He carries an authoritative silence that is hard to break.
During team meetings, he dismisses questions about emerging food research, favoring old-school advice.
When I gently bring up the risks of some ingredients, including okra, he switches subjects or offers a vague “there’s nothing to worry about.”
It’s frustrating because I respect his experience but can’t shake the feeling that important information is being withheld or overlooked.
Since reading the article three weeks ago, I’ve kept track of moments that confirm my anxiety.
First, a coworker mentioned a patient who complained of digestive discomfort after eating okra.
Then, in a staff briefing two weeks ago, Dr. Hammond nodded off while a nutritionist colleague tried to highlight new dietary concerns.
Last week, I overheard a conversation where some newer research on okra’s impact on medication absorption was casually dismissed as “speculative.”
Each instance deepens my suspicion that the clinic prioritizes comfort over critical inquiry.
Today, I have an appointment with the clinic director to discuss updating dietary guidelines for patients with chronic conditions.
I’m bracing myself because I know I’ll have to challenge the prevailing silence and possibly confrontation with Dr. Hammond’s views.
I’m still not clear on the full truth about okra — the benefits, the risks — but this meeting might force me to push for clarity or risk remaining complicit in uncertainty.
Somehow, the simple act of eating okra has tangled into a broader tension I’m not sure I’m ready to face yet.
“Something wrong?”
My partner’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
I pause, unsure how to express the knot of thoughts and worries tangled inside me.
“Just thinking about work,” I reply, forcing a smile.
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