25 Mar 2011

INFORMATION OVERLOAD ODE TO PATTI AND JENNERS.

Thanks to Patti and her post INFORMATION OVERLOAD I was inspired to post this.


I used to be a health magazine junkie. Every week I'd go to the grocery store and buy a Shape, or a Fitness or a Women's Health, the latter being my favorite. I 'd devour the exercises, try the recipes, and read all the tips.
Then it got to be overwhelming. Every article seemed to have a different opinion on what was the best way to get toned triceps or a flat stomach. Should you only do cardio or add in strength, and how much lifting should you do? These food fight cancer, but they might cause heart problems. Don't eat this if your diabetic but it will help your kidneys - wrote Patti.

OK, so whilst these types of magazines have never been my forte, like many other people I have been confused by what is often conflicting information overload.

Take for example .......

.......The humble chuckie egg.

During the 1950's we were encouraged to 'go to work on an egg' . Alright, I see your point, yes, this was a slogan thought up by the UK Egg Marketing Board, but you can't get away from the fact that eggs were deemed healthy AND considered  the best way to start the working day.

Then, of course, came the 1980's when eggs went out of favour thanks to the 'SAM N ELLA' (otherwise known as Salmonella) SCANDAL. Yeah, 1988 saw Health minister Edwina Curry provoke outrage by claiming that most of Britain's egg production was infected with the 'killer' bacteria.

But even worse was too follow when it was widely thought that an egg consumption of more than 3 per week was bad for you and led to high cholesterol and imminent heart attack.

Not so said the researchers of the 'noughties',  regular eggs cause NO HARM TO HEALTH and limiting consumption has little effect on cholesterol levels.

Quite why I'm wittering about eggs I don't know when the aim of this post was to bring you this information (overload?)

 A sleepless night leaves you with dark circles under the eyes and feeling irritable burns the same amount of energy as walking two miles, research shows. Not getting enough sleep can burn up to 135 calories per night.

All I can say to that is thank goodness I'm not sleeping too well at present.

And, knowing that she loves chocolate almost as much as me and to whom the word 'diet' is also a nasty four-letter-word, I dedicate this next article to JENNERS.

DIETING MAKES PEOPLE ANGRY. Being on a diet makes people more likely to feel angry and irritable and to watch violent films, a study has suggested.
The effort involved in exerting self-control can lead to an aggressive frame of mind. Research has shown that exerting self-control makes people more likely to behave aggressively toward others and people on diets are known to be irritable and quick to anger.

Hmmm, I wonder just how much conflicting information there is out there that shows that sleepless nights result in one putting on weight and chocolate eaters are more likely to resort to murder than those who munch on apples?

Myself? I take all such information with a pinch of salt. Oh, I forgot, I can't do that - too much salt = high blood pressure ....... until some research shows otherwise.



PS. Both of today's articles come courtesy of The Telegraph, I'm sorry I was unable to bring you the link to the first.

18 comments:

Jenners said...

Dieting doesn't make me angry! What makes me angry is silly bloggers talking about how I love chocolate! That makes me angry! I'm going to go watch Scarface now and shoot up the town. I'm fine. Dieting doesn't make stressed and irritable and violent in the least. Now come here and let me punch you in the nose so I can get that candy bar I know you are hiding.

Note: The preceding comment was a lame attempt at humor to prove that, indeed, dieting makes me angry and irritable. I do not want to punch Tracy in the nose or wish her harm in any way. However, I would like her hand over that chocolate right now.

Amrit said...

PW,

One of my doctor friend always tell me that medical professionals know only 1% of human body..just 1%. He says medical professional know some basics but do not really know how this complex machine works and why some organ behave the way they behave. They know the functions of organs but do not know what makes them to function...

Same applies to diet plans and health magazine. Every individual is kind of different and in turn numerous theories and contradicting information. At the end a person has to figure out what works best for him/her...I still have NOT.

Did I confuse you more?

Carol said...

I still make sure an egg is cooked and not runny for the children, Edwina comes to mind as I cook the eggs.
I am not up to speed as I hadnt realised that limited consumption of eggs has been overturned.

Problem is that every day a new health scare or piece of health advice comes out. We cannot keep up with it all and I am sure the stress is not good for us :)

carol

Full-On-Forward said...

Don't forget---White Mice cause cancer too!

GREAT STUFF!!!!! Sorry I pronounced your name wrong on my comment to your comment to my post to your comment....whew!

I got it write--ar ar-- now!!!

Patti said...

It's funny how everything keeps changing. I remember when eggs were a big taboo item, now they're a staple on everyone's diet.

Thanks for the shout out.

Misha said...

I thought not sleeping led to weight gain. So much of conflicting information!

Revd. Neal Terry said...

Don't you pretend that wittering on about eggs is accidental...we all know it's nearly Easter...

Arti said...

I like to do things my way! As it is I dont understand most of these theories. I dont know why, but they always seem to conflict my heart!

Gina said...

Too funny...and too true! Why just the other night a customer at the bookstore was telling me how red meat was "good" again...oye! To keep up with all that, you'd be driven mad and need medicine to calm you...at least until it was proven to be "evil" and replaced with something less. Great post, Tracy...thanks for the smile!

hamaarethoughts.com said...

I agree!..I go thru all those junkies and see the conflicting statements...Some where I left many things in order to keep myself healthy...But in return I got few Aches ..due to lack of those vitamins...
its all basically combination and moderation...that goes with every individual..and body which is different!
nice post!

Short Poems said...

It is nearly Easter and writing about eggs is the right time, Petty.
Enjoyed reading your article ):
Warmly
Marinela

Kelly said...

It's hopeless. I just try to take it all with a grain of salt. No, wait.... what you said about blood pressure. What to do!

Fun post!
:)

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

I don't know... I think this post will lead to my insanity. Oh wait... I was already insane.. Hm... ;)

NRIGirl said...

Just love the way you write!!

Bharat said...

I agree with 'A'. Medical Science is just discovering how the human body works - which is why every research contradicts the current knowledge on the subject. With health, only a commonsense approach works - as does 'listening' to your body.

chitra said...

Pw, Nice write up, I felt so good to start my day reading your blog. It brought smile to my lips.
We have now cholestrol free eggs. BUt I am pure vegetarian. No eggs in my diet too.
But as I have cholestrol many tell me to avoid cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflowers. I wonder what else is there left for me to eat:).Everything with in permissible limits is ok. We must not overindulge.

The Bookworm said...

lol about the sleepless nights burning calories!
Dieting does make people angry, i've seen it first hand.

purplume said...

One of the benefits of getting old is you start to figure out what works for you.