The Problem with the Medical Industry and America's Health

I received an email from a man who was upset about the treatment his mother received at the hands of a doctor who was filling in for her regular physician. He was peeved because she was treated like a problem, not a person. Unfortunately, that is not something new. Many doctors adopt an attitude of aloofness to protect themselves from emotionalinvolvement with people they do not treat regularly. It is understandable, from their poin of view, but disheartening to the individual. Here is what I wrote in response: The real problem with the medical industry is that they are taught to treat the symptoms and not the root of the problem. Medical schools are underwritten, for the most part, by the drug industry, and, therefore, the emphasis is put on prescribing drugs to treat the symptoms. I believe, like Doctors Joel Fuhrman and Mark Hyman (both are physicians and nutritional researchers) that the underlying cause of our epidemic of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and cancer are caused by the Standard American diet. Most doctors are sincerely concerned with helping people but are not trained sufficiently in the area of nutrition or holistic medicine. The medical school's curriculum is biased toward treating symptoms, not finding the reason behind the illness.. Big drug companies see to that. They want doctors to "heal with steel", i.e., surgery, or to prescribe medications that they promote. Following their advice, I have lost 135 pounds and reversed Type II diabetes, dangerously high cholesterol, diabetic nerve pain, and high blood pressure. My mind has become more lucid, and my overall health has improved dramatically. If you are not familiar with these doctors, I suggest you research what they advocate, which is the elimination of processed foods entirely from yours and your mother's diets. I am 75 years old, so it is never too late to start. According to Dr. David Perlmutter, whom I also follow, a diet too low in fats, including cholesterol, is bad for the brain which is made up of mostly fats and needs them to function and prevent dementia. See his book, Grain Brain, that explains the problem of too much sugar and not enough healthy fats like those found in seeds, nuts, and avocados can cause. I recommend to you two movies that are real eye openers: Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead; and Food Matters. I can sympathize with your situation, and hope you are not upset by this note as it is intended to be helpful, not critical. That is what I wrote. I did not publish the gentleman's name for obvious reasons. However, my sentiments on the subject warranted publishing them here, and I hope others can benefit from them. By the way, I have finished a second book, "Spiny Funkle", that will be made available in a few weeks. More on that later.