A Reminder That ‘Science’ Can Be Bad As Well As Good …

I came across two recent examples of the fallacy of ‘perfect science’ and would like to share them.

First, let’s look at SUGAR.

In the 1950s, prestigious Harvard researchers accepted substantial funding from the sugar industry to point the finger at fat and not sugar when it came to identifying the reason behind obesity in North America.

Here’s a great summary video from College Times:

And the second industry myth:  sun tan lotion.

We’re seeing more and more evidence that the conventional myth is completely and absolutely wrong.

In fact, Swedish scientists have shown that women who avoid sunbathing during the summer are twice as likely to die as those who sunbathe every day.

I’ll repeat that just in case you’re shaking your head:  women who avoid sunbathing during the summer are twice as likely to die as those who sunbathe every day.

That’s basically because they’re not getting Vitamin D, an important nutrient that primarily originates from the sun.

Vitamin D protects the body from diseases like multiple sclerosis, rickets (in the young), tuberculosis, inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren’s syndrome.

And not only does sunscreen block Vitamin D, it wreaks havoc on the local environment when you use it.  One researcher found that ‘in areas where there has been much exposure to ED [endocrine disrupting] chemicals, coral and other sea populations have died off and the prevalence of dual-sexed fish has risen‘.

Science should just be science, but unfortunately, a LOT of it is funded by different special interest groups.  Disclosure of funding sources should be mandatory, both with the reports that are created, but also with the reporting that’s done by journalists.

And yes, some times those who purport to act in our best health interests may not be.

Remember this.