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Medical errors are the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for more than 250,000+ deaths each year. This statement is based on a research article published in The BMJ in May 2016, authored by Martin A. Makary, MD, MPH, and Michael Daniel, MD. https://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2139

In 2018, more than 4 billion prescription drugs were filled in the United States, which translates to an average of 12.3 prescriptions per person. Prescription drugs are a common component of medical treatment for a variety of conditions and illnesses, and the use of prescription drugs has increased significantly in recent years. The source for this statistic is the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, which is a leading provider of data and analytics for the healthcare industry. The IQVIA Institute tracks trends in prescription drug use and provides insights into the broader healthcare landscape. https://www.iqvia.com/insights/the-iqvia-institute/reports/medicine-use-and-spending-in-the-us-review-of-2018-outlook-to-2023

Adverse reactions to prescribed drugs are a leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 100,000+ deaths each year. This statement is based on a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in April 1998, titled “Incidence of Adverse Drug Reactions in Hospitalized Patients: A Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies.” https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/187436

Close to 80% of all chronic diseases are caused by diet and lifestyle. This statement is based on a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) titled “Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment,” which was published in 2005. https://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/en/

Medical students receive only 19.6 hours of nutrition education during their entire medical education; of that, only 2.8 hours were required coursework.  Adams KM, Lindell KC, Kohlmeier M, Zeisel SH. Status of nutrition education in medical schools. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;83(4):941S-944S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/83.4.941S https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/83/4/941S/4649594  This article is a report on the status of nutrition education in medical schools in the United States. The authors conducted a survey of medical schools and found that, on average, medical students receive only 19.6 hours of nutrition education during their entire medical education. Of that, only 2.8 hours were required coursework, and the remaining hours were electives. The authors note that this is less than the minimum recommended by the National Academy of Sciences, which is 25 hours of nutrition education. Nutrition education in medical schools is generally inadequate.

Peer-reviewed medical journals have shown the effectiveness of natural, holistic, naturopathic, and alternative health approaches. While the effectiveness of these approaches can vary depending on the specific therapy or intervention being used, as well as the condition being treated, here are a few examples of studies that have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals: