The Importance of Critical Thinking in Navigating Modern Health and Wellness

by Amanda Lourens

I grew up in an era when critical thinking skills weren’t considered essential to navigating the world. Of course, the concept has always existed, but my generation—along with those slightly younger and certainly those older—was not raised with an awareness of it. Our education system prioritized memorization and rote learning, often discouraging independent thought or deep analysis.

Today, the world has changed. We live in an age of information overload, social media misinformation, and increasingly complex issues.

I only began to recognize the importance of critical thinking when I started to unravel the rigid alternative health beliefs I once held.

That unraveling began in August 2019, when I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. The very idea that someone like me could get cancer was unfathomable—to both my peers and me. I ate only organic, non-GMO, low-carb foods. I avoided plastics and anything thought to be “chemical.” I took handfuls of supplements every morning. In hindsight, I was likely orthorexic, consumed by anxiety over the idea that everything around me was toxic.

When I found a lump in my left breast, I chose thermal imaging over traditional screening—believing that radiation was harmful. I was assured the lump was not cancerous.

But as time passed, the pain increased, and eventually, I sought further evaluation through ultrasound-guided aspiration. That moment marked the beginning of my cancer journey.

I escaped the clutches of the wellness world through the surprising and deeply moving kindness and compassion of my medical team. These were not the people holding back a cure for cancer—they were the ones who had my back, who wanted me to get well and survive my diagnosis.

I know that not everyone has the same experience with their medical team, and of course, there are unscrupulous doctors out there. But many wellness practitioners depend on pseudoscience, making them vastly more untrustworthy—and often far more dangerous.

Because of modern medicine, its advancements, and the doctors I had, I am alive today.

As a cancer advocate, I now participate in various cancer support groups, hoping to empower patients with evidence-based information. It’s tricky, to say the least. Many want to make lifestyle changes, but unlike me—who moved away from obsessing over wellness—many become fearful of food and everyday products. In a desperate attempt to avoid side effects and prevent recurrence, they become vulnerable to the enticing promises of alternative medicine. They seek relief from nausea, neuropathy, fatigue, and muscle pain through Reiki, cold plunges, fad diets and an array of lotions and potions—all while exercise, a balanced diet, hydration and sleep and stress reduction get pushed to the back burner as things to focus on at a later time.

I see these people moving toward the same place I was before my diagnosis. I see them becoming more fearful and anxious. I want to tell them that the stress they are developing—fed by the wellness industry's fearmongering—will not help them at all. But how do you tell someone who already feels betrayed by their body and the world around them that these remedies are mostly snake oil? It is especially difficult when the placebo effect, the routine these remedies offer, and the feeling of control they give can make a difference to a person’s well-being.

This is why, for me, critical thinking is essential. With these skills, patients can evaluate all their healthcare options and make decisions that genuinely benefit them.

I share the full story—along with the gradual unraveling of my wellness beliefs—in my memoir, The Sum of the Parts. I invite you to read it for deeper context.