My doctor told me to stay away from that “holistic stuff”, that it’s unsafe and unproven. Why would he/she think that?
While doctors certainly have their place in the healthcare field and their usefulness for some areas should not be understated, unfortunately, today’s doctor receives little or no nutritional training and thus has little or no knowledge in this areafrom which to draw. Most, if not all, of their medical training consists of learning about diagnosing conditions and treating patients with drugs, surgery, or radiation procedures.
In terms of safety, nature has equipped us with all the tools necessary for us to thrive. There are certainly precautions to take with anything, but there has not been one confirmed, documented death from vitamins or minerals in the last century. On the other hand, Western medicine has been documented by more than one source as being at least the third leading cause of death in North America. If whole, natural foods are unsafe, then we will certainly become extinct in short order!
As for the proof on foods, herbs, or supplements, there are volumes of published, peer-reviewed studies documenting their effectiveness coupled with centuries of experience. The question is not whether they are proven, but how much more proof is needed. Conversely, the conventional medical system has only been around for less than 100 years and has demonstrated a remarkable ineffectiveness in dealing with chronic disease and health promotion. With all due respect to your doctor, he or she simply hasn’t been educated on natural foods and their healing properties.