentists can do a 3-minute entirely painless exam using a glow-stick-and-rinse (approved by the FDA) called ViziLite Plus. It helps them find PRE-cancerous cells as well as cancerous lesions. The key to beating oral cancer is early detection, so this is the way. The literature used to say that 75% of oral cancer is caused by smoking or heavy drinking, and 25% had no known cause. But recent research points to the HPV virus (the one that causes cervical cancer) and even cell phones as possible causes. GET AN ANNUAL EXAM! (ViziLite-equipped dentists are listed by zip code at www.vizilite.com)
You made a real good point. Science is based upon reason but scientific results are to be interpreted with reason as well. Good reminder!
Faust
Well said Faust.
if you are searching for results in science be carefull, there are tons of people making what they believe to be science but it does not even get closed to it. I´m a physics studant and to believe in a result derived from a research it has to be executed carefully, and talking about medicin researches it has to be developed a long time research to be at least acceptable. Don´t give up on science, without it no progress can be made.
westonaprice.org I say the healthiest way to living is eating nutritionally rich foods that are whole and traditionally based on the ancient diet of humans. Good, clean, whole foods are key…not only to healthy and happy living but also to recovering from brutal workouts.
Two very good books I have found are Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and Nutrition and Physical Degeneration from Weston Price. Each a must have.
Science is tough because you can’t possibly study all the different components that go into a certain condition or anything really.
Science does its very best to isolate one or two causes and tests their effects, but there are millions of causes. Science although can be extremely flawed, it still helps you figure out was to not do something.
I like reading journals and those things too…
I’m sure you already know this,but for those who do not:
Science is a series of provisional truths, backed by evidence, that are amended when better evidence is available. The key word here is “evidence”. In other words, we have a reason to suppose scientifically supported ideas are true. Contrast this with unscientific ideas, where there is rarely any rational reason to suppose they are true.
Yes, science has been wrong, but the scientific method is self-correcting. And it is always scientists who have unearthed new evidence who do the correcting, never people who ignore the scientific method.
Ironically it also shows up the strength of science.
For example, compare the way scientific errors are discovered and corrected, with what happens in, for example, astrology or alternative medicine. In those fields no errors are ever corrected for the simple reason that no one ever critically tests those beliefs to see if they even contain errors. Errors are a permanent feature of those beliefs. Error recognition and correction is a strength of science.
No one is claiming that science has all the answers or is always right.
However, science has proved to be the most reliable method we know for evaluating claims and figuring out how the universe works. If someone is claiming that there is a better method, it is up to him or her to justify that claim.
To demonstrate this, believers need to explain their better method for evaluating claims, and provide evidence that it is indeed a better method. If they cannot do this their appeal to other ways of knowing is vacuous and fallacious.
A bigger problem than actual “changes” in what the science is telling us is the steady stream of media reports that consistently misinterpret the findings of studies, thus overstating mere “links” and “correlations” as if they were “causation.”….not to mention the mass-media’s complete inability to differentiate shoddy, weak scientific findings with robust studies….Granted, for every lazy media report, there is an equally lazy reader being duped into getting swept along with the latest pseudo-scientific blather…