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Today I’m known by many as a massage therapist. But years ago I received my bachelor of fine arts degree in film and television production. I worked in the industry creating documentaries, commercials and corporate educational programs.
Yet, we only have one television in our home. We don’t have cable or satellite programing either - much to the constant lament of our two teenage children. However, I find the programming on network television insulting. The only television I make time for is Nova and Frontline on PBS. Occasionally I watch the local news which I find insulting every time they refer to the newscast as a “show” as in “later in the show well have your complete weather forecast followed by more stories about people doing nasty things to each other.” It’s really all trash and I’m relieved not to be part of the industry any longer.
So this week, when my daughter informed me of the incentive from her algebra teacher to gain student participation in “Turn Off Your TV Week,” I gladly told her that I’d join in her efforts. After all, we’ve been without TV in the past. One time the TV actually broke and I delayed having it repaired for two weeks. After it was repaired, I forgot to plug it in and no one really missed it! It can be done.
But if you’ve been addicted to the TV for some time now, it can be like withdraw from electric morphine.
So, I’d like to give you some reasons to make the effort more justifiable. To start, TV viewing is entirely passive. Sure you might cheer your favorite sports team, or laugh at the misfortune of someone caught in an embarrassing situation in what we label “America’s Funniest Videos” - but you’re not doing anything! You’re sitting in a chair, passive.
This passivity is the root to the increase in the rates of morbid obesity, diabetes, heart disease and their related complications like asthma, arthritis and depression. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 20% of children aged 2-17 are categorized as obese. And the trend is getting worse. As a result, the CDC recommends, among other things, “reducing time spent watching TV and other sedentary activities.”
Some interesting stats:
There are 2.55 people in the average American household, yet the average American household has 2.73 televisions! We have more televisions that people in the U.S.!
50% of American households have 3 or more TVs, whereas in 1975 only 11% had 3 or more TVs.
57% of children aged 9-13 have a TV in their bedroom.
Based on these simple figures, it seems that our culture values passivity and isolation - two key components of anyone suffering from disease. As a comparision, those centarians (people who live over 100 years) tend to have lifestyles that are active with strong social networks. I bet they don’t watch much TV - they’re too busy with their social lives. It’s true!
So to help ease your withdraw from the electric morphine, here are some things to keep you busy during the “shakes”:
Eat a healthy meal together as a family
Play a sport, like a game of baseball, soccer, frisbee, tag
Fly a kite
Play a musical instrument
Build something like a birdhouse
Listen to music
Read a book
Bake bread
Garden
Play a game like cards, Scrabble, Monopoly, etc.
Go camping
Go for a walk
Meet your neighbor
The list can go on and on.
The bottom line is try it. The national no-TV week started on April 21 and runs through April 27th, but you can start now, because there really isn’t anything on to watch.
Here are some other resources you might find helpful or interesting:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a draft report concurring with the conclusions of a scientific panel that there is “some concern” related to neural and hormonal disruptions in humans who are exposed to a chemical compound called bisphenol-a or B.P.A.
B.P.A. is used to manufacture a rigid yet transparent polycarbonate plastic (#7) that is a component in things like the plastic coating for iPods, food can linings, baby bottles and the familiar “Nalgene” type of water bottle. This is significant because the report cites that 99% of human exposure comes through food ingestion, implicating soda cans, water and baby bottles.
The report concludes that in animal studies, there is “clear evidence of adverse effects” on fetus and newborn development in high dose environments. Yet, in lower dosage environments, there is still “some evidence” of disruption to the reproduction of the studied animals and “limited evidence” of developmental disruption especially related to the prostate gland and urinary tract development in male mice. This is due to BPA’s ability to mimic the body’s natural hormone estrogen.
The bottom line is that this plastic, while under scrutiny for the past several years, is now being identified, by government officials, as posing some human risk and requiring further study. The Canadian government yesterday reported that they are nearly ready to declare BPA a human toxin. Official word from Health Canada is still pending.
Because of the properties of the polycarbonate plastic, BPA can leach into the food contained by the plastic, especially when the food has a high acid content (like tomato sauce), is heated (like baby formula), or the container has been washed with harsh cleansers. Polycarbonate plastic has been measured to leach BPA fifty-five times faster when it contains a hot liquid.
This is especially important with polycarbonate baby bottles, since most adults heat baby formula while in the bottle with a microwave or in a saucepan with water, increasing the leaching of BPA into the infant formula. Because of the small size of infants, the exposure risk through the baby bottle is magnified compared to consumption of BPA by an adult, not to mention the disruption to the infant’s development at such critical stages.
So what to do? The plastics known not to leach are #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE and #5 PP. Consider using one of these plastics to hold food and avoid #7 polycarbonate, #6 Polystyrene and #3 Polyvinyl chloride. Only heat foods in a microwave with glass or ceramic containers. As for baby bottles, I guess Mom was right: good old glass is still the time tested standard that is yet to be surpassed.
For more information and reference sources, try these links:
http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/BPADraftBriefVF_04_14_08.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol-A
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/business/worldbusiness/16plastic.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin
It’s that season again in Northern Arizona. Runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing. Sure, plants are starting to bud, flowers are starting to pop out but this is also the driest season of the year. Along with the wind, the dramatic reduction of precipitation in spring time dries everything out very quickly - including ourselves.
As we move out of winter, especially one with an average amount of precipitation like this year, we may have fallen out of the habit of staying fully hydrated. In winter months, we tend to drink less water because we don’t feel hot. This may not be a big deal when we have more moisture in the air during consistent winter storms. But now that the air is dramatically dryer, if we haven’t increased our water consumption in proportion to the drying air, we can rapidly become dehydrated.
If you are familiar with me at all, you’ll know of my constant preaching of drinking at least 1/2 of your bodyweight in ounces of water each day. This rule of thumb is a good guide to staying properly hydrated, especially in our climate of Northern Arizona. As for what to drink, I’m pretty consistent in sticking to just plain water, or watered-down fruit juice. Coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages should not be counted in those ounces.
Here’s why I don’t recommend counting those caffeinated beverages. Caffeine is a nervous system stimulant that, among many things, dilates blood vessels which increases the amount of blood being filtered by the kidneys - resulting in an increased production of urine. This is combined with caffeine’s effect of sensitizing the bladder’s trigger system to alert you of the need to urinate. The result is a net loss of fluids from drinking caffeinated beverages. For regularly brewed coffee, in order to derive the two cups of water in the two cups of coffee you are drinking, you’ll need to drink an extra cup of coffee to offset the diuretic effect of the caffeine! It’s simpler to stick to plain water.
One note, the study that found that caffeine is not a diuretic was funded by the National Coffee Association. Go figure. (Click Here to view that study)
So how does dehydration relate to allergies? A 1995 Danish study confirms the process by which dehydration triggers an increase in histamine production by the body’s endocrine system. Histamine production is a defensive mechanism by the body to preserve the vital water that remains in the body and to prevent further loss.
Not only does the body lose water through urination and perspiration, normal respiration also causes a large volume of water loss through the vapor exhaled during breathing. Histamine is part of the regulatory mechanism that controls bronchial contractions in the lungs. Bronchial constrictions during an asthma attack may be the result of the body’s attempt to minimize water vapor loss.
Although a natural product of the body’s endocrine system, histamine is an irritant to the body which produces the itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing associated with allergic reaction. In a normally functioning system, a simple invasion by a virus, bacteria or pollen spore triggers histamine production to defend against and expel the invading micro-organism. However, dehydration can put this system out of balance, resulting in elevated levels of histamine circulating through the body. These elevated histamine levels produce symptoms similar to an allergic reaction even when there are no outside triggers creating the response.
If you then take an anti-histamine allergy medication to relieve these symptoms, you are then shutting down your body’s natural ability to produce histamine even when it’s necessary. I suggest that before reaching into the medicine cabinet, reach into the cupboard first and drink about a quart of water (with a pinch of salt), and see if after a few minutes your symptoms are lessened or even eliminated. If not, try again in another 30 minutes. If after these two attempts to rehydrate have no effect on your allergy symptoms, then try the pharmaceutical approach.
I believe you’ll find that water will be your best solution most of the time. Try it. You’ve got nothing to lose.
Additional Resources:
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA57092
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/caffeine_sports.htm
Some recent e-mail and web pages are touting some amazing health benefits of eating, or should I say “using”, bananas. Just do a Google search on a phrase like “banana health benefits” and you’ll come up with a variety of web hits that demonstrate some amazing things - some true and some unproven. This site is an example of what I mean (click here).
So here’s the reality on some of these fantastic claims.
Unsubstantiated Claims:
Bananas reduce depression because of their tryptophan content. The fact is that there isn’t that much tryptophan in a banana. If tryptophan helps with depression, maybe you should eat a turkey.
Bananas mixed with milk and honey can cure a hangover. Yup, along with about a thousand other cures too. The best cure for a hangover - limit alcohol consumption.
If you rub a banana skin on mosquito bites it takes away the sting. I’ve never tried it, but the same web sites also claim that the healing properties of the banana peel will also cure you of warts if you rub it on them. Oh, and after your done with your mosquito bites and warts, rub the banana skin on your shoes then buff them with a soft cloth for an amazing shoe shine! I’m not kidding - these are the claims!
Some of the actual benefits do include:
Cardiovascular improvement from the fiber and potassium contained in bananas.
Stomach ulcer protection and antacid effects from the protease inhibitors found in bananas.
The same stomach protection also seems to help the stomach’s ability to absorb calcium which can help to build bone and stave off osteoporosis.
Bowel movement regularity is improved by the pectin and fiber in bananas.
The antioxidants in bananas have been shown to cut the risk of kidney cancer by about 40%.
Here is a link to more good information about the benefits of bananas (click here).
So, while eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day are vital to maintaining good health, and bananas are a good part of that mix, be sure you are clear on what that banana is actually doing for you - besides of course simply tasting great and bringing a smile to your face.
