25
Jul 11
HARVARD’S 26 HEALTH REVELATIONS
1) Relax. The rumor that olive oil turns into “bad” trans fat when used in cooking just isn’t true.
- Never even heard that rumor before but hey, if you have then there you go, myth debunked.
2) A vitamin that works! Niacin – also known as Vitamin B3 – lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and increases “good” HDL cholesterol.
- Hey, you know what else works at reducing cholesterol, working out and eating healthy. Also, the whole high cholesterol theory is a farce, more to come on that in a later blog post video by my good friend Dr. Osborne who will reveal the truth about cholesterol.
3) Doctors find it’s best to take certain blood pressure pills first thing in the morning after getting up because people are most active during the day and blood pressure tends to climb as the day goes on.
- Take a guess at what else reduces blood pressure… Exercise and eating properly. They should be studying how to motivate people to take care of their health more so that adverse medications are not needed.
4) You’ve heard that a drink a day may be good for your heart. But did you know that studies in people over 65 show moderate alcohol consumption may also reduce the risk of dementia? (But keep in mind that heavy drinking increases health risks for both heart and mind).
- Did you know that exercise and eating the right foods reduces the risk of dementia and every other disease or issue related to aging better than alcohol and medication with positive side affects instead of negative? It boggles my mind why they even promote the consumption of alcohol.
5) In clinical trials St. John’s Wort, the so-called “happiness herb”, was not shown to be effective for treating more severe depression.
- oh, so the all natural alternative to depression doesn’t work? hmm, did you know that the placebo affect can be more powerful than some real medications? Why would they even deter people from trying the placebo? Also, exercise can be a more powerful anti-depressant than medication.
6) Hiccups are usually minor and short-lived, if a little embarrassing and inconvenient. But, hiccups are no laughing matter and can be associated with an underlying medical condition.
- Not sure what to think about this, I would have liked it if they listed the medical conditions though. Now every time I have hiccups I am going to think I need to see a doctor.
7) Several studies suggest that coffee has anti-cancer properties. A Japanese study concluded that coffee drinkers were 50% less likely to get liver cancer than non-drinkers. It’s also linked to reduced colon cancer risk.
- ok, how much coffee? What dosage? We know that many Americans over consume coffee to their detriment, affecting sleep, losing necessary minerals, causing dehydration and other dysfunctions.
Did you know that caffeine can linger in the body for up to 12 hours? Avoiding caffeinated coffee, tea and soft drinks after lunch may help you sleep better.
- This is true. Caffeine is an interdependent drug, it works well for some and not for others as well. Some people can drink a cup and go straight to bed but the stimulant still keeps the brain active preventing deep sleep, which is important for recovery.
9)To date, researchers have found just one sure way to increase biological life span – eat fewer calories.
- Actually, there are 2 ways that science agree on: the above stated and increasing lean muscle mass. Strength training would do the trick.
10) Trans fats – the kind found in cookies, many margarine’s and fast food – really are the chief villain of the fat world. Trans fat raise “bad” cholesterol, lower “good” cholesterol, damage the inner linings of blood vessels and are linked to diabetes.
11) Recent studies report that for many heart attack sufferers, sudden and excessive sweating is the stand-out symptom and the one most likely to cause them to seek help.
12) Still have sunscreen left over from last summer? It’s probably good to use. The FDA requires all sunscreen products to last for three years.
- Certain sunscreen is hazardous so be selective and choose the healtiest. Also, not getting enough consistent sunlight can be more harmful than getting too much sun. Wait 10-20 minutes before applying sunscreen to absorb all the benefits of the sun.
13) Tea companies assure us that decaf tea is just as rich in beneficial flavonoids as regular tea. Not true. The decaffeination process reduces the flavonoid content drastically.
14) Macular degeneration is the main cause of severe vision loss in older people. Here are 6 prevention tips: (1) Don’t smoke, (2) Wear sunglasses, (3) Eat kale and spinach, (4) Exercise, (5) Eat fish and nuts, (6) Keep your weight down to avoid diabetes.
15) Potassium can blunt sodium’s tendency to increase blood pressure. But you don’t have to go overboard with supplements; fruits and vegetables supply plenty of this mineral.
- Good sources of potassium are tomato puree, raisins coconut water, orange juice, bananas, baked potato, apricots, figs.
16) You can skip the marathon. Studies show brisk walking (3-4 miles per hour) reduces heart disease and stroke rates in women as much as vigorous exercise.
- Ok, how long do you have to briskly walk for this effect? How many times a week? I don’t agree with them saying this when obesity is a major epidemic in America.
17) Vitamin D does much more than strengthen your bones. It may protect against colon cancer, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and heart disease.
- When sun exposure is adequate the body can synthesize it. Other good sources are fish liver oils, eggs and mushrooms.
18) Early treatment of Bell’s palsy with a steroid anti-inflammatory like prednisone increases the chances of a full recovery.
19) A team of Harvard and Spanish researchers reports that red wine protects people against the common cold.
- So does grape juice. Why do they keep coming up with more reasons for people to drink alcohol?
20) And have a piece of dark chocolate with your Merlot! Researchers have found out that chocolate contains flavonoids – just like green tea and red wine. As a bonus, dark chocolate may also lower your blood pressure.
- It seems like they want people to be fat alcoholics. Either that or they just want to tell people what they want to hear. It really irritates me because I can’t begin to tell you how many people come in to our training facility and tell us they drink 2 glasses of wine a night because they read it was good and the doctor told them. It is not good and can cause severe weight gain, anxiety and it is an appetite stimulant.
21) The worst sleeping position for snorers is on the back. Try sleeping on your stomach to cut snoring volume and frequency.
- If you sleep on your stomach put a pillow under your hips to prevent excessive strain on your back.
22) Certain exercises can keep you from shrinking as you age, especially ones that strengthen the back muscles and improve posture.
- This program, the world’s great program for not only back pain relief but for improving posture and preventing shrinking.
23) Aspirin and Ibuprofen are not so good together. Ibuprofen seems to cancel out Aspirin’s ability to protect the heart.
24) The risk of obesity jumps almost 25% with each two-hour increase in daily television watching.
- If you live in SC be careful, it is the #1 state for TV watched per day.
25) Feel younger than you are? You should. Researchers calculate that 70-year olds today are equivalent, healthwise, to 65-year olds who lived 30 years ago.
26) Chelation therapy is hot. Direct mail offers claim it’s sort of a Liquid-Plumer for the arteries. Trouble is, the claims don’t pan out – and chelation can have serious side effects, such as kidney failure and convulsions.
IAN’s 4 HEALTH REVELATIONS
1) Train at EarthFIT
2) Eat fruits, veggies, nuts, and lean meats
3) Limit alcohol and sugar consumption considerably
4) Do what is best for your body, it will pay you back
