Societal conditioning…Mostly stems from our families, school, medical industry, government agencies, our community but now also is driven by the media we consume.

I grew up learning many incorrect beliefs about health and wellness. Here are just a few that come to mind:

  1. It doesn’t matter what you put into your body, disease and illness just happens based on luck, fate and/or genetics.

  2. Unless there is a pharmaceutical or surgical cure, diseases cannot be healed or reversed, only treated with “medication.” 

  3. Eating fat, makes stored fat accumulate on the body and leads to obesity.

  4. If it’s on the grocery store shelf, it’s perfectly fine to consume whenever one desires.

  5. People don’t know how their bodies work, only doctors do.

  6. Pharmaceuticals keep people alive.

  7. Natural remedies that have been used throughout human history are old wives tales and have no scientific basis or use in modern life.

  8. Eating cholesterol and saturated fat from animals causes heart disease.

  9. Vegetable oil, especially canola oil is superior to other oils and fats and should be used liberally.

  10. Sleep is a luxury; you’ll have plenty of time to sleep when you’re dead.

  11. Stress management? I don’t have time to waste on that.

  12. Celery causes cancer.

  13. Cavities are a result of being born with soft teeth.

  14. Soy products are a healthy alternative to meat and dairy. Asians have been consuming soy for thousands of years.

  15. Sighing is a sign of mental illness.

  16. All doctors are quacks and there is no place for allopathic medicine.

  17. Any fever is bad and must be reduced with over the counter drugs immediately.

  18. Working out at the gym is the best exercise for everyone.

  19. Sitting down all day is perfectly fine.

  20. Pharmaceuticals are all safe and effective if they have been approved by the FDA.

  21. Cardio, cardio, cardio is king!

Phew, that’s quite a list! I’m going to stop here because I quite possibly could fill a few pages.

Throughout the past 16 years I have learned through formal education, self-education and trial and error that all of these beliefs I held through conditioning are WRONG.

Worst of all, most of these beliefs were deteriorating my health, not maintaining it and certainly not improving it.

What are some health and wellness beliefs that you hold or held through societal conditioning?

Let me know in the comments!