Survival Value Healthcast - Positive Momentum Towards Health on Your Own Terms   /     Are you man or machine?– Episode 006

Description

With the advancement of science and technology in the 20th century, health care in the United States has narrowed its perspective to an almost purely mechanistic view when it comes to the assessment and treatment of health and disease. For the first time in human history, mechanism has evolved to become the only acceptable authority guiding our perspectives on everything from health and disease to our diet and food supply. But despite our advancements in technology and all the best efforts of all the king's men, the health status of the population as a whole is dismal. Rates of chronic disease, cancer, and the evolution of scary"super-bugs" are just some of the facts that point to a problem with the way we approach human health in modern society. Can the mechanistic model we currently use fully account for the complexity of the human body? Or are we something more than just highly complex machines? In this episode of the Survival Value Healthcast, we discuss the concept of vitalism and whether or not it provides a useful framework for understanding human health and physiology that's lacking in our current system. Topics in this podcast include: What is the difference between mechanism and vitalism? Why the concept of vitalism has been all but lost in modern society Is there really some kind of immeasurable vital"life-force"? Will eating tiny Hooligan fish make you swim faster? Dr. Ward's recent case involving acid reflux and sleep disturbance A recent study linking cholesterol lowering statin drugs and diabetes The problem with applying the mechanistic view to cholesterol recommendations Long term risk factors of statin use How mechanism may threaten our food supply What is nutritionism? and how has it changed the way we eat? The limitations of our current health care model to deal with chronic disease Dandelions versus rocks And more... Related Resources Mechanism as a philosophy (Wikipedia) Vitalism as a philosophy (Wikipedia) - vitalism as a debunked philosophy of science Vitalism and the scientific image: an introduction by Charles Wolfe - academic level paper on vitalism as a meta-theoretical position with a changing definition and understanding, for advanced readers Strong statin-diabetes link seen in large study of TriCare patients Food Fight: Michael Polllan on food nutritionism Michael Pollan's website Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan (on Amazon) The cholesterol myths by Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD - 2000 text, with 2002 update, chapter 7 on statins shows limitations of treating cholesterol as a component part of larger whole Connect with Dr. Anthony Rumsey in Anchorage, AK Connect with Dr. Zachary Ward in Metro-Detroit, MI

Summary

The problem with the modern mechanistic approach to health care and why it fails to address the cause of health problems like high cholesterol through the use of statin drugs. How the mostly forgotten concept of vitalism may provide a better framework for ensuring your quality of life. Plus, Dr. Ward explains the difference between rocks and dandelions, and suggests that Dr. Rumsey may be acquire enhanced swimming abilities due to a recent addition to his diet.