The rise of social media has gone hand in hand with the rise in tons of health and wellness related information- and misinformation- available everywhere. It can be very difficult to know what’s based on science and what isn’t.
You might be asking why you should listen to me instead of someone who makes their living teaching this. First off, you should listen to me precisely because I’m NOT asking you for any money. I don’t even have ads on my blog. I’m all about sharing information and sharing my life just because I can. Second, I’m a medical science junkie- have been ever since I was a kid. I also deal with diabetes and depression every day so I keep on top of news in those areas. Third, I have always been straightforward and honest in my blog. I write from the heart and want nothing more than to help and entertain folks here. So, with no further ado…
#1 One size fits all. We’ve all heard the standards- “Drink 8 glasses of water a day”. “Get 8 hours of sleep a night”. “You must have daily bowel movements”. Do you think it makes sense that my mother (120 lbs soaking wet) has the same nutritional needs as a starting linebacker for the Green Bay Packers? Obviously not. Everyone is different, and so if you need 9 hours of sleep then you need 9 hours. Only pooped 3 days a week since you were a kid? That’s OK.
#2 LIfe is a highway, so is your skin. Nope. Our skin is an amazing organ and its biggest job is to keep the world out of our bodies. It’s not Swiss cheese that allows everything through. This is also the easiest thing to disprove. Just pour yourself a big glass of vodka, beer, etc. and stick your arm in it. Let me know when you get drunk. By the same token, sweat is just water and a little salt. It happens to cool down your body. Your skin does a lot of things, but producing excrement isn’t one of them. Which leads me right into…..
#3 Anything involving the words “cleanse” or “detox”. Are you a heroin addict? Been exposed to radiation? Bitten by a poisonous snake? Then you need to detox. Are you in liver or kidney failure? Then you’ll need to detox. Otherwise? Your body already does this for you.
#4 Anything natural is good and healthy. The following things are all natural: Plutonium. Arsenic. Mercury. Venomous snakes. Hurricanes. Smallpox. Bedbugs. ‘Nuff said.
#5 Fad Diets are good for you. How can you tell if you are on a fad diet? Does your diet have a name i.e. Atkins, South Beach, Paleo, etc. It’s a fad. Does your diet have crazy/ weird restrictions? i.e. the Grapefruit Diet, no gluten (assuming you are not Celiac), no fruits? It’s a fad diet. If you really want to eat healthy and need help please see your doctor or a registered dietitian. You can do significant, long-term damage to your health by eating a bad diet, perhaps more than by anything else on this list.
So please be safe AND smart out there!