Vent: I get so angry at doctors, the food industry, pharmaceutical co's....

[MrsJohnnyG]

I get so frustrated that the answer to our health problems is not in more pills or more doctors, but is right in front of us... and so few people seem to know it. Can I share three small vents?

Vent #1

Last year I went to see an infertility specialist. Immediately he put me on Clomid and said "take this for 3 months and call me if you're not pregnant by the 4th month."

Helloooo, why didn't he think to point out, "hmm, you've gained 30 pounds, that could have something to do with the fact that you're not able to conceive. Eat a healthy variety of foods and go cold-turkey on refined carbs, then call me if you're not pregnant by the 4th month."

(By the way... three months of Clomid didn't work. Instead of going back to that quack, I DID start eating healthfully and exercising, and conceived the second month after.)

Vent #2

I don't watch TV that often, but the other day I had it on as background noise while I finished a project.

One after the other, various ads came on touting some wonderful new pill that will solve all your problems. "Have cholesterol? Just take this brightly colored pill and all your problems will be solved. Side effects include numbness, shortness of breath, cystic acne, shriveling of the fingers and toes, suicidal thoughts, projectile diarrhea, brain tumors, blindness, impotence, smelly armpits, shrunken boobs, and/or death.

Wouldn't it be refreshing to see an ad that said "Have cholesterol (or diabetes or obesity or insert health issue here)? Just eat raw food for three months. Side effects may include exhilaration, excess energy, clear skin, a more youthful appearance, and unexpected friskiness with your spouse."

Vent #3:

I just now saw a very sad documentary about a woman who had a beautiful 3-year-old daughter who developed cancer and unfortunately passed away. I was so horribly sorry for this mother... then she cheerfully said, as if it was a fond memory, "After every cancer treatment, we'd always go to McDonalds and I would get her chicken McNuggets and French fries." :eek:

Are you KIDDING me???????

I'm not blaming the mom (who was obese, by the way)... it's just sickening that Americans are trained to look to doctors and drugs for cures to their ills, while continuing to consume the very things that made them sick in the first place. If I had a child with cancer, you'd better believe I'd be feeding her whole organic vegetables and fruits... she would be drinking wheatgrass juice in her sippy cup... I would NOT be stuffing her with freaking French fries.

Sorry to vent, it's just unbelievable to me how few people understand the power of raw food and other healthful lifestyle changes.

[avanderland]

I totally agree! I also have heard people many times who say "Well when I get to the right weight" or "When I heal myself" and they plan on going back to typical SAD. I'm like okay, you healed on one, hurt on the other...

It's EVERYWHERE. Even the "healthy" stuff is so NOT healthy, but it's EVERYWHERE. Misinformation, I mean. It breaks my heart AND makes me angry!!

[RawHeaven]

Vent away, sometimes you have to.

I feel what you're saying and it's why this forum and others like it are so powerful. Even in small numbers we are making a difference.

If I really sit down and think about how disease and illness are marketed in the US anyway, it can depress the hell out of me.

Instead, I'm beginning to focus on how I can shed some light and I'm very passionate about raising awareness when someone asks me what it is that I do and eat and how I'm living my life. I do have certain strong opinions about the current health industry, pharmaceutical industry, the general consensus of apathy with regard to health, but I'm trying to really focus on seeing the whole picture.

I feel that my accident slammed me head on into the healthcare industry full force and woke me the heck up. I've been pretty healthy and blessed in this regard for most of my health, outside of bouts of being chunky. I never had to deal with medical doctors or hospitalization, etc. I had not a clue what goes on behind the closed doors of a hospital. But whoa, it is all about pushing drugs okay? Thank God I knew enough not to take all of them, but this is the way it's set up and it's frightening.

What I've discovered it's not all doctors/surgeons. They have about as much control over what is taking place in the health care industry as the patients. It's all about big business, money making profit for the most part. It's not about prevention and health, although this is changing.
There are truly angels and healers in the system, if you're fortunate you will come across them too. Most of the surgeons who helped me regain my health had my best interests at heart and worked with me, even with my "crazy alternative medicine requests".

It's helps to vent, but it is up to each and every one of us to take the reins of our health into our own hands. When you get right down to it, it's not the healthcare industry that's making people sick necessarily, it's their diet. No one's knocking down people's doors forcing them to eat twinkies and diet cokes so it goes both ways.

It's both complex and simple, however you look at it.

I'm ranting a little myself right now and there's not too much direction to what I'm writing so I'll begin to wrap it up.

I think we still have a long way to go, but I'm hopeful in that I see those in my community seeking and choosing greater health, even if they throw 'you're nuts energy at me at times'. lol. I know deep down they know I'm onto something and my blossoming and sustained health is proof of it.

[RawSinger]

Rawk on, Julia!! So very well said!! I could not have said it any better. It never occurs to people that what's causing their ills is what they're putting into their bodies everyday!! Unbelievable!!

I love those pill commericals. They're humorous sometimes (of course I feel bad for the people that actually take these things). You can't even believe what you're hearing when you see them. Every time I see one of those commercials now, whether it's about lowering cholesterol, treating fibromyalgia, arthritis, diabetes, etc, I want to yell out, "Raw food!! Raw food!!"

I personally said no to my doctor recently (this was shortly before I found raw food). I told him that I could not control my binge eating and my insatiable appetite. He said, "Well why don't we try you on a medicine called Topamax? It's been shown to help people with those urges. One thing though, it may cause loss in mental clarity." Uhhh, nooooo thanks!!!!!!!!! I was pretty proud of myself at the time. I mean, I don't think these people would put their children on these medications so why put innocent patients on them???!!:mad: Well, it is their job. I'm sure they'd have people on a pill for everything if they could. A pill to treat the side effect of another pill that a person is on, and a pill to treat the side effect of that pill!!!!! A pill for every single possible complaint a person might have. I've heard that doctors receive free golf trips and things like that from the drug companies when they prescribe their medications! Whatever happened to "To do no harm." Three cheers for saying no to your doctor :D :D I'm not saying that all doctors are bad. I'm just venting too.

[MrsJohnnyG]

You're so right, RawHeaven... and btw, even the medical staff who has pushed drugs on me when I had surgery a few months ago were absolutely wonderful... I have nothing against them personally. They only know what they were trained. I only have a problem with the ones too bull-headed to question what their medical school taught them or to acknowledge that our food is at least as powerful as medicine when it comes to staying healthy.

When you get right down to it, it's not the healthcare industry that's making people sick necessarily, it's their diet. No one's knocking down people's doors forcing them to eat twinkies and diet cokes so it goes both ways.
Absolutely right. But, I liken it to the cigarette industry. They knew how addictive nicotine is long before they were forced to include warning labels.

It makes me wonder whether the processed food industry knew how addictive HFCS or hydrogenated oils are. Yes, I feel sorry for the ones who are addicted now and suffering because of it, but I'm still angry that consumers blindly trusted that food they buy is not going to harm them... the government steps in and teaches the food pyramid but where is the education about how poisonous most processed substances are?

BTW, I forgot to add mini-rant about the supplements industry! :lol: I'm almost as frustrated when I see aisle after aisle of pills that are "natural" supplements. When you isolate beta carotene from a carrot and put it into a pill, how do you now what other nutrients in that carrot (which will not be discovered for another 5 or 10 years) are what actually make that beta carotene do its job? I know that naturally-extracted supplements have their place (in fact I take one or two myself), but I have to laugh when I see a bottle of cinnamon capsules or papaya extract. Duh, eat a papaya!!

Vent over (I think)!

[MrsJohnnyG]

RawSinger, ain't it the truth??! :D

I'm sure they'd have people on a pill for everything if they could. A pill to treat the side effect of another pill that a person is on, and a pill to treat the side effect of that pill!!!!!
For real!! I was so upset when we found out my husband had high cholesterol. He went on cholesterol medication at his doctor's instruction -- he is 36 YEARS OLD!!! He should not be on cholesterol medication!!

Well, a few months later, my husband's pinky finger went numb... a few days later it was still numb, as was the side of his hand.

I Googled and sure enough, that is a common side effect of many cholesterol medications. :eek:

I said "That's it... you're going off that awful drug and I'm treating you with raw food." (oh... and cooked oatmeal... he's not quite ready to make the 100% leap with me yet! :D but at least I know the oatmeal won't make his outer extremities go numb!!!!)

[RawSinger]

I said "That's it... you're going off that awful drug and I'm treating you with raw food." (oh... and cooked oatmeal... he's not quite ready to make the 100% leap with me yet! :D but at least I know the oatmeal won't make his outer extremities go numb!!!!)

Good for you, girl! Assisting the people you love in making better choices about what they eat is one of the best ways to show that you love them.

[rawfoodistdavid]

I've had psoriasis most of my life.

Doctors give you steroid creams which merely thin the skin, don't help the psorasis at all and can enter the bloodstream causing problems.

Severe cases that are referred to expert dermatologists are put on drugs that can - and do - badly harm the liver.

Dovonex sounds a plausible treatment in that it's a Vitamin D analogue but tends to be utterly useless for most people.

Ditching dairy, especially cow's milk, ditching wheat, and using coconut oils all helps but Doctors seldom tell you this. The only cure for many is large doses of UV light via sunshine - which orthodoxy says gives you skin cancer.

So big pharma get megabucks for dishing out pointless, harmful substances and Doctors are paid loads for giving them to you.

[shooting star]

It's madness isn't it.

I have eczema and I went to see one of the top dermatologist in our country , I remember telling him I was massively constipated and had been all the while I'd had eczema and he told me that constipation and eczema are definitely not linked.

Oh yeah?


Incentives work differently in the UK. Pharma companies are bound by certain rules and the biggest gift we can give is a perceived value of £6.

Promise you won't shoot me now, but I actually work for a small pharma company. <ducks and runs for cover> but i am looking for another job and have been since I discovered raw, (I'm just waiting on a second interview now), especially since I found out we are hoping to start selling an equivalent of Botox. I just think injecting poison into your face is wrong.

[DavidZaneMason]

I hear you. I'm very happy though. The information is out there....for those that want it. With Alissa on this board....and other great individuals promoting a healthy diet. The idea of eating fresh fruits and vegetables for health is NOT new....only the idea of eating these exclusively. So: this is not even a NEW phenomenon (although perhaps a very OLD one! Ha! ha!). In any event, listen to the great experiences of those that have been doing this a long time....and you'll get great information).

Note: Is it FAIR and ETHICAL that those in positions of power are pushing drugs and lifestyles that are unhealthy for PROFIT? Perhaps not. Laws are always changing for the better....and this is good. But ancient Chinese proverb say: What man put in head and in mouth - no one can take away. Heh...heh.

-David Z. Mason

[Coconutcutie]

As someone who was severely damaged by a pharmaceutical drug last September, I completely feel your frustration and I have to deal with immense anger and sadness regarding my own experience with this on a daily basis.

I was always very anti-pharma, natural is better, etc. and took very good care of myself but last September I came down with a UTI that progressed to a kidney infection before I could nip it in the bud. I refused to go to the doctor and purchased Silver Hydrosol and Cranberry juice to treat it, along with the vitamin C and neem capsules that I used every day anyway. Everyone and their mother proceeded to tell me that I was putting my life in danger by NOT seeing a doctor and eventually I gave up with the natural remedies and went to Urgent Care. I felt pretty sick...fever, kidney pain, weakness, sweating ,etc.

The doctor confirmed the presence of a UTI with possible kidney involvement and prescribed Ciprofloxacin. I had second thoughts about using an antibiotic because I'm aware of the dangers of leaky gut syndrome, etc. but I had a good probiotic and thought 'might as well take it'. It didn't help that my mother said "Don't be an idiot...this time TAKE what the doctor prescribes. You ar every sick and you NEED it". Plus I figured, how bad can an antibiotic really be anyway?

Well, after stopping after three pills my world began to turn upside down. Nerve pains everywhere, agitation like a meth addict, insomnia, depersonalization,massive headache, mini-seizures, uncontrollable sweating, dizziness, blurry vision and floaters, tendon pain,muscle pain, joint pain, severe flushing, heart papitations, numbness all over my face, suicidal thoughts and two attempts and more more ensued even after stopping the third pill. I went back to the doctor infuriated and upset that I could have been given this crap without warning regarding the horrible side effects, and he pretty much dismissed me and told me to go to the ER. Mind you all of these side effects are listed in the PDR but my patient flyer/insert did not list them and certainly did not warn of permanent damage to the central nervous system, although the PDR does!

7 1/2 months later I am still struggling with residual side effects from this drug and have been lucky enough to come across some wonderful websites where I have been able to share my experiences and get support from other victims of this family of drugs. I beat myself up every day that the one time I let my guard down and took a prescribed drug it was the one that changed my life for the worse, and possibly permanently...

This experience has left me totally distrustful of all medication and even wary of many of the supplements that I used to take. In addition to eating raw and organic as a way to prevent and treat many health problems, I think that pharmaceutical companies and doctors need to find safer alternatives for those that *need* to take medications and/or fully and openly disclose the real risk of side effects to patients. After all, my reaction should have fit into the "1&#37; severe reaction category" but I have come across many people that have taken these drugs and suffered the same side effects that I have but have never correlated their use of the antibiotic to their current symptoms. I believe the real adverse reaction rate is greater than 50%.

Well, there's my rant for the day I guess...and now you all know why I am here and REALLY hoping that raw is my miracle...

[deberaw]

I have a friend who is battling cancer....her doc told her NO SUGAR.....she is overwhelmed with that as it is everywhere. Her doc told her that sugar feeds cancer...now, with cancer everywhere....shouldn't there be warning labels on EVERYTHING with processed sugar in it?! I would love to see that...especially those big bags of it and up and down the aisles in the grocery stores.....on cereal boxes marketed towards kids....and all the processed junk foods also marketed to kids...........

[RawPaw]

I have a friend who is battling cancer....her doc told her NO SUGAR.....she is overwhelmed with that as it is everywhere. Her doc told her that sugar feeds cancer...now, with cancer everywhere....shouldn't there be warning labels on EVERYTHING with processed sugar in it?! I would love to see that...especially those big bags of it and up and down the aisles in the grocery stores.....on cereal boxes marketed towards kids....and all the processed junk foods also marketed to kids...........

SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Processed Sugar Causes Cancer

[deberaw]

Looks like a great label to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Apasaraw]

It helps to vent...I do my share too much I'm sure....but we must realize it will take time and reeducation of not just ourselves and our friends/family...but the entire culture. We have to be an example of what is possible and be proud of it. But if you want to make a difference in the long run...be respectful and share what you know with love. My Dr is wonderful at listening and sees food as medicine now. If I had rampaged at her would she have listened? Not. People are waking up and we have to be there to answer questions...not chastise their way of life...the only way they've known. They'll tune you out becasue you've hurt their feelings. Tempt questions with your ever improving health and raw cookies...and give them what they need in the way of a smile, info and resources...and they listen. Yes...even the pharmacist and the Dr and the insurance man. Afterall, they are merely humans with jobs like us and they want better lives too.

The "companies" you talk of are just people. The top of the chain is the problem...but even they can change. Look at the guy who runs Burger King.

[MrsJohnnyG]

It helps to vent...I do my share too much I'm sure....but we must realize it will take time and reeducation of not just ourselves and our friends/family...but the entire culture. We have to be an example of what is possible and be proud of it. But if you want to make a difference in the long run...be respectful and share what you know with love. My Dr is wonderful at listening and sees food as medicine now. If I had rampaged at her would she have listened? Not. People are waking up and we have to be there to answer questions...not chastise their way of life...the only way they've known. They'll tune you out becasue you've hurt their feelings. Tempt questions with your ever improving health and raw cookies...and give them what they need in the way of a smile, info and resources...and they listen. Yes...even the pharmacist and the Dr and the insurance man. Afterall, they are merely humans with jobs like us and they want better lives too.
Absolutely... no worries, I know when to vent and when to educate gently and respectfully... this was just an "I've got to vent to people who understand" moment! ;) My husband is a former vegan who is now convinced he has to consume animal products to stay healthy. (He is 6'4" and used to weigh 130 pounds! :eek: )

I haven't pushed any of the raw "way" on him... just try to set the example... and I will make little comments along the way about how much better I feel etc. That approach is working... he tried his first raw dinner tonight (very simple; just loads of veggies) and LOVED it!

Thanks, all, for the responses... it definitely is good to know I'm not alone!

[Lady Green Jeans]

Julia,

Sometimes it takes a health crisis or challenge to wake a person up. Sadly, sometimes they never seem to wake up to the fact that good health could possibly be in their own hands--not in a pill bottle or over the counter meds.

When you do not have health, what really does a person have? To work at attaining good health is a most worthy goal--IMHO.

Having had cancer and the traditional treatment I have very little faith remaining in traditional medicine. Some circles believe in the poliitics of cancer--think about it--what if you could cure yourself? No Oncologist to administer chemo, no surgeon to remove the tumor (and/or whatever tissue/body part(s) he/she deems necessary to go along with it), no radiatiologist to advise course of treatment and technician to carry it out. Don't forget the pharmaceutical companies and the hospitals--a whole lot of lost revenue to all of them if you choose to adopt a healthy raw food lifestyle and dare to give your body possibly exactly what it needs to help itself heal.
Life is not with guarantees, but it certainly is with choices.

Best of health.

[RawHeaven]

You're so right, RawHeaven... and btw, even the medical staff who has pushed drugs on me when I had surgery a few months ago were absolutely wonderful... I have nothing against them personally. They only know what they were trained. I only have a problem with the ones too bull-headed to question what their medical school taught them or to acknowledge that our food is at least as powerful as medicine when it comes to staying healthy.

Absolutely right. But, I liken it to the cigarette industry. They knew how addictive nicotine is long before they were forced to include warning labels.

It makes me wonder whether the processed food industry knew how addictive HFCS or hydrogenated oils are. Yes, I feel sorry for the ones who are addicted now and suffering because of it, but I'm still angry that consumers blindly trusted that food they buy is not going to harm them... the government steps in and teaches the food pyramid but where is the education about how poisonous most processed substances are?

BTW, I forgot to add mini-rant about the supplements industry! :lol: I'm almost as frustrated when I see aisle after aisle of pills that are "natural" supplements. When you isolate beta carotene from a carrot and put it into a pill, how do you now what other nutrients in that carrot (which will not be discovered for another 5 or 10 years) are what actually make that beta carotene do its job? I know that naturally-extracted supplements have their place (in fact I take one or two myself), but I have to laugh when I see a bottle of cinnamon capsules or papaya extract. Duh, eat a papaya!!

Vent over (I think)!

Mrs Johnny, I hear what you're saying. Almost everyone I came in contact with during my recovery...nurses, administrators, surgeons, physician's assistants, physical therapists, operating room staff were all outstanding individuals with huge hearts...really wanted to help people and they definately helped me. Some were definately called to be healers and they are. I made friends with many. BUT it is true that are large numbers of health professionals who are operating blindly in the system. I will have to say I've had some candid under the table conversations with some bright medical people who are very aware of what is going on and are as pissed off as the rest of us. There is a lot of bureacratic BS they have to sift through to treat their patients sometimes, when they simply want to help their patients heal. I was surprised to discover this to be honest with you and it changed my entire attitude and stopped me from generalizing and lumping all medical doctors together. I'm not saying you're doing this! Just wanted to be clear, lol.

And don't get me started on FOOD. The food that I was served in the hospital would not facilitate healing in a genie in a bottle. It was for the most part full of processed everything, white sugar, high fructose corn syrup in almost everything...just not a good picture. I only ate oatmeal, apples and unsalted crackers for 2 weeks until friends were able to bring me food. I have witnessed the most ironic things in the hospital, watching heart surgeons eat fat laden, artery clogging garbage and medical staff in scrubs outside the hospital entrance smoking! To me this is pure insanity. And so I then go into compassion mode. Some pieces of the puzzle are missing for them you know? It's not funny in the least, but you have to find some amusement or you will lose it.

I don't know whether or not the cigarette manufacturers were aware of how addicting nicotine was then, but they do now. Same with the food industry and certain food additives. As Asparaw mentioned this runs deep and there is a lot of cultural change that needs to take place. It's not going to happen overnight. It's probably very healthy to vent and get this out of the system, but at the same time I don't believe in being victims. I again go back to we all have a choice in the matter. You can turn off your TV, throw it out the window, continue to feed your family healthy food, continue to advocate for yourself when you need to if you have to venture to the doctor...so on and so forth. I've had to do it myself and so I know it's possible and it's probably why I'm such an advocate for being aware. There is enough information out there today to make healthy choices. There are too many (scientifically proven) direct correlations to illness and diet and I'm not even going to get into our innate body intelligence speaking to us loud and clear. When we're not eating properly and taking care of our bodies, we KNOW it on some level, even if it's a faint whisper of distress.

Anyway, I'm again going off into another of my own rants, ha, hard not too. It's a heartfelt subject for me.

[klomasius]

Oh lordy,

I should probably get out of this thread as I'd be in here venting till dawn...

My stepfather was a doctor and our family owned a medical practice, I went on to get a biological science degree and worked for the medical research industry then moved to the pharmaceutical industry.

I've always had an intense interest in nutrition, and now, having moved to a natural lifestyle and raw foods, I've seen it from all sides and I can tell you, it's part complete ignorance, part blinkered tradition and part cynical money making, but ALL stupidity!

We don't have the millions of dollars and the powerful lobbyists the pharma and junk food industries have, we don't have the ears of those that fund research or make health policies.

What we do have is the truth. And in time, generations will look back with complete wonder at how royally we screwed up our health and wellbeing, just like we marvel today at doctors recommending smoking to lose weight back in 40s and 50s and animal lard as a health product.

Just keep on being shining examples and hope that the more of us there are, the more power and influence we have to change people's health for the better.

[klomasius]

p.s. I agree with others that it's not ALL health practitioners. And I now strongly advocate for people to work WITH their doctors/other health practitioners in moving to a raw foods diet. Intelligent health practitioners with open minds will SEE the real results from their patients on raw foods!

Enlightened health practitioners are the key to a healthy society as they are often the 'voices of wisdom' and looked up to by the general community.

Enlighten health practitioners and you enlighten FAR more people than you'll ever meet in your lives as the meme keeps on giving!

[Ambug]

I believe the majority of the food/doctors/pharmaceuticals is a ploy to keep the doctors and big pharma in business. If people didn't eat the standard american diet, then doctors would go out of business and pharmaceutical companies wouldn't have their guinea pigs to test dangerous drugs on.

I've had nothing but bad experiences when I used to go to doctors. Here in Las Vegas, i've seen about 13 different one's and finally gave up after the last two doctors.
I'd been battling my weight for quite awhile so one doctor switched me to a blood pressure drug that made me gain 50 lbs in less than a year, and it also gave me a terrible itchy scaly red rash on my legs.
So i picked doctor #13, although I didn't really pick her, the HMO from my husbands employment picked her. She knew nothing about nutrition, kept insisting I needed meat and dairy to be healthy and to more or less just be quiet and take the meds.
Since she wouldn't help me get off of them, i finally decided to wean myself off, and I found an herbal blood pressure support formula with no side effects, so I take that daily along with transitioning to raw.

Anytime I think of traditional doctors, their prescription pads embedded in their hands and big pharma, i get a little steamed. It took me long enough to know that I can be my own doctor, and I can heal myself by eating right which is raw. If I ever see a doctor again, it will be if I break a limb, and I sure hope I don't do that. :eek:

[EZ rider]

I spend my time at the farmers market or the produce department and not in the doctor's waiting room. I like the side effects of healthy choices a lot better.

[klomasius]

I spend my time at the farmers market or the produce department and not in the doctor's waiting room. I like the side effects of healthy choices a lot better.

hear hear!

[jacsam]

I enjoyed your vent #2, I'd love to see a comercial promoting raw food or at least healthy food.