Overall, the ideological influence of the 21st century is perceptible through the article reflecting the current knowledge. I not only explored how statements are shaped within the culture and the time they are written in, as there was political pressure on scientists to discover new knowledge in former times, but I also learned to think critically about scientific statements and increased my awareness of the difficulty to uncover the truth about certain assertions.
355 words
Task: Part 2 Textual Bias, Opinion Article about Healthy Eating for The Independent
When will we finally understand what is good for us?
When four out of five people acclaim different nutrients to improve our health, what is the point in listening to any of them?
The view on what is good for us fluctuates. Seventy years ago my grandmother was rebuked by my great-grandmother for eating three eggs at breakfast; she told her it was unhealthy. In 1988 my grandmother didn’t want my mum to eat eggs at all; she stated they were affected with salmonella. Five years ago, my mum urged me to only eat one egg per day to ensure that my level of cholesterol does not rise too high. While explaining this to me, she was telling me these old stories about egg consumption. I was then sure that a few years afterwards the view on eggs will be absolutely altered. I was right: Many years ago, scientists investigated the level of cholesterol in eggs, which is 226 mg in an average egg. When regarding the Recommended Daily Allowance of 300 mg they decided that more than one egg per day would provide you with too much cholesterol. That is why so many people, including my mum, decided it would be better to relinquish the consumption. However, eggs are now proven to be means of lowering levels of cholesterol in people’s blood. Consequently, the theory of limiting the amount of egg ingestion has now been revealed as completely wrong.
In the future, other theories on how to become healthy as well as promotions of special diets against certain diseases will develop, change or be proven as completely nonsense. The view on what is decent for our health seems to be very subjective and fluctuating. History shows us how wrong scientific statements can be, like in the case of the hazardous disease scurvy, caused through a lack of ascorbic acid:
According to Dr. James one ounce of fresh lemon juice was enough to wipe all syndromes out. Despite of this statement from 1753, though, more people have died from scurvy than from the two world wars together. An unproven and unverified proclamation itself does not heal you. The next suggestion was made in 1908 when the English physician Sir Archibald Garrod analysed scurvy as an “inborn error of metabolism”. It was finally him who examined scurvy as an inherited disease where the lack of an enzyme leads to the incapability of the human body to produce ascorbic acid, Vitamin D. Through this genetic mutation we are now dependent on the delivery of Vitamin D from nutrients like salmon or liver oil. Although Sir Archibald Garrod’s statements were right, they were ignored for nearly half a century. It has always been difficult to tell the right amounts and supportive sorts of foods. Despite of the Recommended Daily Allowances for minimal levels of nutrients, according to Irwin Stone they are not based on “any scientific data”.
People even seem to be happier with a false statement rather than with none at all. They have the strong urge to find out more about healthy and helpful food. Having something to trust in, belief in and rely on seems to help psychologically: Doctors and psychologists give so-called placebo drugs to their patients. These drugs made out of sugar and starch are introduced to patients as real medicine with side effects. Although the pills contain no active substance and should have no effect, there are still many people who improve their physical condition or even develop the side effects. This placebo effect is due to the expectation in your mind of a progress leading to an actual impact, what implies that the mind is actually part of your body. So when talking about helpful diets you also have to refer to the mentality: If you expect something to happen, your psyche will influence your body and a real change will occur. Nowadays you can choose between thousands of different diets for various types of illnesses. Where is the point, though, in following strict diets if already your own psyche can influence your health? Still, whole books are written about this topic. “The Choice” by Bernadette Bohan tells about her life and how she made diet changes which, according to her, lead to the diminishing of her cancer. She actively looked out for recipes against cancer and found the solution in juicy smoothies. Although some scientists are convinced that this is due to the Placebo effect, she insists it is due to her nourishment.
Diets against diseases do not have a 100% success rate. Despite following all those specific diet tips, your disease might not vanish at all. Although undertaking exactly what so called specialists state, it might not be working for you. You will have to accept the uniqueness of your body which no one else than you can keep the best under control. You should not pay too much attention on guidelines, how to improve your health, but listen to your body. Chemically, a negative feedback system in your body regulates your body’s balance. Consequently, it is important to listen to your body’s signals. When you feel full, do not take one more plate because of the deliciousness but stop and drink a glass of water instead. Moreover, do not try to eat a lot of salt due to a special diet but stop if your body says so. There are many people who paid attention to those statements and therefore had to endure treacherous diseases due to an overeating of minerals.
So take note of your body rather than of unproven statements which may harm you. If people had always listened to recommendations, humans would have been extinct centuries ago.
947 words
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Mood foods will make you happy, Tim Wigmore, The Times, 10th September 2011
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Can the best trump the passion of the worst?, The Times, 13th October 2011
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Eat yourself well, Sunday Times, 23rd October 2011
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