Here's yet another case of sloppy, misleading journalism: reporting on a discovery that levels of serotonin in the brain may be influenced by a genetic pattern, the science correspondent for The Guardian (a UK paper) blares the headline, "Happiness may be all in the genes."
This is the sort of leap from science to sensationalism that leads many people to believe they are helpless to control their own state of mental or physical health. These headlines strip away power from people, making them believe that they have no control over their own state of happiness. In reality, people have near total control over their brain chemistry -- and even serotonin levels -- by making daily choices about foods, physical exercise, use of stimulants drugs like caffeine and so on. In fact, one of the most powerful ways to boost serotonin in the brain is to expose your skin to natural sunlight, and it works no matter what your genetic makeup.
Too often, lazy journalists write sensational headlines about research into the genetic influences on human healh without considering the fact that such headlines actually cause many readers to believe their own state of health is predetermined. If genes are responsible for a person's health outcome, then why should they even try to make any changes in their own health? These headlines cause many people to stop making healthy choices and return to abusing their bodies with junk food, lack of physical exercise, and processed foods loaded with hydrogenated oils or added sugars. But as is always the case when it comes to chronic disease and mental disorders, genes are merely small influencers on the actual outcome, and nearly any genetic predisposition can be overcome through changes in nutrition and physical exercise.
The only exception to all this is the all-powerful gene that turns newspaper journalists into babbling science idiots. I'm not sure that gene can be overcome at all.
About the author: Mike Adams is an award-winning journalist and holistic nutritionist with a passion for sharing empowering information to help improve personal and planetary health He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, impacting the lives of millions of readers around the world who are experiencing phenomenal health benefits from reading his articles. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2010, Adams launched NaturalNews.TV, a natural health video site featuring videos on holistic health and green living. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also the founder and CEO of a well known email mail merge software developer whose software, 'Email Marketing Director,' currently runs the NaturalNews email subscriptions. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and pursues hobbies such as martial arts, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. He's also author a large number of health books offered by Truth Publishing and is the creator of numerous reference website including NaturalPedia.com and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. His websites also include the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the innate healing ability of the human body.
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Saturday, July 10, 2004
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