There’s a topic that seems to come up frequently at LIVESTRONG.COM: Controversy. It’s not that we purposely create content that stirs up emotion. Our articles, by the nature of the topics they discuss, are open to debate. Health, fitness, and nutrition are all sensitive issues, but we don’t position ourselves as representing only one viewpoint. Instead, we are a portal for high-quality information.
That’s part of what makes this site unique. We’re a health community that accepts multiple philosophies—provided that they are accurate and supported by good sources and references. My ultimate hope is that LIVESTRONG.COM is your resource for all your health needs, whether it's a tool to track your food, recipes to meet your needs, or articles that answer your questions. As for deciding what is best for your life? We leave that up to you.
And while it's never my goal to upset anyone, I think the health industry benefits from a little controversy.
Despite what some might think, I’m not here to irresponsibly share information. I take my social responsibility seriously, but my job is simple: To provoke thought and conversation on health topics by making sure I find accurate information to inform people about their health options. In no way am I trying to impose a particular way of life. It’s your choice if you want to avoid fat in your diet, eat Paleo, practice CrossFit, or follow a Vegan lifestyle. Healthy living takes many forms. I just want to provide the best information and make sure you know why you choose certain lifestyle options, rather than feeling forced into following the latest trends.
By not taking a hard line approach and being controversial, we create controversy. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The best part of controversy is that it can motivate people to invest in an issue, do a little research, and improve their education and self-discovery. Look no further than our list of the most controversial health figures. Many of these people provoke thought and question certain practices. Some people love them, others hate them, but more than anything all of them create conversation that can lead to education.
As Bill Beattie once said:
“The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think - rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men.”
When I share information, it’s done to make sure that you are constantly considering all sides of a debate to do what’s best for you—and not just blindly accepting what’s in the mainstream or what you want to believe is true. After all, that's the problem with most health debates. People argue to prove their point and push their agenda, rather than consider that there isn’t one universal “best” health practice. I’ve said it many times: several diet strategies work, fitness doesn’t come in one form, and that while research is extremely valuable, it doesn’t explain everything that occurs in human nature. It’s rare that you’ll EVER find a health stance that doesn’t have some opposition.
At the same time, I understand that we’ve all been affected by health in different ways, whether it’s disease, malnutrition, or misinformation. So at the end of the day, what I write is never designed to be controversial, make you upset, or strike a nerve.
I don’t write to be popular. And I don’t need to be right. But I do need to do my job to create action so that health becomes a primary focus in every person’s life. And that starts with sharing information that is accurate—but not necessarily accepted by all. We might not always see eye-to-eye on my methods, but there’s no debate that the intent is worthy of universal support.
- Adam Bornstein
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