Not drinking alcohol, and what I’ve discovered.

1. I’ve discovered that I want a drink. Badly. Especially when I’m having a horrible day. I never thought of myself as one to self-medicate, but there it is. This begins to make me realize that a month off from all booze is maybe a good thing.

2. I’ve learned that almost EVERY social engagement has something to do with alcohol. From bowling to dinner, people push drinks on you. Not intentionally. They just offer. And wonder why you’re not having any.

3. Thus, I’ve realized just how hard it must be for an alcoholic to have friends who still drink. It feels shitty to be around slightly drunk people and be the only one sober. Refer back to #1.

4. Some people are cool with it – the experiment of not drinking. Some people aren’t. They get defensive. Like I’m judging them for still drinking. It gets worse when I say that I “might” have a problem with alcohol.

5. At first, I didn’t like going to social events anymore. Because I was scared that I wouldn’t be funny or social without a glass of wine to relax me. Alcohol is a social lubricant, right?

6. I discovered that after awhile, it’s normal not to drink anymore. I’m on week 4, and it’s turning into a normal night for me to just have a glass of water with dinner.

7. I’m losing a ton of weight by doing nothing other than avoiding my usual one or two drinks every other night. Seriously. It’s like magic.

8. I’ve also discovered that I look better and I feel better. My body, especially as it gets older, just can’t handle the booze anymore. Even a glass later, and my head starts to buzz. I think that my liver is older, too, because it felt like longer to process the alcohol in my system. I felt, in essence, drunk faster and longer. Now, I don’t get as many headaches or upset stomachs. Coincidence? Maybe. But see below.

9. I sleep better. Drinking at night was making me restless. I know it’s a depressant, but a glass or two at night was making it more difficult for me to get a solid night of actual rest. Now I wake up feeling like I actually slept.

10. I’m less depressed. And dark. And moody. Which, although it makes me funnier, is better off dead. (Remember that movie with John Cusack, and the kid on the bike? And the French chick? It’s still great, by the way.)

Finally, some sanity about eggs, drinking 8 glasses of water per day, and other health fears that our grandparents never thought twice about . . .

One of the things that boggles my mind is the fact that some people will do anything to be “healthier”, where “healthier” is a stand-in for one or all of the following:

1. Look younger.

2. Stave off aging in all forms. Haven’t you heard that 50 is the new 30? (Or so people who are 50 hope.)

3. Stay attractive to the opposite sex.

4. Remain fit enough and attractive enough to get laid, either before or after your divorce.

5. Never get cancer. Or anything else scary.

6. Live forever. No, seriously. Forever.

Obviously, these are impossible dreams.

One of my friends argued with me the other day about his parents, who are nearing 60, still being middle-age and “active”. Not unless they plan on living until 120 and hiking part of the Appalachian Trail. Which, as far as I know, is neigh-on impossible*. (*Note: not the hiking part, the living to 120 part.)

In New York, when I worked in fashion, I used to see skinny women dragging liter bottles of water around with them. Because it was healthy, and good for their skin and kidneys. Apparently, both myths.

So, it is with some sort of pride in my “common sense” attitude about things I eat, drink, and do to keep myself reasonably fit for my age, that I share with you the following myth-busting story. Enjoy. And enjoy the coffee and eggs for breakfast for once, why don’t you?

By Dorothy Foltz-Gray, Health

Myth #1: Drink eight glasses of water a day
In 1945, the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board told people to consume eight glasses of fluid daily. Before long, most of us believed we needed eight glasses of water, in addition to what we eat and drink, every day.

The truth: Water’s great, but you also whet your whistle with juice, tea, milk, fruits and vegetables — quite enough to keep you hydrated. Even coffee quenches thirst, despite its reputation as a diuretic; the caffeine makes you lose some liquid, but you’re still getting plenty.

Contrary to common belief, urine color is not a great sign of dehydration, says Rachel Vreeman, MD, a fellow in Children’s Health Services Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis: “If you’re thirsty, you should drink.” But don’t overdo it. Drinking too much can lead to hyponatremia, in which sodium levels fall, causing an electrolyte imbalance that can make you very sick.

Myth #2: Stress will turn your hair gray
The carpool, the spilled milk, the deadlines. Who doesn’t believe that stress can shock her locks?

The truth: “Too much stress does age us inside and out,” says Nancy L. Snyderman, MD, chief medical editor for NBC News and author of “Medical Myths that Can Kill You.” It ups the number of free radicals, scavenger molecules that attack healthy cells, and increases the spill of stress hormones in your body. So far, though, no scientific evidence proves a bad day turns your locks silver. “We gray according to genetics,” she says. And, let’s face it, when you do get those gray strands, hair products make covering them a cinch.

Myth #3: Reading in poor light ruins your eyes
It’s the common-sense refrain of mothers everywhere — reading under the covers or by moonlight will ruin your eyesight.

The truth: “Reading in dim light can strain your eyes,” Snyderman explains. “You tend to squint, and that can give you a headache. But you won’t do any permanent damage, except maybe cause crow’s-feet.”

Your overtired eyes can get dry and achy, and may even make your vision seem less clear, but a good night’s rest will help your peepers recover just fine.

Myth #4: Coffee’s really bad for you
Surely something 108 million Americans crave so much each morning couldn’t possibly be good for you? Wrong.

The truth: Too much may give you the jitters, but your daily habit has a lot of positives. “Coffee comes from plants, which have helpful phytochemicals that act as antioxidants,” says Stacy Beeson, RD, a wellness dietitian at St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. One set of antioxidants appears to increase insulin sensitivity, which might explain a lowered risk of type 2 diabetes in people who sip java. A Harvard study of more than 125,000 coffee drinkers found that women cut their risk of type 2 diabetes by 30 percent. Other studies suggest that coffee cuts the risks of Parkinson’s disease, colon cancer, cirrhosis and gallstones. Drinking joe gives your brain a boost, too. And, despite the jolt of energy it provides, coffee has no effect on heart disease.

Two to three cups a day is fine for most people, Beeson says. But if you take your coffee with a racing heart, anxiety, or wide-eyed nights, cut back or switch to decaf. If you’re pregnant or low on calcium, talk to your doc about the best brew for you.

Myth #5: Feed a cold, starve a fever
The old wives’ tale has been a staple since the 1500s when a dictionary master wrote, “Fasting is a great remedie of feuer.”

The truth: “Colds and fevers are generally caused by viruses that tend to last 7 to 10 days, no matter what you do,” Vreeman says. “And there is no good evidence that diet has any effect on a cold or fever. Even if you don’t feel like eating, you still need fluids, so put a priority on those.” If you’re congested, the fluids will keep mucus thinner and help loosen chest and nasal congestion. A little chicken soup spoons in some nutrients, as well.

Myth #6: Fresh is always better than frozen
Ever since scientists honed in on the benefits of antioxidants, the mantra has been “eat more fresh fruits and veggies” — implying that frozen is second-rate.

The truth: “Frozen can be just as good as fresh because the fruits and vegetables are harvested at the peak of their nutritional content, taken to a plant, and frozen on the spot, locking in nutrients,” Beeson says. “They aren’t trucked far distances to sit on grocery shelves.” And, unless it’s picked and sold the same day, produce at farmers’ markets — though still nutritious — may lose nutrients because of heat, air, and water.

Myth #7: Eggs raise your cholesterol
In the 1960s and 1970s, scientists linked blood cholesterol with heart disease — and eggs (high in cholesterol) were banished to the chicken house.

The truth: Newer studies have found that saturated and trans fats in a person’s diet, not dietary cholesterol, are more likely to raise heart disease risk. (An egg has only 1.6 grams of saturated fat, compared with about 3 grams in a cup of 2 percent milk.) And, at 213 milligrams of cholesterol, one egg slips under the American Heart Association’s recommendation of no more than 300 milligrams a day. “Eggs offer lean protein and vitamins A and D, and they’re inexpensive and convenient,” Beeson says. “If you do have an egg for breakfast, just keep an eye out for the amount of cholesterol in the other foods you eat that day.”

Myth #8: Get cold, and you’ll catch a cold
It must be true because your mother always said so. Right?

The truth: Mom was wrong. “Chilling doesn’t hurt your immunity, unless you’re so cold that your body defenses are destroyed — and that only occurs during hypothermia,” Vreeman says. “And you can’t get a cold unless you’re exposed to a virus that causes a cold.” The reason people get more colds in the winter isn’t because of the temperature, but it may be a result of being cooped up in closed spaces and exposed to the spray of cold viruses. Staying warm may not prevent a cold, but staying cheerful might. A study at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh says positive people exposed to cold viruses have a 13 percent lower risk of getting a cold than gloomier souls.

Myth #9: Your lipstick could make you sick
In 2007, an environmentalist group, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, had 33 lipsticks tested for lead. Although there’s no lead limit for lipstick, one third of the tubes had more than the limit allowed for candy. That started a scare that spread like wildfire.

The truth: “The reality is that lead is in almost everything,” says Michael Thun, MD, head of epidemiological research for the American Cancer Society. “It’s all around us. But the risk from lead in lipstick is extremely small.” In fact, lead poisoning is most commonly caused by other environmental factors — pipes and paint in older homes, for instance. The bottom line, Thun says: The risk from lipstick is nothing to worry about.

4 big health whoppers
Most of us want to believe in “miracle” cures. But if it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Weight-loss formulas
The National Institutes of Health warns against taking any drug combos sold without U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, including herbal mixes that promise big results. “The problem is that many contain stimulants and may be dangerous for people with underlying heart disease, high blood pressure, and other chronic illnesses they may not be aware of,” says Marc Siegel, MD, a New York City physician and author of “False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear.” “And you may not know how much stimulant you’re getting.” It’s far better to ask your doctor about FDA-approved appetite suppressants or, best of all, exercise and watch what you eat.

Arthritis fixes
Copper bracelets, shark cartilage, honey-and-vinegar mixtures, magnets. If only they would cure arthritis. But it just isn’t so, Siegel says. In fact, copper can cause an allergic reaction. Although there’s no cure for arthritis, rest, exercise, heat and drugs recommended by your doctor can help.

Colon cleansers
Colonics have been hawked as everything from a toxin remover to a cancer cure. But they only do what your intestinal system does already. Enemas, laxatives, or passing a rubber tube through your rectum and pumping water in and out can be expensive and dangerous. “There’s no evidence that colon cleansing is necessary,” Siegel says. And experts say long-term cleansing can cause anemia, malnutrition, infection, intestinal damage and even heart failure.

Alzheimer’s cures
Removing silver fillings, zapping your brain with electricity, or taking smart pills won’t keep your memory intact, says Stephen Barrett, MD, a retired psychiatrist who operates www.quackwatch.org. “Reputable drugs for slowing memory loss are only in their infancy. If brain tissue is dead, you can’t revive it with something in a bottle.”

The Heralded Benefits of One-Day Fasting

Yesterday, since it was Friday, I decided it was time for a beer, fries, and a burger. I don’t indulge in beef that regularly, but when I do, I like it big and a little bloody. So, I gorged myself at a local beer/burger joint, and then immediately regretted it. You know that feeling in your stomach when you’ve shoved in too much food? The pooch of it? The swelling, the discomfort, the self-inflicted pain?

Add to that the fact that I also had about 3 or 4 beers (I lost count), and we’re in trouble.

I went, tipsy, to Barnes and Noble, of course, and purchased about $50 worth of books. That is, apparently, what drunk geeks do with their drunk-ness over the age of 35. No dancing on bars, or getting into posh bars, or even carousing. Just book buying. (Life, as I knew it, is officially over, thank God.)

Today, after a less than satisfying night of sleep, I decided to try the “one-day fast”. Apparently, scientists in Salt Lake realized that Mormons die less frequently of heart disease because of prescribed one day of fasting each month. True story. Google it if you don’t believe me. The benefits of fasting, however, don’t just accrue to the believers. Us non-believers also get the same benefits.

So, I grabbed my water, and set off to see if this has any legs. I researched the hell out of fasting this morning, just to make sure I wasn’t going to irreparably injure myself. As it turns out, unless you are a diabetic or have another serious condition, fasting for one day is perfectly appropriate for just about everyone. I’m on hour 15, if you count the fact that I didn’t eat after midnight last night.

And I’m STARVING.

Literally.

I’m also light-headed and exhausted, which is probably why it is recommended to fast on a day when you don’t have to do anything else. Like read theory, which I erroneously thought was going to be possible with low levels of blood sugar. However, that is exactly the point of fasting, to “reset” the body’s metabolism, sugar levels, cholesterol levels. It’s like a cleansing of all the crap that we love to eat.

So far, so good.

I think that one of the hidden benefits of this process will be that I have a better appreciation for food. And the fact that some people in the world don’t have the option to starve themselves for just one day – theirs is a more permanent state of hunger. I’m already dreaming of the piece of toast I will reward myself with past midnight, and the good, nutritious food I’ll have tomorrow, when I resume my regime of working out. This has also reminded me to send a check to Jorge Munoz, of NYC, who I read about in the NYT. He feeds – out of his own pocket – a group of Spanish-speaking day laborers in the city that would otherwise go to bed penniless and hungry (if no one contracts them). He does it because he is an immigrant himself, remembers what it was like, and vows not to let anyone go hungry if he can help it. For a living, he drives a NYC bus.

I’m not suggesting that you have to fast to donate, but it’s good for your heart in two ways, rather than just one.

Send donations (any amount, his sister Luz tells me, will help):

Jorge Munoz

P.O. Box 210054

Woodhaven, NY 11421

Why XDR-TB is a problem that’s not going away

Last night, I was watching the news and saw a brief (and, of course, over-sensationalized) story about a woman who flew from India back to the U.S. with a deadly strain of TB. Since the initial portion of her flight was so long, authorities are guesstimating that she potentially infected about 45 people sitting near her. This will require them to be monitored themselves and tested to see if they develop the disease. Imagine waiting from 6-10 weeks for the results of an HIV test. Yikes. That is a lot of time to panic.

TB is a problem because of several factors – poverty, HIV and incarceration not being the least of them. The trouble is that people with already weakened immune systems (poor nutrition and/or having HIV) can contract TB repeatedly, increasing the chances that a particular, normal strain of TB will evolve into a drug-resistant strain. Also, like in prisons, hospitals, or homeless shelters, when people are clumped together, the likelihood of a resistant strain developing increases.

TB, or tuberculosis, has been with us for centuries. It is probably as old as our written records. Just a century or so ago, it was referred to as ‘consumption’, since people who have it tend to ‘waste away’. More interestingly, it was kind of a sexy disease. Poets, impossibly beautiful women, writers, aristocrats and famous people got ‘consumption’. The wealthy patients got to spend their last days at a big resort for consumptives called a sanitarium. The poor people got to go to a sanatorium, or a fancy term for a hospital. Funny how a few letters can make all the difference. (Personally, I would have preferred the former, particularly the ones in Switzerland.)

(For the ‘readers’ out there, check out Thomas Mann’s Magic Mountain, for a portrayal of TB and life in the sanitarium.)
Fast forward to the present.

XDR-TB is resistant to most drugs used to treat it. It got this way through a variety of ways, but at least one of which is that some people do not take the full course of antibiotics prescribed for them in the first round of having TB. Believe it or not, not finishing your course of antibiotics – or taking them without cause for something like a cold – is a huge part of the problem. Which is why, in large part, I am a medicine Nazi. I try to underline why people shouldn’t share their prescriptions with each other (this means you, Aunt Grace, unless you’ve gotten your MD since last summer), or stop taking their medication when they feel better (just because you feel better, doesn’t mean the infection is gone).

Sometimes, in the past, I would try to scare people into caring more about taking antibiotics sparingly and taking them correctly by telling them that their grandchildren would be faced with a world much like the old days before penicillin came along. Translation? A lot of child deaths. A lot more early and unnecessary deaths, period. I was sick a lot as a child, and I simply wouldn’t have made it to age 10 without effective antibiotics.

Now, however, it looks like I don’t have to make up boogey-men tales to scare people. We’ve got one ready-made in this new, scary strain of TB.

To scare yourself, go here: http://www.cdc.gov/tb/pubs/tbfactsheets/xdrtb.htm

And the next time you take a long flight, wear a mask. It looks a little Michael Jackson-ish, but it might save you from months of hellish treatment.