Summer health myths

[LisaH 0]

Dr. Mehmet Oz helps to dispel common health myths that will set you on track for a healthy summer. Dr. Oz is the co-author of, "You The Owner's Manual: An Insider's Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger" available online and in stores now. He is professor and vice-chairman of surgery at Columbia University, as well as medical director of the Integrated Medicine Center and director of the Heart Institute at Columbia Medical Center's New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Oz is the health expert for the Oprah Winfrey Show and Discovery Channel. He writes regularly for O, The Oprah Magazine and Esquire. Dr. Oz co authors a monthly column in Reader's Digest.

HUMANS ARE MORE SEXUALLY AROUSED IN THE SUMMER
TRUE

We all have a third eye called the pineal gland located in the middle of the brain. It secretes melatonin to help us sleep at night and this same chemical affects our sexuality. Many animals that have a particular season for reproduction are alerted to the onset of the breeding season by the length of the day. Melatonin is known to block our sex hormones. Long and bright days of sunshine cause a decrease in melatonin production, thus stimulating breeding. Shorter days and longer nights increase melatonin secretion and signal the body that the breeding season is ending. In other words, our brain's pineal gland senses the length of the day and increases our sexual drive as the days begin to get longer so historically we were most likely to conceive babies in the summer. What is the benefit? The child is born in the following spring and has the entire summer to grow prior to facing the following winter.

DON'T EAT BEFORE OR AFTER SWIMMING
FALSE

If you are starting a tri-athelon, probably wise to avoid, but generally not a big deal. The blood to the intestines increase dramatically after eating, but will re-adjust if your muscles starting demanding energy during a swim.

ARE Q-TIPS ARE GOOD FOR CLEANING THE EARS AFTER SWIMMING?
FALSE

pg 271, plus the role of ear wax, which is a kind of sweat, is to trap dust and sand so they cannot damage our ear drum, so you actually want some moist wax. Best way to remove is mineral oil or your finger.

YOU NEED TO DRINK 2 LITERS (QUARTS) OF WATER DAILY.
FALSE

This data came from World War II studies, but since many of our foods are 50% water (potato is 75%), we can get most of what we need from solid foods. But since we sweat a lot in the summer remember to drink enough water to keep your urine clear.

ANTIPERSPIRANTS ARE A SMART MOVE ON HOT SUMMER DAYS
FALSE

Sweat does not smell that much until the bacteria start growing. So use deodorant to block your pheromones, and shower to avoid stagnant sweat, but blocking the sweat glands has limited effect and is not wise. Plus the blocking agents have aluminum, which you don't want to absorb through your skin on a constant basis. (pg 274)

YOU DON'T NEED SUNBLOCK ON A CLOUDY DAY.
FALSE

It doesn't have to be hot or bright outside for you to tan or burn. Clouds block infrared waves, which give us heat, but don't significantly affect the UVA and UVB rays which are a different frequency. This part of the reason the people have more skin cancer on their left side, since the sun comes through the driver's window. It's recommended that you tan in the late afternoon after two, after the sun has reached its peak.

Folks exercise more in the summer so we can address 3 big workout myths: Our bones are solid structures that thin with aging at a predetermined rate (False- pg 108). The more you exercise, the more you benefit (false, pg 107)
You can spot reduce fat by exercising a specific muscle or using an electrical stimulator (false, pg 126).

SUN EXPOSURE CAUSES MELANOMA
FALSE

Sun burns can cause melanoma, but sun tans do not. In fact, because smart sun exposure increases vitamin D and 50% of us are deficient in this vital vitamin - which prevents cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and infections - getting 15 minutes of daily sun is smart, So place sun block (both ova and cub) on your face and hands, but expose your legs ± back for 15 minutes daily. One trick is to apply the block just before you leave the home since it only is effective after about 15 minutes anyway. Data supporting our view is that Americans near the Mexican border have less melanoma than those near the Canadian border. If sun exposure was the key link, we could see the opposite. Same data for city dwellers have more melanoma than farmers who see the sun all year round but rarely burn since they are already tanned.

NAILS GROW FASTER IN THE SUMMER.
TRUE

Fingernails also grow faster than toenails. Nails on a person's dominant hand (right vs. left) grow faster, and men's nails grow more quickly than women's, except possibly during pregnancy and old age. The average growth rate for nails is 0.1 mm each day, but the individual rates depend on age, time of year, activity level, and heredity.

So many folks go on a diet in the summer to look better at the beach or pool, that we might wish to tackle the myth that ...

DETOX DIETS CLEANSE YOU AND YOUR LIVER
FALSE

We cannot really detox in 2 weeks, but we can change our taste buds.

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[StreetScooby 5]

Thanks for posting this. I just ordered the book :)

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