There are some good points that Steve makes in that article, and some I disagree with. First, I wholeheartedly agree that studies have their limits. This is why it is important to read every word of the study (not just the author's conclusions) to understand what really happened in the study. This will allow you to determine if it was a good study or a bad study, and to what extent the study's results mean what they are supposed to mean. So, it is important to take the study and truly understand it. This takes time and energy as well as a good working knowledge of how good studies should be performed. Never trust popular media accounts of what occurred in a study -- they basically never get it right.
But it sounds as if Steve is actually saying health studies are worthless. I think this takes it too far. Studies are incredibly helpful at understanding certain variables that are very important for health. While you may be able to decide you feel better eating certain foods, it is still very helpful to know which foods have which properties. It may not be self-evident through personal experimentation that cruciferous vegetables are filled with anti-carcinogenic components. It may not be obvious that what people lack in northern hemispheres is ideal blood levels of Vitamin D, or that vegans tend to have lower levels of DHA. It may not be clear that steaming is a better way of cooking than baking or barbequeing because of compound formations like acrylamides. The list goes on and on.
The key isn't to ignore studies because they are flawed, but to take the pearls of wisdom found in them and disregard the waste. Many studies have almost nothing to offer, while others are marvelous. Most are middle of the road and have something to offer, and much to disregard. When you read enough studies, it becomes easier (along with personal experience) to truly form a formidable base of nutritional knowledge. I think not reading the studies is taking the easy way out -- not the other way around as Steve suggested. The truly tough road is to use personal experience as well as learning from others (including studies).
Best,
Joey
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