Fitness, Exercise and Alcohol

An informative look at recent Holistic Fitness News

DR KAPLAN'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

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As this is my very first newsletter I thought I'd give some very general advice about easy ways to become and stay healthy. Let's have a look at some interesting facts that have emerged from recent medical studies.

This time I'll only be examining the DO s and leaving the DON'Ts for another newsletter. So here we go..

EXERCISE:

It is well known that the lifestyle risk factors for coronary artery disease are smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, cholesterol and high blood pressure. Recent studies have shown that exercise may just be the most important of the lot. So I advocate an exercise programme that includes cardiovascular, aerobic work as vital. Shun lifts and start seeing staircases as gifts to your heart. Where there is a choice, always choose to walk. Try The Bodydoctor Fitness Book and DVD for a personal training programme you can try at home

ALCOHOL:

Now here we have some good news. Studies have shown repeatedly that small amounts of daily alcohol are good for your heart! This is not pie in the sky but actual scientific knowledge. The big question is: Exactly how much alcohol? The popular answer in the press is 2 units a day. The medical studies actually show that maximum protection is achieved by 3 to 4 units. However that would put you above the legal limit to drive! Which of course is a separate, but very important issue. So I'll take the safe road and advocate two units of alcohol a day.

DRIVING:

The road is the most dangerous country in the world. Driving safely is perhaps the most important thing you can do for your own and everyone else's physical and psychological health. 'Good drivers' that trust themselves to drive fast, forget about the millions of moronic things done by road users every day. It won't make you feel better if you knock over and kill someone who did something idiotic on the road when you were going a little fast. Road rage is of course, beneath contempt. And if you are a cyclist, please remember that fact that you are ecologically sound and exercising does not give you the right to break every law of the road ever made.

KETCHUP!

Believe it or not guys, the scientists have shown that tomatoes and especially cooked tomatoes or tomato sauce (or ketchup) is good for your prostate. Tomatoes contain Lycopene, a pigment which gives them their rich. red colour. Lycopene is an anti-oxidant and they think that this is the key to the fact that ketchup gives some protection against cancer of the prostate. This was a serious, American study so it may well be a good idea to consume two good portions of tomato sauce a week.

So here are a few health tips: No 'don'ts' this week as I don't want to start off by being negative.

1. DRIVE SAFELY or better still - WALK!
2. EXERCISE! It may be even better for you than we previously thought
3. TWO UNITS of ALCOHOL a day can be enjoyed more when you know that they are good for your health.
4. TWO helpings of TOMATO SAUCE a week is good for the prostate if you are male.
5. LAUGH and SMILE as much as possible. More about this next time

CONCLUSION:

The medical news of recent weeks suddenly made me realise something obvious. A Bloody Mary, that most British of drinks, if kept to one or two a day

may

just be a health drink. The two units of vodka (a relatively 'clean' form of alcohol) is good for your heart and the tomato may protect your prostate.

ARNICA (Leopard's Bane)

Arnica montana is perhaps the most famous homeopathic remedy of all. It is a terrific remedy for injury and bruising. Many doctors have been converted to homeopathy after seeing the effects of this remedy and it is one of the few homeopathic remedies to have a whole book dedicated to its uses.

Operations and dental work can be considered as 'injuries' by the body. For practical purposes two to three doses, eight hours apart of ARNICA 30 after injury, severe bruising, operation and dental work. It is also useful for women after childbirth which inevitably involves some bruising

Interestingly, the plant from which it is made, grows in the Alps where injuries are likely to happen.

Cheers!

Brian Kaplan M.D.

For reviews of the book and other information see:
www.drkaplan.co.uk

For Dr Kaplan's practice website:
www.140harleystreet.co.uk
(020 7487 3416)