Any health nuts here?

[iamnotspock]

After suffering from a variety of environmentally-caused illnesses -- toxic mold, gluten intolerance, Lariam toxicity, lead, arsenic, and mercury -- I have become a health fanatic:

* I filter my water through a three tiered system for cooking, then distill that for drinking.

* I run three different air filtration systems in my 1 BR apt.

* I eat only organic food where possible, avoid all chemicals and preservatives, and most fish (due to contamination)

* I take a variety of minerals, vitamins, and herbs

* I don't use aluminum pans, plastic food or beverage containers, chemical cleaning products

* I optimize my diet for my blood type

* I have a massive spreadsheet of health diagnostics tracking all sorts of data from tests such as blood, urine, hair, saliva, ultra-sound, etc. (I spend $$$ per year on all these tests)

* I don't trust any drug company or doctor

Basically, I seem to be very sensitive to environmental pollutants, drugs, food, etc., possibly due to Marfan's. So I take the approach of extensive prevention and monitoring. This is very INTJ-ish, I think. Anyone else out there like me?

[thod]

Nope. I have never been sick or suffered a single health problem.

I filter my water through a three tiered system for cooking, then distill that for drinking.


I drink whatever I want. Tap water is fine. I was even able to drink the water in India without problems after the first week. Coffee, beer, cola, i just wash it all down without care.

* I run three different air filtration systems in my 1 BR apt.

I don't, smoking of any substance is fine. Nothing effects me.

* I eat only organic food where possible, avoid all chemicals and preservatives, and most fish (due to contamination)


I eat anything as and when I want. Junk food is what I live on. I retain my weight and health. I don't know what is the food, I couldn't care less. I eat vast amounts of red meat and very little fresh food or vegetables. Its just fuel.

* I take a variety of minerals, vitamins, and herbs

what are they?

I don't use aluminum pans, plastic food or beverage containers, chemical cleaning products

Rarely use aluminium pans either, it so much easy to put a ready meal into the microwave. Sometimes use cleaning chemicals but am not very clean.

* I have a massive spreadsheet of health diagnostics tracking all sorts of data from tests such as blood, urine, hair, saliva, ultra-sound, etc. (I spend $$$ per year on all these tests)


Never been tested for anything, last saw a doctor about 15 years ago. Never sick have no use for them.

* I don't trust any drug company or doctor


Don't have to they are for sick people.

Seems to me you are hypochondriac. Maybe I am so strong because I don't worry. I have bacteria in my dirty apartment. They keep my immune system strong. I expose myself to everything, I become resistant.

[dandylion]

Wow, you two seem to be foils when it comes to health and diet...

I'm in between; I lean more toward iamnotspock's side though I'm not as strict. I very rarely get sick, and I'd like to keep it that way. For optimal health, I avoid junk food and processed foods, I don't do drugs or drink, I try to eat fresh foods often (I try to go for organic when possible as well). I supplement with probiotics as well as omega-3 oil capsules and magnesium, though I try to get both of these from my foods.

I don't want to tax my liver, so I try to help it out and keep my body as clean as possible; I inherited a pretty crappy liver from my mom, who died from liver cancer, and I don't want to "go down" the same way.

I dislike how most people are disinterested in their own health; they may not be hurting now, but in the long run it'll catch up with them and they'll have to deal with the consequences.

I don't limit health to a good diet; exercise is just as important.

I'm constantly reading and learning about healthy diets and lifestyles, so I guess I'm a little obsessed.

By the way, iamnotspock, why do you feel the need to supplement with "a variety of vitamins, minerals, and herbs?" You should just get what you can from natural food sources and only supplement when necessary. They're called supplements for a reason.

[iamnotspock]

Wow, you two seem to be foils when it comes to health and diet...


Ha ha. You know how they say a conservative is a liberal who got mugged? I was exactly like Thod a few years back. Lead? I thought that was a mineral. Preservatives? They will preserve you and help you live longer, right? My Dad was a doctor and I thought every health problem could be fixed with medicine or surgery. Not that I needed any. I was very healthy. And young. . . . There is no tonic like youth.

By the way, iamnotspock, why do you feel the need to supplement with "a variety of vitamins, minerals, and herbs?" You should just get what you can from natural food sources and only supplement when necessary. They're called supplements for a reason.

I agree. And I prefer not to take anything. But repeated tests showed I was vitamin and mineral deficient. For example, my red blood cells were enlarged which indicates B12 deficiency. Hair tests revealed absence of elements like magnesium, vanadium, and iodine. Also, my potassium level was too high, which caused heart palpitations.

This may be the result of Celiac disease, which destroys the small intestine and prevents absorption of nutrients. It may be a result of toxins, which interfere with metabolism and target kidneys in particular. Or it may be something else.

But whatever the cause, when I take vitamin and mineral supplements I can feel the difference, I can see my teeth are whiter, hair is smoother, skin is clearer, and this shows up on the diagnostics, with better blood cell size, lower cholesterol, higher mineral levels, etc. Using licorice, for example, I dropped my potassium from 5.6 (borderline dangerous) to a safe and solid 4. That in turn showed up on an EKG with a smaller p-wave, indicating a basic improvement in the electrical properties of the heartbeat (if the p-wave is too large the nerve tissue won't repolarize and you can get an erratic heartbeat, very dangerous). And the heart palpitations were gone...

Anyway, I hope that once the underlying conditions are cleared up I will not need any more supplements. But meanwhile it's been fascinating to see how powerful nutrients and herbs can be for human health. And I do believe that the modern environment is probably much more toxic, while the modern diet is much less nutritious, than in the past, so supplements may be necessary.

Or, I may just be obsessed ;-)

P.S. Exercise is a good point. What do you do to stay in shape? I used to be a competitive swimmer and then a gym rat. Now I just try to walk 3 miles/day and do some light weights.

[Colette]

OP: I'm not a health nut, but I do think you're a hypochondriac ;)

[iamnotspock]

OP: I'm not a health nut, but I do think you're a hypochondriac ;)

I *knew* there was something else wrong with me! Which vitamins, minerals, and herbs do you recommend to treat this condition? ;-) Should I see a naturopath, an osteopath ... or maybe just a psychopath ;-))

[Colette]

... or maybe just a psychopath ;-))

You heard it from your own lips first :p

Get out into the workforce, I say. You'll instantly forget you ever had allergies, aches and pains, and find more important and interesting things to occupy your head space..

[fripping]

i live off of nothing but lucky charms and beer.

[dandylion]

P.S. Exercise is a good point. What do you do to stay in shape? I used to be a competitive swimmer and then a gym rat. Now I just try to walk 3 miles/day and do some light weights.

I don't really do much right now. I jog a few times a week for 15 minutes each time and walk around the neighborhood or the park every day. At home I do crunches, and I consider cleaning the house exercise, too. I'm thinking of taking up ice skating soon. I hear jump roping is a great aerobic exercise (and convenient, too!), so as soon as I can get my hands on a jump rope I'll do that as well.

Are you trying to lose weight?

Oh yeah, one more thing... Ever heard of green smoothies?
Blended Salads or Green Smoothies
Eating raw greens and fruits blended together to make a smooth, creamy treat is quick and convenient. The greatest benefit of blending is the increased absorption of important nutrients. All plants cells are surrounded by a cell wall that must be broken open to release the nutrients inside. As a result, most of the valuable nutrients contained within these cells never enter our bloodstream. Blending raw, leafy greens guarantees a higher percentage of nutrients absorbed into your bloodstream. By just chewing your food you absorb about 15 - 25% of the nutrients, but blending makes your body able to absorb up to 95%!
I love 'em.

[yondyr]

Much of our health and mortality we owe to our genes, sometimes in spite of our dietary practices...check out your parents

[iamnotspock]

> Are you trying to lose weight?

Nope. Just want to live longer. Jumping rope is great if you are coordinated. I can do it for about 30 seconds before I fall on my face... Do you have stairs nearby? Walking up the stairs is great. Added bonus: you don't get stuck in elevators!

> Ever heard of green smoothies?

Yeah, I have a juicer. I love it! Ever make purple ones?

> ...check out your parents

In my family the women live forever. The men, not so much. But genes are not fate...

[Zilal]

I'm not that kind of health nut, no. But I feel like a health nut sometimes compared with my peers. I generally avoid junk food and fast food, partly out of common sense but partly also because when I eat it I get the feeling that my body is telling me it doesn't want it. Not in a "upset stomach" kind of a way, but in more like a "my body is sending me psychic messages saying it doesn't want this stuff" kind of way. That's the nutty part.

[dandylion]

> Are you trying to lose weight?

Nope. Just want to live longer. Jumping rope is great if you are coordinated. I can do it for about 30 seconds before I fall on my face... Do you have stairs nearby? Walking up the stairs is great. Added bonus: you don't get stuck in elevators!

> Ever heard of green smoothies?

Yeah, I have a juicer. I love it! Ever make purple ones?


I would say I'm pretty coordinated. :D In elementary school I would jump rope ALL the time. Even if I do suck I'll probably be able to adjust after a while. It's weird, I've never noticed any kids jump roping at any school nowadays. What's up with that?!

I've never made a purple green smoothie... but I have made a brown one. :/ Brown ones turn me off so I avoid adding any food not in the green color family. I usually dump in a green mix of spinach and other stuff I can't remember at the top of my head, a banana, plain yogurt, milk, and some kiwis together. The milk makes it a nice, light green color. I'm going to add ground flax seed soon. What do you put in yours?

[BadMojo]

I don't eat of the floor...

[ssfanatic]

ummm... the last time i thought about being healthy was when i sat and ate about 1/4 of the 5 gallon ice cream container in the garage hiding from my mom. Here ill walk you through the thought process...
"Hmm, i bet this is bad for me. I wonder how many calories are in this? In what way could this hurt me, im freakin 16! Screw it!" *i continue eating*

[iamnotspock]

I would say I'm pretty coordinated. :D In elementary school I would jump rope ALL the time. Even if I do suck I'll probably be able to adjust after a while. It's weird, I've never noticed any kids jump roping at any school nowadays. What's up with that?!


Maybe they are all playing with their GameBoys or Wii's (why does that phrase sound slightly strange?). At what age did you stop jump roping? I always thought it was too bad that girls outgrew it, from a health standpoint.


I've never made a purple green smoothie... but I have made a brown one. :/ Brown ones turn me off so I avoid adding any food not in the green color family. I usually dump in a green mix of spinach and other stuff I can't remember at the top of my head, a banana, plain yogurt, milk, and some kiwis together. The milk makes it a nice, light green color. I'm going to add ground flax seed soon. What do you put in yours?

Yeah, brown would not be so ideal... Lately I've been mixing up orange juice, lecithin, and flax seed oil in the morning. Lecithin is supposed to be good for memory/cognition. And flax seed oil has a pleasant calming effect on me. And after the gym in evening I'll mix up rice milk and brown rice protein which tastes pretty good. Unfortunately I recently misplaced the little round rubber ring for the blender that keeps it from leaking all over, so I haven't made any smoothies lately... I used to like them with bananas, wheat germ, yogurt, milk, and some fresh fruit.... hmm, I'm suddenly getting hungry ;-)

[dandylion]

Maybe they are all playing with their GameBoys or Wii's (why does that phrase sound slightly strange?). At what age did you stop jump roping? I always thought it was too bad that girls outgrew it, from a health standpoint.

Yeah, brown would not be so ideal... Lately I've been mixing up orange juice, lecithin, and flax seed oil in the morning. Lecithin is supposed to be good for memory/cognition. And flax seed oil has a pleasant calming effect on me. And after the gym in evening I'll mix up rice milk and brown rice protein which tastes pretty good. Unfortunately I recently misplaced the little round rubber ring for the blender that keeps it from leaking all over, so I haven't made any smoothies lately... I used to like them with bananas, wheat germ, yogurt, milk, and some fresh fruit.... hmm, I'm suddenly getting hungry ;-)

I stopped jump roping at around 4th grade. I'm not sure what age that was...
I've been practicing the jump rope the past few days... geez, it's sure tiring. After about 60-70 consecutive jumps I start to get really tired, or I just trip. My goal is to jump consecutively for 15 minutes straight. Yea, difficult! But hey, at least I'm working out my entire body.

Hmm, I haven't heard too much about lecithin. I'll look out for that.

I'm hungry all the time. I think I eat pretty good meals, but after 5 minutes or so I'm starving to death again. Eating plain yogurt helps a lot in this issue.