spelger

it was a really good pint!

Carbonfiberboy 

Fixx turned to running in an attempt to reverse damage already done and to change his life's direction. I think he did a great job of it, wrote a fine book, and helped a lot of people, Unfortunately, many who go to war against whatever die in the war. That doesn't undercut the nobility of the attempt. All we can do is try. Let's hear it for the brave who attempt self-rescue!

The man who wrote Winterdance, a fine book about running the Iditarod, also died from a heart attack. His story is similar to that of Fixx. Let us celebrate those who try.

car5car

Thanks! I'll fix it. Keep watching my mistakes, if you feel like it.
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car5car

del

MinnMan

Welcome, CarScar.

There are plenty of people here who initially came off wrong -appearing maybe like a troll when really they were just. little over-enthusiastic when expressing their opinions. If they were willing to listen and learn, they and everybody else benefitted..

The thread has already illustrated that there are some people here with deep knowledge of health and nutrition. Stick around and think a little before posting threads that may provoke unintentionally.

RH Clark

Some of the best diet related information we have comes from the blue zone studies. I don't agree that meat in general is unhealthy. I do think the source of animal protein is extremely important. I also think that most people consume too much animal protein. It is my opinion that most diet related health problems come from processed foods, including fast food. I also think too many seemingly healthy active people think they can get away with a less healthy diet because they exercise.

MoAlpha

It’s always remarkable to me that people have such strong and unequivocal opinions on questions where the real experts are uncertain and there is no scientific consensus.

MinnMan

Oh, pardon me.

Car5car.

terrymorse 

Thread closed, then reopened.

What did I miss?

wolfchild

I will be 53 years old soon and I have no idea what my blood pressure is. Last time I had a full medical including blood pressure check was when I was 28 years old.

skidder

You're going to have to explain how blood pressure can determine which foods are good or bad for you. Never heard of that one before

car5car

del

Carbonfiberboy 

Aw, you're still a kid. Feels good doesn't it? I've been getting yearly Wellness Checks for a long time, long enough that neither I nor my wife can remember that far back. Probably when we incorporated and then got minimal health insurance as a corporate officer benefit, so about 40 years ago in our late 30s. It's worth doing. Those yearly checks caught problems before they became noticeable, a good thing. Yearly blood draws are good. Anyway, IIRC at your age my BP was about 108/68. With no change in diet and a lot more exercise, it's now 128/68 - on a good day. Blood vessels do harden up over time, no matter what you do. I've had a good doc, also a cyclist, for a long time. He's maybe 7 years younger than I. I dread when he retires. "Who is like unto you, Oh Doctor?"

I don't necessarily disagree that diet or exercise changes BP from day to day. But does that matter, as long as one stays under the age-appropriate numbers? I'm not obsessive enough to check my daily routine against my BP. That level of obsession would raise my BP for sure. We've been natural food "vegetarians" who also consume dairy and fish for 50 years.

Bragging about one's lack of medical care isn't a good look, IMO. Knowledge is power.

I was raised by wolves, BTW, or so says my wife. There was the time on our Alaska homestead when my brother and I, 9 and 12, left alone by our parents for the day and playing outdoors, watched a column of about 20 wolves trot across the small clearing around our house, nose to tail in a straight line, looking neither to the left nor the right, and about 20 feet from us. We held perfectly still, no problem. They were beautiful.

car5car

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.del

car5car

del

terrymorse 

Foods that raise blood pressure = bad

DaveLeeNC

Enough of this thread has been deleted that I cannot tell what exactly the controversy is. But I was a serious runner from the mid 70's through mid 80's (Jim Fixx era) and I certainly recall him. I don't recall him saying much of anything controversial other than this idea that some amount of weekly running would 'make you immume' from serious heart issues (clearly not true in his case). At least I associate that flawed concept with him, but maybe my recollection is incorrect here. But I sure don't remember much from him that I would consider controversial.

dave

car5car

There is his video on youtube about 1 year before his death. He has red face, which is usually sign of high blood pressure. I am sure his BP was elevated for a few years before dying. He could check his BP and adjust his nutrition. Another redface was Dr. Atkins, creator of "meat and fat diet". He died of heart problem, what a brilliant doctor!!!

big john

Dr Atkins died from a head injury.

DaveLeeNC

FWIW, Atkins did not die of heart disease. He died due to "blunt impact injury on the head" (he fell on icy sidewalks). Note that a 'internal autopsy' was not done.

However he did die WITH heart disease. In his case it was cardiomyopathy. This is a weakening/thickening/stiffening/etc'ing of the heart muscle. The causes are not well understood (although genetics plays a strong role here). There is no known relationship between cardiomyopathy risk and diet.

dave

skidder

Related to the car5car quotation in Post #36 above. I'm still wondering how you can determine which foods are healthy for you based on blood pressure readings? Any answers or any references would be appreciated. That would be a great way to start the new year off right if its plausible.

terrymorse 

Well, there may be a certain liquid diet that can cause cardiomyopathy: heavy alcohol consumption.

The medical folks gave it a name: alcoholic cardiomyopathy. I'm pretty sure that's what killed my sister.

rsbob 

Thought that I had also read that Jim Fixx was also a heavy smoker before becoming a runner. As we all know, smoking exacerbates a plethora of health related issues (including the heart) which may have also contributed to his untimely demise. His legacy was to inspired an entire generation to start running and to live a healthy lifestyle - myself included. I was a runner for 12 years before beginning a slow transition to cycling.

terrymorse 

So red meat -- to eat or not to eat, that is the question.

Here are some guidelines from the "experts":

RH Clark

From my limited research it would seem that red meat causes more growth hormones. Might be a good thing if you are building and repairing muscle, but excess amounts can promote tumor growth by the same processes that promote muscle growth.

As far as processed meats, I believe the WHO classifies processed meats the same as plutonium in carcinogenic properties.