What would it take to live a longer healthier life? Here are a few common health practices which may stand in your way.

  1. Eat seafood for heart and brain health – Right?    Not Always – While the USDA Economic Research Service publishes an article about how Americans need to eat seafood for brain and heart health, high levels of mercury (a carcinogen and a dangerous neurotoxin that can disrupt brain function and harm the nervous system), have been found in some fish. It truly depends on the kind of fish you eat. Older fish, like tuna, sea bass and swordfish, have the highest mercury. While younger fish, like salmon and flounder, have the least. (1)
  2. Eating fat makes you fat and causes heart disease – Right?  It depends – For decades, we have been told that the fat we eat turns into fat in the body, contributing to weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, and generally poor health. Yet, as Mark Hyman, M.D. explains in Eat Fat, Get Thin, “A growing body of research reveals the immense health and weight loss benefits of a high fat diet rich in eggs, nuts, oils, avocados, coconut oil and other delicious super foods.”  That’s right – as it turns out – one of the keys to losing weight, increasing overall energy, and achieving optimal wellness is eating the right type of fat, not less.
  3. Switching to diet soda will help me lose weight – Right?  No – Everyone knows that drinking regular soda is bad for you – it’s full of sugar! But what about diet soda? It’s zero calories and tastes great, so it must be better for you – Well, not the case. Research has shown that artificial sweeteners are associated with an increased risk for metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risk factors including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of HDL/good cholesterol, and high fasting glucose levels. (2)
  4. Struggling with menopause – just toughen up – Right?  No – Mood swings, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, physical degeneration ~ these symptoms are not in your head and you certainly don’t have to live with them.  At The Renewal Point we offer safe and effective Bio-Identical Hormone Balancing. You can enjoy life just as much (or even more) in the second half of life as you did in the first!
  5. Conventional Resistance Training (weight lifting) can help me stay healthy and grow strong bones – Right?  It depends – Many of the more common gym exercises can actually harm you. Right, only if it is the proper kind of resistance training. Dr. David Luedeka, DPT CSCS, explains, “Many patients come to me for injuries caused from working out with weights in the gym. For instance, bench pressing can cause significant shoulder pain and increased rotator cuff tears. Additionally, rather than strengthening the body, bar bell squats can increase back pain and lead to bulging or herniated discs.” The good news is, here at The Renewal Point, we teach our patients a better, more enjoyable way to exercise. One that not only builds the body but also slims the waistline and decreases injuries to the joints and spine.

References

1. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/mercury-guide

2. Lutsey, P. et al. Dietary Intake the Development of the Metabolic Syndrome. Circulation. 2008. 117:754-761.