If you think you are invincible as far as your health is concerned, find a comfortable park bench or make a trip to the mall specially to watch people. I’ve always enjoyed watching and observing people in every setting. My analysis of people is not always correct, but it’s interesting to observe others and wonder what their particular "situation" is. Not their financial station in life; social status, the kind of car they may be driving, the amount of retirement they have or home they lives in? So much can be read in a person’s face.
We can learn a lot about their lifestyle simply by observing the way they walk - is there a spring in the step of the old gentleman as he takes his daily walk? Is he walking with a slight (or serious) limp; is he hunched over with sadness and a look of worldly cares which makes you want to walk with him a bit and give him a word of encouragement? Does he frequently seem to loose his balance or stop to catch his breath? Tells a lot about his physical condition.
Let’s cover some general topics and then look at some specific health issues. In reviewing material I produced for a presentation I came across some less rational guidelines for a longer, healthier life, but did create some lively discussion and humor. This is definitely not to be construed as good nutritional advice, and I’m not advocating that we take our health lightly. Rather, the questions and answers provided an insight into the rationale of many people and generated varied discussion.
Q: I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it. Don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Statistic:
Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious disability. That's why it's so important to reduce your risk factors, know the warning signs, and know how to respond quickly and properly if warning signs occur. (From the American Heart Association) We will cover more information on symptoms of coronary problems at the end of this writing.
In order for an exercise to be considered "cardiovascular" or "aerobic," it needs to elevate your heart rate to 60 to 85 percent of its maximum rate (the fastest it could possibly beat). Example: if your fastest heart rate is measured at 135 bpm, you should maintain an aerobic heart rate between 81 beats per minute to 115 beats per minute for at least 20 to 60 minutes, with the norm being 30 to 40 minutes. It should be performed a minimum of three days per week, with four to five days being optimal and six being the max. Most treadmills now have the ratios calculated; if you are walking outside, be sure that you can talk while you walk but not carry on a long conversation.
Health benefits include burning calories, lowering your body fat and strengthening your heart and lungs. Since heart disease is the leading cause of premature death for both men and women, cardiovascular fitness is a very important.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And, a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowances of vegetable products.
Statistic:
The University of Michigan Healing Foods Pyramid indicates that fish and seafood, and lean meats are listed as weekly foods in small quantities, not daily foods. There is a great deal of good nutritional information at their website: www.med.umich.edu/umim. I would strongly encourage readers to take the time to study this – it is infinitely easier to interpret and I believe makes more sense than the one produced by the FDA.
Frankly, you are much healthier choosing from the original source of nutrition – fruits and vegetables!!! They are less expensive and take less preparation than meat.
Q: How can I calculate by body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body, and you have body fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
Stastic:
Ideal weight and fat-lean ratio varies considerably for men and women and by age, but the minimum percent of body fat considered safe for good health is 5 percent for males and 12 percent for females. The average adult body fat is closer to 15-18 percent for men and 22-25 percent for women.
Read on for some rather humorous Q & A’s from the workshop – they are self explanatory, although certainly not scientific; nor will they contribute to your good health, but there’s no reason not sharing them for laughs:
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: I can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain. . . . Good.
Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A: You’re not listening. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: What’s the secret to healthy eating?
A: Thicker gravy.
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
(I love this one)
A: Are you crazy? HELLO . . . . Cocoa beans . . . another vegetable!!!! It’s the best "feel good" food around!
I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. :) Now to more serious reading.
In corporate circles we often hear the term "Need to Know". Here are some definite Need to Knows for every one of us regarding Strokes, rated by the American Heart Association as the number 1-3 cause of death.
NEED TO KNOW for STROKE IDENTIFICATION: This is not a comprehensive list of symptoms, but perhaps enough to help us identify the onset of a stroke:
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke totally.
He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough. Learn the 3 steps; STR. Doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S – Ask the individual to SMILE.
T - Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK a simple sentence coherently. Example: This is a beautiful day.
R – Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue Here’s another 'sign' of a stroke: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke. Call 911 immediately if you suspect any of these signs – it could save your life or the life of a loved one.
By all means, get as much reliable information as you can and read it until you understand it. In my personal research I do not go to websites selling a product for the most reliable information. Many websites get their "information" from product manufacturers. Research the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Foundation - Accredited resources are abundant. Until next time – remember, if you don’t take care of the body God gave you who will?
