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HEALTH AND FITNESS: BUYER BEWARE
Katharine McCoy
October 1, 2009
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There are two things that I have learned in my almost two decades of writing and researching health and fitness, they are to be suspicious about everything and stay open-minded about anything. The two things may seem to contradict each other. But I have found no other way to deal with a world in which things are constantly changing and contradicting each other. The absolutes of 5 years ago are now either highly debated or rebuked. What was unthinkable before now seems to be simply common sense.
Take for instance something as simple as Vitamin E. This highly touted anti-oxidant has always been considered something that people could take and be pretty sure that they were helping their health, at its worst it was considered benign. Then there were studies that said that taking Vitamin E, in some people actually increased mortality rates. Then there were other studies that said it would help you live longer. What are you to believe? Should you take it, or not? The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. We are now learning that while Vitamin E may be great for some, it might not be so good for others.
If you are the type of person who rides their bike a few times a week, eats healthy foods and enjoys junk food in moderations, you may be immune to this phenomenon. But if you are the type who is always is looking for the latest health product or food or training program that is going to shave off those last few pounds or help you up you climb like a pro, you have to beware. What was healthy last week has side effects this week, and what would kill you, now has some great healing power.
I am not sure if this is simply a California thing but I am constantly coming into contact with people who love to preach about some latest health discovery. Often times these people are part of some multi-level marketing company and trying to sell some type of product, other times these are just people who have read some article that has convinced them that some food item is part of some great conspiracy against our children. But even though I spend a huge portion of my time researching these exact things, I am usually pretty quiet when these subjects come up. When people start to talk in extremes about some new “health” discovery I start to get this weird feeling of déjà-vu. Been there…done that. When every parent is up in arms about some new health threat I usually shut my mouth.
Don’t get me wrong, I think that there have been some great discoveries in health that people should be aware of. I for one was thrilled when I read the study that said people who eat chocolate on a regular basis live longer. I also make sure to take my Omega-3s, I am trying to make sure that I get more Vitamin D and I believe strongly in the benefits of interval training. All things that were under the radar a few years ago. I am constantly on the look out for new innovations in the world of supplements and training. And it is not just because it is my job. I also truly believe that there are many exciting new studies out there that can provide new insights into the way in which we live affects are health and quality of life. But what I do now is take everything with a grain of salt. I wait try to look at the sites that agree and those that don’t. I look at the “big” medical sites and I look at the alternative sites. Big pharmaceuticals are not the only ones trying to make money. And a lot of alternative people may be just as wrong as they are sincere and passionate.
So what do you do when some new discovery comes out that looks like it will turn you in to the next Lance Armstrong? Wait. Be patient don’t spend a lot of time or money on something that hasn’t been around a while. Always check out side effects. Even natural products have side effects. Do a quick web surf to find out what known side effects there are. Before you buy some new equipment check out ebay. If some product could really give you a six pack in 10 painless and fun minutes a week would people really being selling the one they just bought on ebay at half off? Always buy from companies that will be around long enough to back their products. It is a good idea to make sure that some land base companies also sell the product. It is a not a sure fire way but at least you know that the land based companies would have a lot to lose if they sold a product they know doesn’t hold up to its promises.
If you have a program that works for you don’t change it simply because something else works better for someone else. Every body is unique. Different people respond to different training programs and everybody has different circumstances in their life. Things such as more or less free time or different ways to stay motivated may make what works for somebody else not work as well for you. Just because one spin instructor or group ride has made all of the difference to your friend it may not work for you. Be willing to give new things a try but don’t just float around from one training program to another. Sometimes positive changes take time. Keep your eyes and ears open to the latest and greatest, but don’t be one of the millions of Americans whose garages and cupboards are full of what was suppose to the magic bullet in fitness.
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