In a world where quick fixes are the go-to solutions, questioning the status quo becomes a rarity, especially when it pertains to our vices. The irony, however, is that we only seem to question the things we're marginally attached to, the ones we're willing to let go of, but never the real culprits like alcohol, sugar, and processed foods that have a stronghold in our lives.
Scrolling through social media, one can spot the endless debates about the effectiveness and safety of supplements, the pros and cons of various diets, and the emerging practices of intermittent fasting. It's seen as 'critical thinking' when individuals question these relatively new practices that are, in fact, either trying to remedy or navigate through our modern-day health crises.
Yet, strange as it is, we rarely see the same scepticism directed towards our indulgences – those established parts of our lives that carry the 'socially acceptable' tag. The sugary drinks, the weekly binge drinking sessions, and the convenient, sugar-laden meals that have become part of our daily existence elude scrutiny.
Why is it that we nod along when told that a certain supplement might have unexplored side effects, but we rarely flinch when discussing the scientifically-proven negative impacts of excessive alcohol consumption or a high-sugar diet? The data on these subjects isn't hidden; there's an abundance of evidence linking alcohol and sugar to a myriad of health issues, from liver disease to diabetes, and yet, they remain comfortably nested in our habits.
When the topic shifts to weight and the health conditions associated with it, the dialogue becomes even more convoluted. While the safety of fasting intermittently is dissected and debated, the safety of being overweight or relying on medications to manage metabolic illnesses that often stem from or worsen due to lifestyle choices is seldom put under the microscope.
It's not an advocacy for self-denial of all things pleasurable, but rather a call for equal scepticism towards both sides of the coin. The repercussions of living with obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and various other metabolic diseases are serious. Yet, we are content to take medications that band-aid these conditions without a second thought, while questioning lifestyle adjustments that could potentially alleviate or even reverse these health issues.
This isn't to say that medications aren't necessary—they can be life-saving. But in the realm of reversible metabolic illnesses, where lifestyle plays a pivotal role, the reluctance to scrutinise our everyday choices while treating alternative approaches with suspicion is an intriguing psychological phenomenon.
Perhaps it's time to shift our scepticism in a balanced way, to ask difficult questions not just about the new and non-traditional methods we could adopt but also about the long-entrenched habits that contribute to our deteriorating health. It might be in challenging these accepted norms and questioning our more deep-seated routines that we may find the path to sustained well-being.
Is it safe?
