The Life and Times of Nate Lanier - Simplicity / Health / Happiness

This will be post #1 in an ongoing series while I am hospitalized.

No one likes being in the hospital.  Unfortunately, most of us will find ourselves in one at some point in our lives.  I am currently on my third stay in a hospital and as a young patient I have valuable perspective on what you can do to get the most out of your hospital stay.

1.  Ask questions.

This is obvious is principle, but more difficult to follow in practice.  As a patient you generally lay around extremely bored and extremely naive to what’s going on behind the scenes.  Doctors do a lot of busy work behind the scenes that you may not be aware of.  Be respectful of that and understand that you are not the only patient in his care.

The doctor will spend a very limited amount of time in your room so it’s important to spend your bored time writing down symptoms and questions you want to ask before he appears unannounced.  Also, don’t be intimidated.  You are the patient and you have every right to command the respect and attention of your doctor.

I promise you that if you prepare yourself ahead of times and you question the things you do not understand, you will benefit as a patient.  So go ahead, ask questions - Stupid questions, silly questions, rhetorical questions. . . It just might save your life.

I will never understand why hospital food is so remarkably unhealthy.

It’s not bad, per se, but it IS comparable to High School lunches and is littered with refined carbohydrates, simple sugars, and sodium.

A simple strategy to combat soaring health care costs is to inform patients about healthy dieting practices.  Hospitals do the exact opposite by encouraging the consumption of the very foods that might have put them in the hospital to begin with.

I will never, ever understand this and I hope to some day be healthy enough to do something about it.

No Windows?  Get me out of here!

Going to the gym is not fun.  If you think going to the gym is fun, then you’re in the minority!

So how can we make exercise fun while eliminating that dreaded “I still have to go to the gym today” feeling?  Read on and I’ll share a few ideas!

1.  Golf!

“I hate golf, Nate.”  I know, but have you ever tried it?  You will hate it until you get a taste of what it’s like to be decent at the game.  As soon as that happens, I absolutely gauruntee you will fall in love.  So much so that it will become an unhealthy obsession - Which is fine!  Why?  Because the average golf course is 6,000 yards which is 18,000 feet which is almost FOUR MILES.  Four miles in a straight line, that is.  And the way some of us play that might turn into eight miles.  The key takeaway here is that to receive the healthy benefits of golf, you have to WALK!  You will burn over 1000 calories on a typical 18 hole course.  Seriously, where else can you burn 1000 calories?  In a kiln?

2.  Go Kayaking!

Kayaking is not only good cardiovascular exercise - It’s a great muscle building activity too.  Kayakers must row steadily with their shoulders and backs as they enjoy beautiful river or lake scenery. Kayaking burns 350-500 calories an hour depending on your intensity level.  If a kayak is too tipsy or intimidating for you, buy a Canoe!

This is so much fun

3.  Start a Garden!

Gardening is great for a number of reasons.  One, seeds are incredibly cheap and your return on investment is remarkable.  One study I’ve read claimed that twenty dollars in seeds produced $600 in produce!  And you’re worried about your Bank of America Savings Rate! 

Two, it needs to be kept up which gets you outside and moving.  Tending to your Garden can burn 400 calories or so an hour and help you expose your skin for some all important Vitamin D synthesis!

Finally, it’s healthy.  You can’t grow unhealthy food in your garden unless you like to eat dirt!!  So since you’ve invested your time and hard work to your garden you will feel a certain sense of obligation to eat your healthy bounty.   You’ll also feel a sense of satisfaction when you bite into your first ripe tomato.  So what are you waiting for?

4.  Buy some video games!

“What, Nate?”  You heard me, buy some video games!  You’ve no doubt heard about the Nintendo Wii’s “Fit” device.  It has been found to burn almost 600 calories and hour!! And it is FUN!  You will love it, your kids will love it, your mother will love it - It’s a no brainer.

These are just some ideas to get your mind working in the right direction.  What is important with exercise and a healthy lifestyle is that it does not feel like a BURDEN to you.   You should WANT to partake in a healthy activity and you should WANT to eat well.  If you can’t find something you generally love doing that gets your heart rate up, I can guaruntee you that you are fighting a battle that you will ultimately lose.  So lace up and find an activity you love!!!  Take control, woo!!

Note: My choices were chosen specifically because they don’t FEEL like you’re working out.  For example, with Golf you can walk almost four miles and all you think about the whole time is how much you’d like to wrap your pitching wedge around your husband/wife for taking you golfing again  You feel like you are enjoying life the way it’s meant to be enjoyed.

As always, questions, comments, criticisms, and suggestions are much appreciated!

THIS COULD BE YOU!!!!

The best way to live to be 100 is to have grandparents and parents that lived to be a hundred.  If you didn’t, I’m sorry but you’re out of luck.  Stop reading.

I’m just kidding!!

But seriously, it’s true that genetic predisposition is a determining factor in the majority of centenarians.  We’ve all heard the story… “He smoked a cigarette to celebrate his 100th birthday”.

But I’ve eaten Kale Salads and Fish Oil for forty years, shouldn’t I live to be 100 too?

Well, no, not necessarily.  Diet is only small part in the battle for longevity.  There are a number of other factors that scientists suspect can contribute to longevity.  I will list some of those here for you to think about.  I can’t guarantee that they’ll make you live to be 100, but I wouldn’t ignore them!

1.  Be optimistic!

For crying out loud, you’re not cursed!  That horrible thing that happened to you?  Yes, it happened for a reason - to make you stronger and to make you realize that things can always get worse in the blink of an eye.  So the glass?  It’s half full!!

2.  Relax!

When we encounter stress we can deal with it two ways:  We can let it get under our skin and take control of us, OR we can take charge, rise above the challenge at hand and defeat it.  The good news?  If you occasionally lose this battle you will benefit by learning from it.

3.  Stop smoking.

Seriously, just stop.  You’re not only hurting yourself but those around you.  You will markedly decrease the likelihood of disease by taking this one simple life-changing step.  No excuses!!  Stop!

4.  Make lots of friends

One of the strongest trends across all centenarians is their ability to socialize.  They’re funny.  They swear.  They smile a lot.  They know everyone.  Why is this?  They follow the old mantra of “never stopping”.  The moment you stop, you’re dead.  So never stop, stay positive, and find beauty in your relationships.  And smile!  Yes!  Smile!!

5.  Get a good night’s sleep

Lack of sleep contributes to stress and raises cortisol levels which absolutely wrecks havoc on your body.  Imagine scratching a piece of wood with a knife for 100 years.  Now imagine doing the same thing to your body.  Not pretty.  That’s what cortisol does.

Most centenarians are early risers so hitting the sack early and missing Letterman might be one of the best things you can do for yourself.

6.  Do the obvious

Eat right, exercise, don’t smoke, get outdoors a lot, smile, don’t drink too much alcohol, go to your doctor for regular screening exams, take control of your body, and find purpose.

So there you have it.  Now find a golfing buddy, put down the cigarette, and live to be 100!!!

As always, questions, comments, suggestions, and criticisms are encouraged!

You’ve certainly heard about Omega-3’s.  But did you know that their purported benefits are backed by more scientific evidence than any other supplement on store shelves?  And did you know that just recently a study was published that says Omega-3’s can ease depression during pregnancy?

Well hell yes you know now! 

Another promising news story in the pipes tonight is about the benefits of Organic Milk.  It contains more omega-3’s and antioxidants than mass produced versions.  Yet more evidence that you should be eating organically and supporting local businesses.  Surprisingly, locally harvested organic milk is generally cheaper, so telling me it cost too much is bogus!

Finally, if you don’t know how to get Omega-3’s in your diet, here’s a starter for ya:

Questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome!  And criticisms!!

MMM, this Vitamin D is tasty

The science behind this so called “Everything Vitamin” has some serious momentum.  For years companies have bombarded our senses with sensational promises to keep us young, help us lose weight, and help us fight disease.  But most of what you see on the shelf at Walgreen’s is high-priced, over-branded Snake Oil.

Vitamin D, however, holds up to intense scrutiny on a number of fronts.  There is strong science that suggests it can help prevent cancer, protect against coronary artery disease, boost the immune system, delay the development of numerous auto-immune diseases, improve mood, increase energy, stop osteoporosis, reduce mortality in ill patients, increase muscle strength, blunt lower back pain, avoid type I and type II diabetes, do your laundry for you. . .OK, it can’t do your laundry for you, but you get the idea!  It sounds like a miracle Vitamin, and truthfully it just might be.

OK, So Now What?

The problem is that most of us are not getting enough of it because we work indoors and dietary sources of it are surprisingly lacking.  Thankfully, many milk, yogurt, and cheese manufacturers have fortified their foods with Vitamin D, but it’s still not enough. 

How can we get more Vitamin D?  Well, for starters, we can expose our bodies to sunlight for fifteen or so minutes a day.  Studies have shown that in the Northern Hemisphere the UV rays that endogenouslysynthesize Vitamin D are most active in late morning.  So skip out early for your lunchtime walk and wear some short sleeves!

The second most efficient non-dietary way to get enough Vitamin D is to supplement with Cod Liver Oil.  A single tablespoon contains a whopping 340% of your recommended daily allowance.  So couple a few capsules of delicious Cod Liver Oil with a short, sunny walk and I guarantee you will reap the benefits.

An increasing number of researchers are correlating a large portion of our health issues with a nationwide lack of Vitamin D.  Some studies suggest that 70% of us are lacking this essential nutrient! - Which is not surprising because of technology and the dreaded cubicle.  Many of them believe that taking small measures to increase Vitamin D levels could help millions of Americans avert serious health issues that would otherwise degrade our quality of life.

So what are you waiting for?   Get out there and buy yourself some Cod Liver Oil, find a walking buddy, and get Vitamin D-ified!

We all lead hectic lives.  Between rushing around for work and chasing our kids around with soccer, we have very little time to devote to our health and well-being.  Here are five easy tips that I think anyone can follow to enjoy a more balanced and happy life.

1.  Carry a Toothbrush or Gum

In my experience, there is no better way to squash a craving or delay an indulgence than brushing your teeth.  When you are done with a meal, wait about an hour and then brush your teeth.  Waiting is important because cravings don’t generally hit until your meal has moved through your stomach.  If you’re uncomfortable having lettuce stuck in your molars for an hour, chew some gum immediately after your meal.

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Despite building new islands and half-mile high skyscrapers, Dubai is marred in one of today’s most important issues:  Healthcare . . .

As released at the end of April, the new Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will introduce a compulsory health insurance scheme for all local and expatriate employees working in the public and private sectors in Dubai. After a successful implementation for all public employees and their dependants on May 2nd 2008, the new scheme will be applied to the private sector in the very near future. . .

Although this new legislation will benefit most employees, it will also have a major impact on the healthcare industry in Dubai, as a survey conducted among 100 hospital professionals by naseba research reveals.

Dubai’s major hospitals forecast that the quality of patient care will drastically decrease, due to the sudden rise in patient flow. 72% of surveyed hospitals predict that the number of patients will increase from 10 to 25% in the next 12 months and that the frequency of patients visits will also rise significantly. Mohd. Hamidur Rahman, the Director of Finance at Al Noor Hospital points out that ”the traffic in Out Patient Departments (OPDs) will pose a major concern as more people may get curious for the slightest of illness symptoms, which in turn will affect the patient who really needs medication.”

It sounds a lot like the problem we have in Urban U.S. Emergency Departments which promise to “Treat you regardless of your ability to pay.”

Dubai seems to be spending like a drunken sailor on infrastructure.  One might find it more intelligent to invest in the future of their populations health