Stop worrying about your health

Chalk up one more thing to worry about this year, now you can worry about worrying too much. It turns out that worrying about your health can actually be as bad for you as a lot of the things you are worrying about.

The researchers who wrote this report (can't find the darn link) said that most people are healthier than they think they are and there is no such thing as optimal health. Being underweight can be as bad for you as being overweight and that there is such a thing as too much exercise. They reported that in terms of overall mortality you are better off to be a couple of pounds heavy. They say that moderation is the key. It is more important to control how much you eat than to control what you eat. A couple of 20 minute walks with the dog are better for you than one long run a week and people tend to downplay carrying kids and groceries and mowing lawns as not exercise, when they are perfectly good activity.

Dave's 5 tips to better health: (except there are really 7)

1. Breathe
Try to take 1 minute a day to close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply. Even as little as 60 seconds can help engage your parasympathetic nervous system and help reduce stress. If you like this, do it often.
2. Move
You can run or walk around the lake if that suits you but the most important way to exercise is to PLAY. Do something functional like ride your bike to work. Look into adult education for things like dodgeball, or ultimate frisbee, have fun, play with your dog, run around be silly.
3. Drink
lots of water and moderate amounts of wine and dark beer (those seem to be the best for you)
4. Eat
You can use Michael Pollan's advice of, "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants" by food, of course, he means not processed food, real food. Eat a hamburger and fries, just don't do it every day. What is really important is to be engaged in the food you eat. Cook something at home that just makes your mouth water and enjoy every bite.
5. Sleep
You don't have to get 8 hours a day. Get what is right for you, but try to get it consistently.
6. Learn
Never stop learning- it makes your brain last longer. Research has shown that middle aged brains do better when we learn by challenging our long held beliefs. If you are a hard core atheist, start talking to people of faith, you don't have to change your mind just open it. Certainly that example works in reverse too.
7. Socialize.
Number of close friends is a consistent marker for longevity. Make note, these are face to face friends, not facebook friends.