Research on Lifestyle Shows That Your Choices Matter

Looking for Proof?

If you spend any time online, or regularly peruse a publication that includes a section on "Healthly Living", then you're probably just as confused as, well, everyone else. Will my daily supplement shorten my life, or extend it? Should I stop eating eggs? How can I take fish oil regularly when so much is contaminated with mercury?  Is a daily glass of wine good for my heart but bad for breast health? Is my kid hyperactive because she eats sugar, or is it because she eats corn, or is it because she is 7 years old? If I am genetically prone to high cholesterol, does it really matter if I order another Big Mac? Should I use olive oil? Canola oil? Coconut oil?  (Insert head exploding)Some people get to the point were they are so bombarded with advice that they end up throwing in the towel. Why make modifications to your daily routine when the  recommendations on healthy living and longevity never seem consistent, and at times, seem outright conflicting?  Do lifestyle changes really matter? Or is our mortality pre-programmed in our genes? Is there a chance that no matter what we do, we're predestined to suffer when the buzzer goes off?I've heard this concern often enough that I've decided to blog about it. Instead of making a passionate argument that includes personal experiences, supportive research, and patient testimonials, I've decided that it would be more fun to consult some experts on the subject and...watch a movie!This TEDMED video is just under 30 minutes (the amount of time you spend, once a week, FaceStalking your old college crush - be honest!).  You may not have 27 minutes to spare, but what if this 27 minutes could add 7 years to your life? How's that for carrot-dangling? Incentives: the video includes a gurgling baby with a droopy hat, joke-making, and two doctors sharing more than 20 years of research into this exact question.So, does it matter how you live your life, from what you eat for breakfast to what you do for fun? Yes, it does.  But they say it better in the video below. Check it out!

Dean Ornish and Deepak Chopra Speak About How To Stay Alive

Dean Ornish, M.D., is the founder and president of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California. He is Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Ornish received his medical training in internal medicine from the Baylor College of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and the Massachusetts General Hospital. He received a B.A. in Humanities summa cum laude from the University of Texas in Austin, where he gave the baccalaureate address.Deepak Chopra, M.D.,: Dr. Chopra is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, an adjunct professor of executive programs at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a distinguished scholar at Columbia University, and a senior scientist with the Gallup Organization. Before establishing the Chopra Center, Dr. Chopra served as chief of staff at Boston Regional Medical Center. He received his medical degree from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and did his internship at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, New Jersey. He then completed various residencies and fellowships at university-affiliated medical centers in Boston.(Dean Ornish bio from the Preventative Medicine Research Institute , Deepak Chopra bio from the Chopra Center)