Drastic times

Did you know that there was a medical conference held in Orlando this October called Obesity 2011? That in itself is a frightening–yet telling–truth about the direction this country is headed in. But let me tell you what went on there, because that was even more frightening…

In a nutshell, the physicians in attendance (who all specialize in treating obesity) concluded that education to promote prevention and lifestyle improvements aren’t enough to reverse the obesity epidemic. Instead, we need drugs and surgery.

Are they kidding? I do agree that something a little more drastic needs to occur, but drugs and surgery? The only ones who really benefit from that are drug companies, surgeons, hospitals, and food manufacturers. Do you know who doesn’t benefit? You!

One of the speakers at the conference, a surgeon at Stanford University said, “We need more drugs and better indications for surgery.”

“We wouldn’t be having this conversation about oncology or cardiology,” he continued, “It would just happen. Patients would get treated.”

I don’t mean to pick on just one of the speakers–there were other physicians at this conference saying equally dumb things. But I would argue that, like obesity and diabetes, cancer and heart disease also occur–in large part–as a result of poor diet.

Because of the way we eat, what we eat, and how it gets processed, we are suffering from illnesses that were unheard of 50 years ago. So, yes, treating cancer and heart disease with drugs and surgery may be “accepted protocol” in mainstream medicine. But the fact is, much of that treatment (not to mention much of the astronomical cost and the horrific side effects associated with these treatments) would be completely unnecessary if people ate foods that were truly good for them.

Because when you get right down to it, most health issues–even very serious ones–can be controlled by what goes into our mouths.

Think about it: Mainstream medicine treats cancer until the patient is dead. They put patients on statin drugs, without thinking about the consequences of potential liver disease and muscle disease, simply to bring down cholesterol (when there isn’t a shred of evidence to support doing so). They do angioplasty and insert stents when they know full well that the minute the device comes out of the patient, the plaque starts to form in the same place in a matter of seconds.

And the “doctors” (and I use that term loosely) at this conference are calling for interventions for obesity that will have similar outcomes.

There’s absolutely no need for such drastic measures. The steps to a healthy, slim, diabetes-free future are simple. And they don’t involve extremes when it comes to drugs, surgery, or even diet and exercise.

It’s like I mentioned in last Monday’s Reality Health Check–a little bit of change can go a long way.

So start today with something small…skip the bread with dinner, and then take a 15-minute walk when you’re done. Build from there with the steps outlined in my New Hamptons Health Miracle, and you’ll be well on your way to defeating diabetes for good, without so much as a scalpel or a prescription in sight.