Alcohol: How much is too much?

Several studies in recent years have highlighted health benefits of small to moderate amounts of alcohol. The most well-known beneficial class is red wine. But a person can be perfectly healthy with no alcohol at all. The thing is the reality of the matter: while a small amount may have health benefits, in reality, many people will consume way too too much, which becomes very unhealthy.

Our ancestors, from the middle ages to prehistoric times, usually had exposure to alcohol to some degree. Often it was in short supply, unless one was wealthy or harvests were especially bountiful. With modern agricultural efficiencies, alcohol has become very cheap, so that even the very poor can afford something. This dangerous equation makes it very easy to consume too much alcohol for those same types that would not have had the opportunity in ancient times.

The unhealthy effects of excessive alcohol consumption are well-known, so if person has a tendency to drink too much they will be more likely healthiest overall to abstain from alcohol altogether. But for those who can be disciplined, small amounts of red wines and beers can benefit your heart and even perhaps slow down the aging process a little!

Yoga, Tai-Chi and other Exercise Alternatives

There are many interesting traditions of exercise from around the world. I only refer to them as "alternative" from a western/American perspective, but of course what is "alternative" here may be very common and mainstream in another part of the world. Exercises such as yoga and tai-chi are very low-impact, and both not only are good for the body, but also the mind. They are contrasted with the more robust/high impact American styles of exercise which have developed over the last few decades, such as aerobics, jogging/running, power-walking and weight training. Which is better? It depends on your physical needs, your age and other factors. For most people, all of the above is good, because the different exercise systems help the body and mind in different ways. So there is nothing wrong with doing strenuous American-style exercise and then doing something like yoga or tai-chi, either directly afterward or later in the day or week.

More, on Wikipedia:
Tai Chi
Yoga

Nudism: A potentially healthy practice

Whenever you're concerned with improving your health, you first want to consider the obvious and most serious factors, such as improving diet, getting enough exercise and avoiding known unhealthy habits and substances. Once you have those things out of the way, you want to put on the finishing touches on your health. That is, once you've made yourself 90% healthy, these things will help make you that few percentage points more healthy. Some of these things including refining your diet, exercise routines and sleep patterns even more, getting good things like massage, avoiding more toxins in your environment, reducing stress and increasing happiness.

Nudism is another one of these "finishing touches". The ways it benefits are varied. Being nude (in a safe, warm environment) can be very health for the skin, reducing the likelihood of fungal infections, bacterial infections, various clothing irritations. For some skin conditions, nudity and sunlight is actually perscribed by physicians. Psoriasis is a well-known example. Exposure to sunlight or the right wavelengths of artificial U.V. light is known to help psoriasis, slowing the overgrowth of skin cells, sometimes with dramatic results.

So how can one get nude often? One way is in the home, if those who live with are tolerant. If not, you might at least find a room of the home where you can be alone and nude while reading a book, exercising or other activity. If you happen to have a private backyard, you are lucky to have a place where you can sunbathe nude. If not, you may look for an area nudist resort or beach.

Exercising nude is a great way to exercise. Not only do you have geater freedom of movement, but when you get really sweaty, your perspiration can cool you exactly how nature intended, rather than your body temperature rising to dangerously high levels. Even when not exercising, nudity can help regulate the body's temperature in hot and humid environments, which is of course why natives in hot, humid tropical forests go nude or nearly nude. It's not just their culture - nudity is a practice of their culture because it works for them and keeps them alive.

Of course, be moderate with sunlight. Depending on your skin tone and other factors you may be more or less sensitive to the sun. If you get sunburned, you've clearly had too much for that day! It's known that too much sun can lead to skin cancer, but no sunlight is not healthy as well. In fact, recent studies have shown that high vitamin D intake (and you can get naturally-provided vitimin D from the sunlight) at least slight protection against colon and breast cancers.

Obviously there are some situations where nudity is not healthy or at least not recommended, like when it's too cold or at some unathorized place where you might be arrested or gawked at. But if you can find a safe place, nudity has much to offer your heath and sanity!

Coffee: The Elixir of Health?

Several studies have shown some suprising health benefits of coffee in the last few years. Coffee was found to have a preventative effect against diabetes. Coffee seems to also help prevent alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Coffee is loaded with antioxidants as well. Another major find is a significant protective effect against alcoholic cirrhosis.

Now, before I go any further, I will state the coffee is a mixed bag. It has some good substances and some potentially bad substances. Caffeinated can cause insomnia or at best less than ideal quantity and timimg of sleep. Coffee can be hard on the stomach, for those with sensitive stomachs. Caffeine can also cause irritability and anxiety, so partake in moderation and give yourself a break whenever necessary. Caffeine can elevate the blood pressue and also can tigger heart palpitations.

The coffee bean is a seed, not a fruit, and some of the same substances we like, such as caffeine, are acually natural insecticides evolved by the plant to ward off predators (insects and herbivores). Coffee is not alone there. The interesting, favorful compounds in all our herbs and spices are probably all the plant's own chemical warfare system to protect itself from being eaten. The fact that some of these poisons are harmless to us and quite tasty is more of a happy accident of evolution than anything. That's not to say herbs and spices don't helpful biological functions for us. Some of them probably helped to eliminate parasites for our ancestors and helped to preserve our food, with some of the compunds being anti-microbial and likely making the food item less appealing to smaller mammals like rats and mice.

Anyway, back to coffee... it's a complex mixture of natural substances, and if you can do without it, that's okay. You don't need coffee to be healthy. But if you find coffee interesting, don't feel bad about drinking it. Just do so in moderation and beware of the downsides. You might just be helping to prevent some health issues in your future!

Good Sleep and Rest: Crucial to Good Health

You hear alot about the benefits of exercise to good health, but did you know a full night's sleep and naps when needed can be just as important? Sleep has been a neglected health topic until just the last few years. Maybe it's because doctors and the yuppies who wrote and read health publications just didn't want o admit what they were doibng to their own bodies an minds. There seems to have been a sleep-guilt aspect of American culture - maybe sleep is seen as lazy, indulging or apathetic?

Now that it's "OK" for the medical research community to study the adverse health effects of poor sleep, the floodgates are open. There are a ton of studies now that reveal the reality of how healthy good rest is.

Studies is recent years have found the following.

• A full night's sleep lowers blood pressure.


• A full night's sleep increases cognitive performance.


• Naps can help recover cognitive performance.


• A full night's sleep improves heart health.


• A full night's sleep increases immunity.


• A lack of sleep increases stress hormones, causing weight gain and other health problems.

I believe this will be the tip of the iceberg, as researchers are finally culturally "allowed" to look at sleep objectively.

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