18 replies to this topic

[Live Forever]

Here is a column I ran across that states 10 things that age you. The list includes things like eating too much saturated fat, not exercising enough, etc.

See anything missing from the list that should have been included?...or, anything that should have been stated differently?

[RighteousReason]

Feeling overwhelmed by stress
Drinking too much alcohol — or drinking too little
Moving too little
Eating too much saturated fat
Smoking cigarettes
Breathing polluted air
Getting too much sun
Getting too little sleep
Being overweight
Eating too much sugar

I think I'm a dead man.

[Live Forever]

Feeling overwhelmed by stress
Drinking too much alcohol — or drinking too little
Moving too little
Eating too much saturated fat
Smoking cigarettes
Breathing polluted air
Getting too much sun
Getting too little sleep
Being overweight
Eating too much sugar

I think I'm a dead man.

It is because you are drinking too little alcohol isn't it? [sfty]

[biknut]

When your kids become teenagers should be at the top of the list.

Saturated fat isn't harmful if it's coconut oil.

[John Schloendorn]

Right. Trans fat (which is unsaturated) should be stated as the "bad" fat.
Drinking too little -- I don't buy it, due to the possible effect of healthy social interaction that typically comes with drinking moderately
Stress, too little sleep, moving too little -- are ok if you spend it in school or lab ;-)
Sugar -- ok if you use it to motivate yourself for school or lab
Sun -- very bad because it means you aren't in school or lab
Cigarettes, overweight -- ok ok, I can't argue with you there

[ajnast4r]

that drinking too little alcohol is BS...

im not gonna live less cos i dont drink

[Live Forever]

that drinking too little alcohol is BS...

im not gonna live less cos i dont drink

I don't think it is total BS. There have been studies showing the heart, etc. benefits from consuming small amounts (less than 2 drinks/day) of alcohol haven't there? I think red wine provides more benefits than other things, but if you consume small amounts of any alcohol I think it is beneficial to your health. The problem a lot of people run into is that if they drink, they go overboard and don't keep it under control. It is definitely better to drink no alcohol than drink too much alcohol.

[John Schloendorn]

There could be a classical hormetic effect, such as a very slight blast of gamma radiation can actually protect animals from subsequent stress, by upregulating resistance processes. But I don't think the swarm of potential confounding factors can be controlled in any human experiment, so I suggest we settle for "there is no answer"...

[syr_]

You forgot to mention bad genes..

The MOST important factor IMO

[DukeNukem]

that drinking too little alcohol is BS...

im not gonna live less cos i dont drink

I don't drink, except a glass of red wine on special occasions. I do believe that alcohol is, for most drinkers, a net negative. For some highly stressed people, though, I can buy into the idea that moderate alcohol can be beneficial, just because high stress can be so devastating, and moderate alcohol can maybe reduce this stress enough to result in a net positive. This is purely guesswork, but there's been enough positive evidence on the side of alcohol that I have to think there's something to it. But again, only for highly stressed people.

[xanadu]

I think much of the data suggesting moderate drinking can help is blurred with the benefits of resveratrol which is found in red wine. We do know that resveratrol helps but the alky may just be a minor irratant. It doesn't seem to hurt in small amounts but I doubt it helps.

What is moving too little? I don't get it. How far away do you have to move and how often?

[Live Forever]

What is moving too little? I don't get it. How far away do you have to move and how often?

As stated by the above linked article:
Inactivity is an addiction that many of us have. But even a little bit of activity can extend our life, reduce the chances of being overweight, reduce stress and maybe even ward off Alzheimer’s disease. “The first step is to just make the decision to be more active,” Dr. Evans says. “That can be as simple as parking a little further away and walking or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.” Then work your way up to the exercise level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: moderate-intensity activity such as walking for 30 minutes or more, five or more days a week.

So, it is purporting (I believe) small to moderate amounts of exercise and the benefits that come along with it.

[xanadu]

Why didn't they just say not enough excercise instead of moving too little? I started to put my place up for sale when I read that.

[quadclops]

Listening to a group of old people talking about their aches and pains, all their dead friends and loved ones, and about how the world nowadays just seems to be going into the crapper.

I can just feel myself ossifying up, and getting depressed!

[Shepard]

No alcohol in college = very little co-ed ass = very depressed college kid = possible suicide, or chronic WoW player.

I also don't buy the too much sun argument. I'd be more afraid of too little sun than too much. Assuming you don't mean too much as in going outside twice a year and getting scorched both times.

[Live Forever]

No alcohol in college = very little co-ed ass = very depressed college kid = possible suicide, or chronic WoW player.

I also don't buy the too much sun argument. I'd be more afraid of too little sun than too much. Assuming you don't mean too much as in going outside twice a year and getting scorched both times.

Well it mentions using sunscreen, which is probably a good idea if you are going to be out in the sun a lot. Skin cancer = bad news

[Shepard]

I don't really like sun screens either. Give me a nice tan and I'll take my chances.

[Live Forever]

You forgot to mention bad genes..

Bad genes aren't really something you can control (yet)