Beyond the Noise

Who among us could argue the opposite? Between fake news (CNN and Fox, among others) pharmaceutical companies paying for the results of bogus studies, cigarette and fossil fuel companies burying scientific results, rather than CHANGING their practices, Citizens United, etc., it’s a truism of today: everyone is selling something, and most of what is being sold, hurts most of us.  In this month’s post, let’s get beyond the noise, to some healthy truths being drowned out by the noise.

• Time’s Are Changing – Our Views on Medicine and Supplements Are, Too

Having spent the holidays undergoing two root canals, the flu, Bell’s Palsey – all in 21 days – I did a lot of reading up on supplements and medicines. Recent studies in the "Lancet," the American Medical Association's monthly newsletter, and information directly relayed from my doctor (seems the flu vaccine has caused a 15% uptick in Bell’s Palsey this year), most doctors are pushing folks AWAY from certain medicines and treatments that were here-to-fore considered staples.  Now, I’m not a doctor, but the consensus among health care professionals seems to be unless you are in a hi-risk demographic or have a family propensity for a specific illness, exercise, high-quality whole food eating, are your BEST bets to remain healthy – with a few key supplements ( Omega 3,6,9, Zinc, Bragg’s Systemic Enzymes) thrown into the mix. Now, even antioxidants and probiotic efficacy is being questioned due to the results of many recent studies.  Recent research is even questioning the necessitation for ongoing intake of anti-depressants (8.6% of the population is on them, up from 5.1 in 2002 and side effects of long-term usage are too numerous to mention here) – see the December 2019 "Men’s Health" article entitled “Between a Pill and Hard Place” for an interesting, informative read.   YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY and you should check with your doctor if you are considering any changes but a new assessment of what works for you, can’t be bad as the New Year starts.

• Micro Workouts Give A Lot of Bang for the (Time) Buck

Doing a set of squats or lunges every time you take out the trash, a set of pull-ups or pushups, deadlifts, a quick jog up the block after every three hours of being sedentar, all have tremendous benefits for your heart, muscle tone, mobility, and weight maintenance. These should be done in addition to your normal workouts. But if traveling or unable to time commit they can offset the biggest health hazard – EXTENDED inactivity.

• For those considering PRIMAL EATING – here is an informative chart – provided courtesy of MARK’S DAILY APPLE. It’s the Primal Eating BluePrint:

That’s it! Go live a little!