The New Zealand Medical Journal did an undercover shopping trip throughout NZ. Apparently some health food shops came under fire after an undercover shopper asked for help with high blood pressure and asthma. The headline was scary - 'Garlic offered for High Blood Pressure'. In fact it really slammed health food shops and I'm a little confused as to why it's such a big deal. Yes, I've read the full article and some of the advice given by health food stores was plain stupid, I agree .. remember though that many staff in those chain stores are on the minimum wage, so what do you expect? I can't help wondering why was all this effort put in, what's really behind it and how bad is garlic?
Surely this person was told to seek medical advice from his trainer at the gym? Is it the health food shops fault that this person is seeking a magic pill and not consulting a doctor?
I was at the supermarket the other day and the women in front of me was quite obviously severely overweight, at least over 100 kilos. I couldn't help but notice that she had in her basket, 2 large bottles of coke, an assortment of refined snacks, some herbal slimming pills and 3 bottles of wine. Now, hear me out... I bet her cholesterol was high, never mind her blood pressure. Based on the 'Garlic Sold For Blood Pressure' story, should I then be concerned that the checkout operator seriously put this womens health at risk by scanning her products and completing the sale? How much of health is personal responsibility? Would the person have been better off at the doctors? Probably... for a while, it's good to get blood pressure under control - in fact its an urgent goal. Sadly for many though it takes a stroke or a heart attack for many to make those lifestyle changes. Whether it's garlic or meds - it still doesn't fix the under lying problem. So we are stuck with, the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff approach or personal responsibility. I kind of agree with The New Zealand Medical Journal - there is some plain stupid advice out there, but really, how many people walk into a chemist or health food shop ready to overhaul their diet and get back into shape? That's why I started Real Nutrition.
Please don't stop eating garlic. It's a super food.
www.realnutrients.co.nz
Posts
