Connie's Mantra

With so much conflicting health information in the media, how do I evaluate what is true?

Connie's mantra:  Whenever you read a cause, cure or preventative for a well known, well funded disease like Alzheimer's or breast cancer, that is not supported by two or three more independent sources, assume it is not true. Even if the website sponsors have no interest in relieving the suffering of millions of people, they would still be interested in the millions they would get from a proven remedy.

But what if the information is verified by objective scientific studies?

Connie's mantra:  There is no such thing as objective science.
Many health studies are paid for by companies selling the product they want to be good for you. At best, science works within a paradigm, essentially, the lens through which information is interpreted. For instance, facts that do not support the current science paradigm of evolution are suppressed or ridiculed.

But what if a product is endorsed by a well respected doctor like Dr. Oz?

Connie's mantra: In order to be competitive in the media market, new health breakthroughs need to be aired on a regular basis. Unfortunately, health breakthroughs do not occur on a regular basis.
This leaves no time for long term studies of the products being endorsed, even by well respected doctors.

What if the health warnings are not trying to sell products, but warn about dangerous foods?

Connie's mantra:  If I am not to fear the devil, who hates me and wants to harm me, I refuse to fear food, which my Father has given to bless me.
Current warnings have made Olympic leaps of logic by blaming disease on a certain food or drink when it is only one element of what may be an unhealthy lifestyle. The other common, cultural logic leap is assuming something is a cause when it is only another factor. For instance, most murderers are right handed, but being right handed doesn't make you commit murder.

What if doctors want us to be unhealthy so they can make more money? How can I distinguish real conspiracies from hoaxes?

Connie's mantra:  A real conspiracy requires an agenda plus the ability to enforce it, including a way to silence those who expose the conspiracy.
My cat may have an agenda of world domination, but he has no way to carry it out. People who do well publicized, multi-city tours are exposing agendas. People who expose real conspiracies are in hiding or dead. I will believe there is a conspiracy among doctors to keep us unhealthy the day my dentist starts mailing me candy.

What about doctors who sell miracle products only by mail order because "they want to help as many people as possible"?

Connie's mantra:  If they wanted to help as many people as possible, not to mention earn the respect of their peers, and $$$, they would make it available in stores. "Mail order only" means the product claims are unsubstantiated.

What is your advice about giving advice?

 Connie's mantra:  Pray relentlessly, speak occasionally. Blog, don't nag. There are two reasons I restrain my urge to give advice. 1.  I am much wiser with my mouth closed than I have ever been with my mouth open. 2. The only people who really listen to advice are those who have asked for it. That is one of the reasons I blog, I can share my opinions on my take-it-or-leave-it blog and no real relationships have been harmed. In four decades as a Christian, I have learned that when God is working on my loved ones, my Spirit assigned role is to pray and shut up.

So despite all these warnings, you aren't worried?

Connie's mantra:  I refuse to start worrying until God stops being sovereign.
I realize it is counter-cultural not to worry. Even in Christian circles, non-worriers are looked at as uniformed or delusional, as if we are somehow shirking our duty and others will have to cover our share of the worrying. What they should worry about, is committing the spiritual slander of implying God is either not good enough, or not powerful enough to take care of us. Doing that would worry me.