This has been bothering me for years, you know, you hear that a research study has been conducted and they find that eggs are bad for you, and then back in the 1980s, it was highly recommended that people each more carbs and those folks started packing on pounds (probably they added too much oil to their pasta dishes, who knows), and the low-fat items which are indeed low fat, but they are loaded with chemicals and carbs to get them that way, and tonight on the news, there is now a research report that says people are passing away from vitamins and supplements. The vitamin manufacturers did report they have seen an increase in this, but don't know why. This was on the Ticker on Fox News.
So does the general population really follow these trendy research reports? I know I have always been skeptical of any report. I remember back when I was a child I saw very few overweight people; there weren't a lot of fastfood places to eat; we ate balanced meals and snacks were fruit. Not anymore it seems. And the only reason why I am large is because I put in more than I spend (well, duh).
There was a report that did get my attention several years ago and it came from the Mayo Clinic. They reported they found that sunblock caused some skin cancers. Now, this was squashed after being on the news for a few short days, but their study really went into detail and it had been conducted for over 15 years. A friend of mine who is a dermatologist in California agrees with this study in some cases. He says he is finding an alarming number of cancers that are attributed to overuse of sunblocks. His recommendation is to cover the body with lightweight clothing, stay in the sun only 2 hours a day for the vitamin benefits, and to use nothing over a 15 sunblock.
So, even though after being on this island for six years now, and having ate more fish than is probably in the sea, I am longing for enchiladas and anything beef because I haven't seen a study yet on enchiladas.
Thoughts?
Donna
Unless you buy A LOT of fresh fruits and vegetables, only eat whole foods and cook from scratch you probably don't get all that you need from your diet.
You'd think so, but I did one of those online diet tracker sites for a few months when I got back into swimming. I found I was getting the USDA recommended amounts on nearly everything except a couple real trace minerals and I definitely don't eat a ton of fruits and vegetables.
One thing of note was I was exceeding the recommended sodium intake. Not by a huge amount, but I was exceeding it. I never put salt on any of my food. I think it's all but impossible not to exceed the recommended sodium intake if you eat a fair percentage of packaged food.
I think huge favour everyone could do themselves is drink plenty of water--preferably not mid stroke...:joker:
Did you read the article about hydration in USMS Swimmer? I thought it was pretty interesting: www.usmsswimmer.com/.../feature.pdf
The basic theme of the article is that many people go overboard with drinking water and the idea that you need to drink 1/2 gallon of water per day is most likely hogwash. Just drinking when you're thirsty is usually enough.
That was a very good article and dispelled this ridiculous notion you need to drink gallons of water a day in addition to the water we get from our food sources. All you end up doing if you drink tons of water is going to the bathroom all day long.
Gollee-gee, our power goes out for 12 hours here and I return and not only is there something bad for all of us in the way of diet, the supplements are all over the place.
Allen: a man after my heart: chicken fried steak (I'm from Texas, too).
I don't plan on overdosing on enchiladas when I go home for a visit, but that will be my first stop for certain; I am fished out and chickened out here, that's all we eat and I have been thinking about writing a cookbook down here entitled: 1,000 Ways to Cook Chicken.
Fort: Tell me it ain't true, Diet Coke? I never could get used to the taste so I am a hardliner; I only drink real Coke but only 1 a day mixed with, uh-oh, rum.
Matt wrote: Can't you still buy ephedra at health food stores under various names? Like aliases here?
I do want to comment that there were a couple of fluid replacement/energy boosters I tried and I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. This is the reason I am wanting to know the best products possible for my long swim training. GU was horrible; I thought I was in cardiac arrest so I must be sensitive to some energy solutions.
Back to food: I do love pizza and I will have one or two when I am home, plus all the vegetables I don't get here and cantaloupe, but I ordered a vegie pizza here and they put peas, carrots, and beets on it with red sauce and I had to walk away; they weren't even fresh but out of the can! Yuck!
I had a terrific long 2 mile swim today without fluids (started leg cramping at the end of it), but I finally did not feel fatigued; it was a power swim, so I guess the conditioning is kicking in.
Rich: I love fish & chips but the vinegar has to go; vinegar makes me sneeze and cough--weird huh? This is why I can't do salads with oil and vinegar and I love the taste!!
Geek: so you are a research report junkie and try all the recommendations, huh? Maybe some of these supplements work and some don't, but the costs can also be a factor, as well as trying to eat 2 pounds of broccoli to get that folic acid. What's a good person to do with all of this info floating around?
Donna
I find the pace at which some things are good for you being discovered to be potent carcinogens and vice versa (I am being extreme, but you know what I mean) to be dizzying. Two little factoids that I have grasped that still seem to be current are: drinking stuff with caffeine can seriously interfere with absorption of various vitamins and calcium. Equally Tums are supposed to mess up vitamin and medicine uptake.
Also something in grapefruit juice can seriously combine with some medications (I think some heart drugs) to produce side effects. I couldn't explain the apparent biochemical reasons for this and would welcome amplification (or rebuttal for that matter).
Another even more serious concern: it is established in the medical community that taking more than a certain number of medications at once can lead to unpredictable side effects. Even if your medical professional is right on top of this issue, some of us add patent medicines, supplements, herbal concoctions that can contain potent ingredients (esp. herbals) that can interact with your medications as well.
I still got him, expensive though he is. I am severely allergic to dogs. So that is the worst. Cats I only have a minor allergy to. But it doesn't help living with him. Unfortunately, we got the cat before the allergies reared their ugly head. The kids would rather have me leave than the cats. Not a bad idea really, then I might be able to get a life. :rofl: I think the third delivery or old age triggered the allergies big time. I'm not overly fond of deliveries. But I'm all done. So now I'm just taking drugs and vitamins and enchiladas again ...
Don't ephedra and diet pills make you hyper? I can't imagine that is helpful for sleep.
hmmmm, my last child just gave me curly hair.
Good point Mr. Cruise. I was just looking up this article a few weeks ago for a friend who is on statins for cholesterol issues as well as some other meds. Here tis...
www.mayoclinic.com/.../AN00413
A friend of mine is a pharmacist and I rely on him whenever I have questions about drug interactions...especially when I have a scrip and I am concerned about it's interactions with OTC meds. Don't be afraid to talk to your pharmacist about any pills or supplements you might be taking..this is their specialty after all.
Oh for Goodhew's sake...
We're all going to die. Exercising and moderation. Read less info.
Drink Green Tea. Learn Breaststroke. Abandon Butterfly.
All these are the true keys to a long and happy life...
Fort: Peter may be right about the grapefruit interaction thing, but you aren't on heart meds so no worry.
I found that when living in the States my pharmacist knew as much if not more than my doctor so I would always ask questions; and he didn't charge me for a consultation and no appt needed!!
Donna
