Why Health Freedom Matters

My parents immigrated to the US in 1951, after suffering unimaginably as victims of the tyranny of WWII. America then was a beacon of light and a bastion of freedom that was a dream that, fortunately for them and me, became reality. This Independence Day, nothing should stop us from celebrating: enjoying time with friends and family, sharing in delicious and nutritious meals, and being humbled by gratitude for the efforts of others who have created a world where we can experience profound freedom compared to many others in history.

Independence Day surely is a time to celebrate the freedoms that we all share. One aspect of freedom close to our hearts is health freedom, a subject covering many topics, from what we eat and how we care for our bodies, to our individual rights and the influence of government agencies who make decisions on our behalf. Sadly, some freedoms are fleeting.

On the positive side, we’d like to highlight one of the champions of health freedom whom we interviewed for our Journal of Health and Healing in 2019. In “Protecting Our Health Freedoms: An Interview with Scott C. Tips,” we learn that Tips is a tireless advocate with the international Codex Alimentarius Commission (Latin for “food code”) fighting for food health freedoms, among others.

As you can see in the Tips interview, freedom doesn’t come without commitment or unrelenting determination. The National Health Federation, for which Tips serves as President, is concerned with topics ranging from food safety and genetic engineering, to dietary supplements, vaccines, water fluoridation, and more. Some of NHF’s successes include “removing the exemption for melamine contamination in liquid infant formula” and getting “three-quarters of the aluminum removed from the food additives in China.”

For those who want to make a difference, Tips shares that the first key is to become informed, then to “put that information into practice and actually become an activist” by communicating with your senators and representatives – not just by email, but by physical mail, phone calls, and even showing up in person.

To that end, we invite you to review and share our News for Now posts in Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as we regularly provide information from trusted sources that will empower a greater understanding of the issues facing human and planet health in America. If you miss these social media posts, each week’s articles are summarized in our News for Now Recap email on Mondays.

Despite setbacks, it’s important to remember that the struggle for health freedom is never over and remains to be fought on many fronts. One small example includes the practices of integrative health practitioners, which are regulated at the state level. Nutrition counseling is limited to Registered Dieticians-only in 13 US states. Naturopathic Doctors are allowed to practice in only 22 US states. More needs to be done to bring natural healing to the public, and your participation is encouraged.

With freedom and health for all,

Steven J. Schindler,
Executive Director

PS: Expert interviews like “Protecting Our Health Freedoms: An Interview with Scott C. Tips” are an example of our work to provide you with information to empower your health. We are thankful to our members and donors who, without their contributions, this work would not be possible! If you’re able to help, we would be grateful for your support. Click DONATE today, and thank you.