Our/Your Health

[bangsportscards]

Does it matter? Of course.

Perhaps some haven't even given the topic much thought.

Does it make a difference? Yes!

There's tons of info available on the topic. Share what you want, understand, and anything else related.

I have a lot of focus here, kind of indirectly brought on, and would appreciate some talk about it.

Brian

[*censored*]

Drink more water. Your body will thank you for it.

The average person should be getting at least 64 oz. (half a gallon) of water per day. That's water, not liquid-- not beer, not soda, just plain water. And in many cases, 64 oz. is just a starting point.

Based on my weight and the climate I live in (too heavy, and too hot), I should be getting almost a gallon per day.

It will improve your kidneys, your skin, your brain function, digestion. Every cell in your body needs it, and people rarely get enough of it. And it's filling and calorie free.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Water's a great one.

Some additions:

Cut the portion sizes. We've had television and fast food for decades, but obesity has gone up dramatically only in the last 20 years because we want to super size everything nowadays. Well, most humans aren't meant to consume enormous 1,200 calorie burgers three times a day, so scale back already.

Exercise is important, but it's only an adjunct in weight management. When you run a mile, you burn only around 100 calories (you burn more if you run it at an incline). A pound constitutes 3,500 calories. Again, cut the portion sizes, because exercising alone isn't gonna cut it.

When you do eat, consider something like a handful of nuts. It's hypocritical to complain about the fat in them (which is of the healthy unsaturated variety that's conducive to healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels) when you're eating cheeseburgers laden with artery-clogging saturated fat almost every day. Burgers are fine in moderation, but most people don't do them in moderation. They also don't have critical percentages of 11 different vitamins and nutrients as every form of nut does.

Another thing to consider eating is fish. Most Americans don't get near enough Omega 3 fatty acids, the benefits of which are too numerous to mention. Again, reduce the red meat and consider a better protein and iron alternative.

Most vegetables are tasty. They are all healthy, and most are low-cal, low-fat, and low-carb. I don't know why most Americans are averse to them, but we all know it's detrimental to health when they're not eaten, so at least TRY to develop a taste for them if you don't have one yet.

Lift weights. If you're a female, quit being so afraid to lift dumbbells weighing more than 15 pounds - you aren't going to turn into Arnold if you lift 20 pounders. Weightlifting gives tone, and tone is healthy.

Finally, don't think your health isn't going to be affected if you aren't 40 yet. I'm 25 now and these are my cholesterol levels from the last three years:

2008 - 40 HDL (good), 160 LDL (bad)
2009 - 70 HDL (good), 90 LDL (bad)
2010 - 65 HDL (good), 58 LDL (bad)

Hint: Those numbers didn't change by magic. Even in your twenties, what you eat has a significant impact, so there.

[pr0phet]

I can emphasize portion control. I am terrible at it.

I will say that even the smallest parts help. I have cut out most of my soda intake and have gone to a lot more water as well. Also watch the time you eat, snacks late at night are extra calories with no burnoff.

How about oral health. Brushing teeth at least twice a day and using mouth wash can save you a lot of trouble. I went 7 years between checkups and I sustained two minors inbetween my teeth in that time from NOT FLOSSING. My routine has switched 10 fold now

[FootballCardFreak]

I still don't understand why people make fitness so hard.

1) Don't eat too much bad foods
2) Exercise for many hours a day
3) No excuses and/or procrastination

And I'll just give a tip for the heak of it: Don't eat late at night or before you go to sleep.

[bangsportscards]

Thanks guys. Health is a big thing for me.

Let me share something with you. If you feel compelled, look into the term "pH balance".

Better yet, research some of Dr. Robert O. Young's writings, findings, and science. He has several books out.

Water is great, and there's a new step to take regarding water. I wanted to see where everyone was coming from before providing what I am :)

There's many overall angles of course, lots to learn, and I am here to help anyone understand, take action, improve or move to a higher level. It helps in all areas of life!

On a side note, exercising 20-30 minites a day is adequate, and it needs to be done in the right way. I can't emphasize this enough, look into Dr Robert Young. He's literally a genius in the field, way beyond what the medical profession offers.

Here's a tid bit...you no longer need to focus on calories and rather consider the energy found in food as for the best choices to make.

Brian

[*censored*]

Also watch the time you eat, snacks late at night are extra calories with no burnoff.

I'll echo this one. And if you do need a late-night snack, make it something high in protein, like a couple pieces of lean sandwich meat (turkey or roast beef are the best) and some string cheese. Carbs are very bad late at night.

Check out the Abs Diet. I'm getting back on it and hoping to drop 20-30 pounds by the time the broomball season starts in October.

[Alarion]

I found just cutting out processed food made a diff. I have always been a rather skinny dude but after high school I took a desk job and stopped playing basketball every day. I am now packing a few extra pounds around my waist. Not much, though, but enough I can jiggle it lol

But cutting out processed food and fast food. Eating more veggies and fruits, drinking more water, less red meat and more chicken in it's place. I dropped 10 pounds in the matter of weeks. No extra exercise or anything else. I have slacked off and back to eating fast food due to time, but it's something to consider along with what everyone else is saying.

Plus, not eating all that junk is saving your arteries, your liver and kidneys, your stomach (cut out the soda!), your cells and really just about everything in your body. Processed food is teh debil!

[bangsportscards]

ACID/ALKALINE IS THE TRUTH ABOUT HEALTH.

Forget calories. Look at the energy potential of food. Most food is acidic. This brings us down. We want and need alkaline things.

Check Dr. Young out! He's revolutionary in wisdom and has it together great.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Yeah, keep out the carbs before bed. I like having tuna or peanut butter before bed - helps you sleep better, too.

Also a good point about oral health. I've only had one cavity in my life but I'm prone to tartar and staining. I had a lot of the latter when I saw the dentist last month because I was using an old fashioned brush and not brushing long enough. They got me one of those fancy electric brush things with a two minute timer, and my teeth are staying much whiter now even as I continue the coffee routine. :)