Life is not fair sometimes

So I walk into the garage this morning to take the rubbish to the bins. I notice something missing, something missing in the shape of a prowler, kettlebells and weight plates. Some peice of shit scumbag has broken in and stolen them. Awesome, great way to start a Sunday. I am gutted to say the least, a lot of money down the drain, and their aint much that I can do about it.

Blaine

Health Supplements????

Health issues in the world are at an all time high, with the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in particular climbing in recent years.

With these diseases sky-rocketing out of control, the “health and fitness professionals” surely should be providing countless information with regards diet/nutrition, exercise and lifestyle among other factors. Instead these so called “professionals” are using these health concerns to manipulate the fearful public into splashing the cash on needless supplements.

With these interests in mind, the manipulative professionals are surely creating more health concern long-term. With a kitchen cupboard full green tasteless that resembles rabbit food, tubs, jars and packets of the “must haves for ultimate health”, how can a member of the general public start, keep to and prolong such diets? This will clearly end in stress and serious binge eating that will leave people in a worse position than before they started.

With all the knowledge in the world, why can these guys not save all their technical bullshit and expensive supplements, and share a little “helpful” knowledge. Most of the bullshit is based on crap that is untrue just to sell supplements. The average health punter cannot start and maintain a diet that has changed over 50% of content; it will lead to breaks, cheats and failure.

Dr. John Berardi recently had a client with high blood pressure and blood sugar. A 58-yr-old male, fasting blood sugar 123mg/dL and his blood pressure was 138/89. Berardi did not make the man spend hundreds of pounds on supplements, but what he did do was manipulate the man’s current diet and physical activity with four simple goals:

·        Goal 1 – Breakfast

Switch from Frosted Flakes instead of Shredded Wheat

Instead of sausage, have fruit.

·        Goal 2 – Dinner

Replace half of the fatty animal protein with veggies.

·        Goal 3 – Most Days

Instead of four alcoholic drinks, have one.

·        Goal 4 – Most days

Do something physically active for at least 20 minutes.

After three months’ time, his weight was down further than 10lbs, his blood pressure fell to 120/80 and his blood sugar was sitting at 83 mg/dL. With patience, persistence and little changes this man became a lot healthier. Would this guy have succeeded with a strict supplement and diet protocol?? It is very questionable.

Recently I listened to a webinar surrounding nutrition and supplementation from a well known strength, conditioning, nutrition and supplementation specialist. I highly respect the guy as a coach, a nutritionist and as a major researcher in this industry. During the webinar I lost some respect for this individual. Major topics of conversation usually ended with a recommendation to one of their own supplements, sometimes sounding like they would perform miracles. When questioned around health for a cancer patient, a supplement was suggested to help “prevent” and “cure” cancer. This is ludacris.

Another topic was that surrounding Vitamin C. The individual suggested take the supplement, and this there were “NO” repercussions of over supplementation. Let’s have a look at what over-consumption can cause:

·        Excess Vitamin C can cause diarrhea, increased oxidative stress, excess iron absorption and a vitamin B12 deficiency.

·        Excess iron can cause chronic increases in risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

·        A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause neurological problems, pernicious anemia, celiac disease and sprue can lead to malabsorption.

The individual didn’t happen to point out these issues. (I posted this information about the Vitamin C topic on a social network, and the individual in question had a go at me, and quickly removed me as a friend on this site. Did they know they were wrong? Probably, or just ignorance)

Inlight of all of this, I think the health supplement industry is a money making sham, and that small manipulations in exercise, diet and lifestyle can have a more positive effect on overall health than a shelve full of expensive supplements from a money grabbing, bullshitting salesman.