Latest News and Developments about Humankind's Drive Towards Biological Immortality

It was only four centuries ago that man believed that the sun actually circled about the earth. And it was just in the late 1800’s that medical practitioners stopped the inhumane procedure of bloodletting which at one time was considered to be the one thing that could cure nearly anything.

It makes a person happy to be alive at this time when medicine is modern, new breakthroughs are being made regularly in science, medicine and technology that have changed many old standards while modifying the way we think about things. That being the case, it would be simple to presume that in this day and age of science, technology and clinical practices, a recognized and conventional collection of health data would be available, unfortunately this is not true.

It is a point of fact that numerous existing health proposals are really the cause of a rise in health difficulties. There are top health experts who have come forward to claim that these proposals are being pushed by various businesses that have a clear profit based interest in their acceptance. Having pointed out this controversial conflict, it is time that someone exposed the truth about the top ten most frequently misunderstood health myths – and let the skeletons swing in their collective closets!

The 10 Most Common Health Myths are the following:

Myth 1: It is your genes that decide if a person will develop cancer;
Myth 2: To maintain proper health, you should pursue the suggestions in the food pyramid;
Myth 3: Exposure to the sun is why people contract skin cancer;
Myth 4: People who are overweight suffer with a slow metabolism;
Myth 5: Milk from Cow’s is a great way to acquire calcium and to develop strong bones;
Myth 6: We should avoid eating eggs since they are a major source of bad cholesterol;
Myth 7: Eating margarine is a wiser option than choosing butter;
Myth 8: Using artificial sweeteners are a fine substitute for sugar;
Myth 9: We should be eating a diet that is low in fat;
Myth 10: Drinking red wine is great for a healthy heart and even physicians recommended it;
 
These myths need to be dealt with one at a time:

Myth 1: It is your genes that decide if a person will develop cancer.

Truth: It is your lifestyle choices that are the singular most important decisions that establish your risk of contracting cancer – not your genetics.

It is a fact that cancer genes are hereditary, the question lies in whether these genes are expressed that makes the difference. Put a different way, if your mom or dad passed away from cancer, this does not automatically mean you will wind up with the same devastating illnesses as them. It all boils down to personal choices we make with our lives.

If you subsist on a poor diet, never get any exercise, smoke or drink, these are the types of choices that get a person in trouble down the road.

Experts in cancer research have estimated that being overweight and not getting enough physical activity is responsible for triple the amount of cancer cases as being genetically predisposed to it. Based on this expert investigating, it has been concluded that some of the most common forms of cancer like bowel and breast cancers could be thwarted by almost forty percent if people would learn to control their weight, get adequate exercise and eat a healthier diet.

Seeing to it that this myth about genetics and cancer is quashed is essential. It has been verified that a poor diet and low physical activity are responsible for three times the occurrence rate of cancer over genes. This is because if their family has a predisposition to these diseases then any fore knowledge that could help them individually could be life saving. In general the inherited genetic predilection is fairly uncommon. It is a good reason for those who have inherited these genes to look closely at the type of lifestyle they lead and perhaps do something about it to lessen their personal threat.
 
A study conducted on thirty men with prostate cancer in 2005, at U of C San Francisco, evaluated the actions of significant lifestyle adjustment on gene expression. Biopsies where performed at the three month mark after experiencing a healthy diet, sensible physical activity, stress reduction therapy along with psychotherapy, this displayed a dramatic alteration in the expression of hundreds of genes. The healthy lifestyles these men were now living during the previous three month period proved that good diet and exercise could turn critical genes off and on.

The results revealed that many of the genes, some concerned with the creation of tumors, were risk reduced or less reactionary while other genes – including those that combat diseases – were further positively stimulated. The conclusions drawn from the study and expert testimony means lifestyle changes could in fact slow cancer development and can perhaps contribute significantly to the prevention of it entirely. Myth busted!

Myth 2: For good health, follow the recommendations of the food pyramid.

Truth:  The food pyramid suggestions are in fact unhealthy for you.

When the food pyramid was originally produced in 1992 by the USDA, they based their advice on what was necessary to fatten livestock and cattle! One Harvard researcher said that the first food pyramid was initiated by the food industry instead of being based on solid scientific study. He added that the pyramid in and of itself is terribly flawed and deceptive.

For instance, comprehensive recommendations are given that all fats are harmful and any types of carbohydrates are identical, this is not true in the least. Furthermore, the first food pyramid says that consuming six to eleven servings of carbs each day is called for. Little wonder that the cases of diabetes mellitus are skyrocketing along with obesity rates. Strangely there are no recommendations concerning alcohol consumption, getting adequate exercise or how vital it is to eat vegetables and fruits.

The latest “longevity Pyramid”

Renowned physician and author Dr. Mitra Ray, believes in a novel food pyramid, one that is grounded on solid health standards. The new food pyramid is based on five to ten servings of no starch vegetables. A further level involves meats, fish and poultry at two to three servings along with lentils, beans, fresh nuts or seeds making up one serving. Another tier is for fruits at two to four servings and the top pinnacle of the pyramid [the least quantity] would be reserved for whole grains, cereals and breads of up to a limit of two servings each day. Myth Busted!

Myth 3: The sun causes skin cancer.

Truth: Our body requires sunlight. Normal exposure to sun rays can decrease the frequency of cancers by as much as sixty percent!

The popular theory is that the sun is the reason why people get cancer and in point of fact the reverse is true. For instance, numerous studies have shown that individuals residing in sun filled locales, usually down south, and who have innately elevated levels of vitamin D due to sun exposure, are a good deal less prone to dying from some form of cancer than those folks living in the north. There is also considerable proof that sunlight will safeguard against multiple sclerosis and breast cancer.

Divergent from popular understanding, reasonable exposure to the sunlight in fact can thwart the deadly varieties of skin cancer, like melanoma. Actually, the lethal tolls from melanoma have shown a reduction when exposed to higher amounts of sunlight. It would be prudent for us to lessen our chances of developing cancer, that there is a need to be regularly but moderately exposed to the sun to replenish our vitamin D at healthy levels.

Experts suggest that we try and get about fifteen minutes of sunlight every day. Keep covered with clothing to avoid sunburn and steer clear of commercial sunscreens since these contain toxic substances actually associated with skin cancer and melanoma! They also impede the absorption of vitamin D. If using sun block is necessary, try a natural variety that is toxin free. Myth Busted!

Myth 4: People are overweight because they have slow metabolisms.

Truth: Just a small minority of people actually have slow metabolisms.

It is used as an excuse often but studies have shown that saying you have a slow metabolism cannot be used as a reason for gaining weight. In reality, newer investigations have displayed that overweight individuals actually have a quicker metabolism, burning off more energy than their lightweight equivalents. It is one’s body makeup, in particular the leanness of your muscularity that decides your BMR or basal metabolic rate, the quantity of calories you burn when resting.

The greater your lean muscularity, the more calories you will burn off and those folks that are plump normally have a faster metabolic rate due to having more muscle along with their fat. It is for this reason that men commonly have more lean muscularity than women and seem to lose weight quicker than women do and also add weight slower than the ladies do. This is why professionals suggest strength training in order to add muscle. How much you train also has much to do with your BMR. Any form of physical training or activity will increase the amount of calories you burn off, not just hardcore intense exercising.

Slow metabolisms do exist but they are very uncommon.

You should seek out the advice of your primary health care professional if you believe you have a slow metabolism. They will probably have your BMR evaluated, or your resting energy expenditure. There are a number of things that can cause a lowered BMR or affect your fat to muscle percentage, such as hypothyroidism and Cushing’s syndrome. The simple fact is that the majority of overweight or obese people do not have a metabolism issue; instead, they just eat too much and do not get enough exercise. Myth Busted!

Myth 5: Cow’s milk is a good source of calcium and builds strong bones.

Truth: Cow’s milk was never meant to be ingested by humans. Of all species on the planet, we are the only one that consumes some other specie’s milk. Cow’s milk is for calves!

If you were raised to think that cow’s milk is a nutritious staple, a great source for calcium that develops strong bones etc., then you will be stunned to learn that milk in fact is a major contributor to nearly a couple dozen diseases effecting kids and adults alike. The dairy business was partly responsible for funding our nutritional education in our school systems so of course they touted the benefits of dairy items in our diets, indeed, part of the four food groups of proper nutrition. This meant that dairy became a food fixture in government operated school food programs.

Some of the problems as a result of drinking cow’s milk are a lack of iron resulting in anemia, allergic reactions, diarrhea, heart disease, cramping, colic, gastrointestinal bleeding, sinusitis, skin problems, acne, susceptibility to colds and flu viruses, arthritis, diabetes, ear infections, asthma, autoimmune diseases and so many more including potentially lung cancer, MS, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and on and on…

Now, let’s discuss the calcium that is so crucial we need to drink a cow’s milk. In a single head of broccoli, by weight, you will get more calcium than you will from milk. Even more significant, the variety of calcium found in green veggies is absorbed more efficiently without discharging from the bones – quite unlike high protein dairy items. It must be understood that we can get better quality calcium from eating green veggies than we gain from eating cheese and ingesting dairy in general. Myth Busted!

End Of Part One

Anti Aging, Health And Aging, Lifestyle, Longevity