The Scientific Method - Essay Example

Diet is the focus of many scientific studies. As a result, our understanding of what constitutes a healthy dies seems to be constantly evolving andchanging. Consuming some products such as alcohol has been the subject of scientific debate and reversal over the past several decades. Many initial studies of alcohol consumption focused on those that tend to overindulge. Scientific studies linked alcohol consumption to many illnesses associated with vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. But then newer research found that consuming alcohol in moderate amounts did not have detrimental effects on human health.

The message seemed to shift from “don’t drink alcohol” to “if you drink, drink in moderation”. More scientific study actually found that consuming some sorts of alcohol in moderation, such as one glass of wine per day, actually had healthy benefits for the heart. Now the message changed to “drinking certain types of alcohol in moderation can actually be good for you.” The most recent studies seem to now indicate that the consumption of alcohol is irrelevant to good heart health.

The grapes provide the real benefit, not the alcohol; so drinking a small amount of grape juice can render the same beneficial effects as a glass of wine. These ever-changing messages we get about the consumption of alcohol and how it relates to human health is a good example of what science can and can not do. Following the scientific method is a great way to systematically answer scientific questions. But Science cannot provide the whole picture just from one experiment. Multiple researchers and experiments need to be conducted to constantly add to our body of knowledge.

Eventually, some things may become accepted as proof of one concept or another, but using the scientific method is no guarantee that causality or truth can be established.