Archive for August 24th, 2007
I have always been an advocate of, if a moderate amount of something is good for, then a huge amount should be great for you. A glass of red wine a day is supposed to help your chances of avoiding heart disease. So, why not a bottle a day and have the heart of a 20 year old forever?
So, get my blood pumping when I start reading about all the benefits of eating dark chocolate . I will not only be relieved of chronic fatigue syndrome (don’t think I have it, but sure don’t want it), but the chocolate is going to keep me from getting high blood pressure, help my blood flow and keep me from getting clogged arteries. How good is life?
As I pour a glass of wine and crack open a one pound bar of dark chocolate, I read on. Some articles should never be finished.
I really hate it when someone gets you all pumped up to attack the world with gusto and then suggests that moderation is the key. Whoever heard of moderate gusto?
Bottom line. As a life insurance agent I am really about whatever it takes to keep everything in balance and stay healthy. So, do as I say and not as I do….or do as the advocates of red wine and chocolate say, and not as I do…..or at least moderate your gusto if you can.
August 24th, 2007
As I head off to a family reunion this weekend, thoughts of good times and plenty of food fill my head. It’s summer and of course BBQ will be the mainstay of our evening meals.Always the consummate life insurance agent, I had pegged the travel as our biggest mortality risk. No problem. I’m a pretty safe driver, especially when my wife is with me.
So, as I am packing up and getting ready to head for Wyoming I come across an article that I clearly don’t want to see about the dangers of BBQ’d food. Coming on the heels of finding out that my favorite bottled water, AquaFina, is nothing more than filtered tap water, well, my world is a bit shaken.
The warnings were of increased risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer. I was relieved to find out that BBQ was not on the banned list, but rather that certain guidelines should be used when preparing the food, guidelines that I seemed to be at least already somewhat aware of.
I remember a time recently when I came to the realization that the chances of me making it to a long natural life were pretty slim if you put any stock in all of the studies of unhealthy habits, lifestyles, food, and even medicine. Fortunately there is at least a chance, as none of the studies say that all of us who do a certain thing will come to a premature demise.
Bottom line. We can’t avoid everything that might have some chance of causing us harm, but we can at least stay aware of those things that we know aren’t good for us. So, no Transfat milk shakes for me this weekend.
August 24th, 2007
I’ve been accused of harping on some subjects, but I will never be accused of glossing something over or falling short of driving a point home. In our own health, as well as in our quest for lower life insurance rates, knowledge of our own health and educating ourselves as to our health risks is critical. If you don’t know your enemy and how to recognize it, how can you possibly expect to avoid it.
There’s a new game show on TV called the Power of 10. In this show contestants try to guess the percentage of Americans that believe some statement or another. Just as an example, they asked what percentage of Americans would rather watch a hot dog eating contest than a presidential debate. The results are always a little surprising.
Well, if the question were posed, are women more likely to know their weight in high school than their current cholesterol level, what would you think? A news story a few days ago answered that question, and you guessed it….I would not have brought it up if it wasn’t significant and knowing your weight in high school isn’t what I would call significant in the whole scheme of things relating to your health.
Just so you know 79% of women knew their weight in high school and 33% of women knew at least one of the four components of their lipid profile, total cholesterol, hdl, ldl and triglycerides.
In all fairness, while I haven’t seen any studies, I doubt that the average man knows their PSA level, a primary warning sign for the detection of prostate cancer. With free health fairs blanketing our country, their truly is no reason for men or women not to be aware of and on top of the warning signs for major risk factors.
The number one cause of death in women is heart disease. Knowing your cholesterol is important.
Bottom line. Avoiding serious health issues doesn’t just happen. Detecting health problems before they become dangerous takes a little effort. With health fairs, it’s not even a money issue. It’s all about caring and taking the time.
August 24th, 2007
