This blog and my Book,  The Building Blocks of Health  presents the science that underlies a Health-restoring, health-preserving lifestyle.  Readers interested in health should be wary of unproven claims, like those for “superfoods” and harmful supplements that are promoted in advertising, social media or on the internet. Acting on misinformation—false, inaccurate, or incomplete health information can be harmful to your health.

This blog and my book are based on medical science and my review of more than 2,500 scientific articles. Readers should be wary of exaggerated claims about a new food, drug or diet and be cautious about interpreting health News Stories. The news media is enamored with stories about a new therapeutic breakthrough or a new study that seems to show that everything that we thought we knew about some aspect of health is wrong. But no one study is likely

to provide the last word on health. Considering the difficult challenge of keeping up with health research, reporters do a fine job. But at times, they can’t put new research findings in their proper context in brief news stories.

Throughout this blog, I will usually not present data on the statistical significance of findings (i.e., the likelihood that a result is not caused by random chance); or confidence intervals (that usually show with a 95% probability a result would be in a certain numerical range). Many studies present the percentage of an increase or decrease in an event. This is useful information but the absolute risk of a good or bad event is more valuable. It is good to keep in mind that a very large percentage change in risk of an event with a very low absolute risk, i.e., a very rare event, is not important. Doubling or tripling the risk of a rare event is still a rare event. My book the Building Blocks of Health  has a chapter titled “Understanding Scientific Data,” that provides  a more detailed discussion of how to understand scientific medical information.

This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information.  I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in the book or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Wellness with a Lifestyle Checklist. References for most of the health related information in this blog can be found in the book, The Building Blocks of Health now available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Building-Blocks-Health-Lifestyle-Checklist-ebook/dp/B08RC3XRCY/. Copyright 2020 by J. Joseph Speidel.