| Saturday - October 17, 2009 More than 90 percent of U.S. adults have a high risk of heart disease, according to a news brief Melanie Segala sent me. And the implication was that everyone else is in danger. I am distrustful of "news" like this. For one thing, it's usually based on studies funded by some entity that benefits from the sale of statin drugs or heart bypasses. (Both of which, I have come to believe, are mostly unnecessary.) Another reason I am suspicious is because findings like these are so often flawed. In this case, the "danger" is in eventually having a heart attack. But heart attacks are fatal only about 4 percent of the time. Most people who have them go on to live a normal-length life, whether they take drugs, have surgery, or treat their condition naturally. And I am frankly shocked by one of statements in this article. It says that having a cholesterol count of more than 200 is dangerous. That's been disproved. Any person or group still parroting it should be ignored. When it comes to my heart health, I follow the advice I get from Dr. Sears and some of the other doctors who contribute to Total Health Breakthroughs. They recommend: - Not smoking
- Exercising vigorously
- Eating like a caveman
- Meditating
- Keeping your body mass index (BMI) to less than 20 for men and 25 for women
If you'd like more advice about developing a stronger heart, more pliable arteries, and stronger lungs, keep reading Total Health Breakthroughs. It has the fitness, nutrition, and supplement information you need to be in the "low risk" minority.
When the swine flu scare first hit the newspapers, people were nervous. Then the government jumped in. They told us that swine flu was not very contagious. And they said it wasn't even serious. "Don't worry about it," we were told. I was skeptical. And I was right. Now cases are popping up all over the world. One source estimates that as much as half the population will be affected by it. Another source predicts that 1.8 million Americans will be hospitalized by it. That doesn't mean all those people will die, but it does mean there will be a rapid escalation of concern. Manufacturers of vaccines, syringes, masks, diagnostic equipment, and antivirals have already seen their stock prices run up in anticipation. IDE's Steve McDonald says there are two ways to profit from this: - You can invest in the companies that are selling the treatments and equipment.
- You can short the companies that could see a huge drop in business because what they do involves enclosed crowds -- and that increases the risk of contagion. That includes airlines, hotels, retailers, and certain entertainment companies.
Steve has his eye on several shorting opportunities. To be one of the first to hear about them, go here.
Alec, a childhood friend and fellow golfer, was irked by my recent characterization of golf as a "terrible hobby." I said I liked Jiu Jitsu better because it is mentally and physically challenging and because it "teaches me about life." Alec reminded me that golf is also challenging -- mentally and physically. "Plus," he said, "if you play it correctly, it too will give you insights. There are no do-overs in golf, as in life. And you can tell much about people by how they react to the bad shots and the unlucky breaks." "In the great macrocosmic view of things, it may sometimes seem meaningless," he admitted, "especially when you calculate the hours you put into it." But that, I suppose, can also be said about Jiu Jitsu.
In last week's Journal, I mentioned taking muscle relaxers to help with a badly cramping back. Taking them ruined my night's sleep. But now I have a better solution, thanks one of our Total Health Breakthroughs advisory board members, Dr. Carolyn Dean. She recommends magnesium. Thanks, Dr. Dean. I'm going to buy some today. From now on, I'm going to have to be a bit more careful when I'm shooting my mouth off about health. I'm a big student of natural health solutions, but a total amateur. Knowing I've got MDs reading me is humbling.
Here's another thing I'm doing wrong: not drinking enough water. I generally drink two eight-ounce glasses of water in the morning, but then I'm lucky if I drink another 16 ounces during the day. I tend to drink iced tea or iced coffee at lunch and then an espresso at 5:30. At dinner, I drink one glass of water and two glasses of wine. Thirty-two ounces of water is probably enough for a sedentary person. But for someone like me, who wrestles for an hour every day, it can't be enough. I have read that we get most of the hydration we need from the food we eat, not the water we drink. That makes sense to me. I've never wanted to become one of those people who carry around a water bottle wherever they go. It seems absurd and trendy. Yet I have to admit, those running-suited, well-heeled, suburban athletes don't have to worry that they are hurting from lack of water.
I asked Melanie Segala to look into this water situation. I asked her specifically: - What problems can be caused by not drinking enough water?
- How much water do we really need each day?
- Does drinking coffee and tea affect that amount?
- What about soft drinks and other beverages?
Melanie pointed me to the work of Dr. Howard Flaks, a bariatric (obesity) specialist in Beverly Hills. He says, "By not drinking enough water, many people incur excess body fat, poor muscle tone and size, decreased digestive efficiency and organ function, increased toxicity in the body, joint and muscle soreness, and water retention." Without water, we'd be poisoned to death by our own waste products. Here are some of the other problems associated with dehydration, says Melanie: - Non-infectious recurring or chronic pain
- Mental irritation and depression
How much water do you need? Of course, you should consult your own physician regarding your particular situation. But according to Dr. Flaks, "The minimum for a healthy person is eight to 10 eight-ounce glasses a day. You need more if you exercise a lot or live in a hot climate. And overweight people should drink an extra glass for every 25 pounds they exceed their ideal weight." The International Sports Medicine Institute has a formula for daily water intake: 1/2 ounce per pound of bodyweight if you're not active (that's 10 eight-ounce glasses if you weigh 160 pounds), and 2/3 ounce per pound if you're athletic (13 to 14 glasses a day, at the same weight). And it should be spread throughout the day and evening. Most experts say you should be able to count coffee or tea in your water intake total. But avoid soft drinks. The phosphates leach minerals from your body. Recent research shows that caffeine does not dehydrate you. But, explains Melanie, that doesn't mean you won't experience a greater "urgency" to urinate after drinking a caffeinated beverage. Your reaction can depend on the amount you drink, the type of beverage, and your tolerance level. Water is still the best way to stay hydrated, so be sure to include it in your daily routine.
Americans were raised on "three square meals a day." Most Americans are also overweight. So you might be interested to know that changing that time-honored habit can help you lose weight. French researchers found that a group of people who normally ate four meals a day actually gained fat when they switched to three meals per day. A second group that did the opposite lost fat. In both groups, the amount of calories consumed remained constant. When I am busy -- which is most of the time -- I can easily skip a meal. Today, for instance, I had a slice of bread and organic peanut butter for breakfast and nothing else but a protein shake until dinner. But now, I'm pretty damn hungry. So there's a good chance I'll eat like a horse at dinner. When you eat like that you can easily consume a day's worth of calories in a single meal. I think that is one reason why four meals works better than three. You tend to eat smaller portions and you tend to eat better foods. You are not starving so you don't binge. And you don't have a sweet tooth for junk. If you are eating only two or three large meals each day, consider splitting your food intake into at least four meals. Five mini-meals might be even better. That's what I've been doing lately. The objective is to eat the same amount of food (or less) but spaced out throughout the day. Here's my eating routine: Meal One: 7:00 a.m., while editing poetry. Two fried eggs (organic). One piece of toasted hemp bread. Two ounces of fresh juice. Coffee. Water. Meal Two: 11:00 a.m., while writing in my studio. A protein bar and water. Meal Three: 1:00 p.m. or 1:30 p.m., after my workout. Protein shake. Iced tea. Meal Four: 5:00. Chicken or tuna, greens and water. Meal Five: 8:00. A well-balanced dinner. When I eat this way, I feel energized all day. I never have a slump after lunch and I have plenty of pep at night to enjoy my evening at home. If you've had success with this or another regimen, let me know. I'm always interested in hearing about healthy eating programs that work.
In Tuesday's issue of THB, Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa blew the whistle on a recent conference call with fellow doctors on Alzheimer's outreach. Some of his colleagues, it turns out, are more interested in pushing drugs than teaching prevention. Here's what one reader had to say: "Thank you for such insights about Big Pharma with the doctors. Indeed it is very sad to think that instead of doctors pushing for preventative care, they would rather ignore the obvious fact that prevention is better than cure. (Definitely less costly.)" George
[Ed. Note: Michael Masterson welcomes your questions and comments. Send him a message at AskMichael@ETRFeedback.com.] | 
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