Ask the readers: What health topics should I write about?

Mike Says:

August 10th, 2007, 5:46 am

Healthy eating topics are especially useful, exercise motivation type posts, how to wean yourself off of a meat-eating deat, recipes for eating before or after excercise (energy // recovery). Lots of different ideas for healthy breakfasts would be great also.

Kyle Says:

August 10th, 2007, 5:59 am

Would Love to hear more about nutritional supplements.(vitamins/the power bar/breakfastbar) I have two kids two jobs and very little time. So I rely on my morning multi V. MOst mornings it’s the difference between sleeping in for a few more or having to add the time to the routine for a healthy(ier) breakfast.

Michael @ Freshome Says:

August 10th, 2007, 6:01 am

Diets, Lose Weight, Build Muscle, Burn Fat.

CAYLITH Says:

August 10th, 2007, 6:30 am

Check out http://www.sparkpeople.com. I’d really like it if you would check out the site personally and give an honest unbiased opinion and spread the SPARK to all those who need it and read your blogs. Thanks in advance !

Anita Says:

August 10th, 2007, 6:32 am

Effects of too much stress on the body and how to deal with stress. Exercises for better posture. Breathing well. Keyboard and mouse use-how to avoid problems. Standup desks-value and where to get one cheap.

Jen Burmeister Says:

August 10th, 2007, 6:44 am

I also vote for the effects of exercise and how it helps in the reduction of stress (often caused by surrounding pesky clutter).

Or perhaps you could talk about the effects of clutter (physical & emotional) on the physical, mental and emotional body.

hmmm …. so many things, so little time… you are right about that!

Barry Says:

August 10th, 2007, 7:03 am

I like the idea of standing desks, also. I know that many of the founding fathers were “gentlemen farmers” who were used to an active lifestyle, and split their time between a sitting desk and a standing desk.

todd Says:

August 10th, 2007, 7:14 am

Write about sustainable farming and the difference between animals raised on pasture and those raised on factory farms.

Gauri Says:

August 10th, 2007, 7:15 am

I would like to read on how to control anger. Are there any foods that trigger anger? any foods that help to keep anger in check?

Gauri Says:

August 10th, 2007, 7:18 am

Oh, one more, are there any side effects of doing heavy exercise? Especially women. I workout for almost 2 hrs/day 5days/week.

Rachel Says:

August 10th, 2007, 7:37 am

What’s this about the dandger of plastics? Do you think it is valid or is it just another faddish scare?

Prepostra Says:

August 10th, 2007, 7:52 am

My vote would be for a few posture related articles, the standing desk idea would be a good place to start.

I am flip between a pack and a messenger bag but I feel I am losing the battle here.

Judy Says:

August 10th, 2007, 7:54 am

Healthy breakfast ideas would be great! And how to eat healthy at work as well.

And I would also like to know how you manage to eat sweets only once a week.

Michel Says:

August 10th, 2007, 8:06 am

Drop health day. You see, you couldn’t even figure out what to write about…

Betsy Stoll Says:

August 10th, 2007, 8:17 am

About diabetes. I just had a surprise diagnosis, with few risk factors. Half of adult type 2 is undiagnosed, and it is estimated that 1 in 3 children today will get it.
So what are the symptoms.
How is it detected?
What are the lifestyle choices you can make to prevent, delay and/or treat it.

Pril Says:

August 10th, 2007, 8:24 am

Okay i was always wondering what food (if any) you could eat to help you get better sleep. Or what sort of healthy life style do you need to obtain to get a full nights healthy amount of sleep.

Jessica Says:

August 10th, 2007, 8:37 am

I’d be interested to know, coinciding with your other posts, what exercises do you recommmend in the morning? Do you do mostly in-home or go to a gym that early or just walk around the neighborhood?

I’d also like to know how to eat a more all-natural diet, not meat-free, not sugar free, etc but what are the ingredients to look for to know that food has been processed, or some brands that promote organic foods like Annie’s.

Thanks!

Susan Says:

August 10th, 2007, 8:52 am

Sugar and/or caffeine and their effects on the body.

Shawn Powers Says:

August 10th, 2007, 9:00 am

Not health related, but I’m curious what your views on handheld organizers. I’ve struggled with utilizing my Palm Pilot variants for years…

Here’s my experience, I’m really wondering what you think.

Anonymous Says:

August 10th, 2007, 9:47 am

How to treat and/or prevent anal fissures, one of the most painful and traumatic ailments I have ever suffered through.

Elena Says:

August 10th, 2007, 10:05 am

Research about cosmetics without toxic ingredients.

Frank Says:

August 10th, 2007, 10:10 am

I just finished the book “Mindless Eating.”

The core point was that you could overeat or under-eat by 10% - 20% and not even feel the difference. There a number of psychological factors that play into this and they are largely unaffected by direct willpower.

So by changing some of these factors, you can make this effect work for you to under-eat somewhat effortlessly. Downsizing your meals with smaller plates, smaller utensils, fewer choices, eating slower and other best practices can reduce your weight by an average of 9lbs. per year. And, you won’t feel deprived.

Ann Says:

August 10th, 2007, 10:10 am

I’d like to see your ideas about helping other people stay healthy — parents, spouse, children, and so on.

heidi y Says:

August 10th, 2007, 10:13 am

I’d like people to know more about thyroid issues. Most women do not know about this and should…

iamjustinc Says:

August 10th, 2007, 10:29 am

mental health? emotional health? these especially in relation to diet and exercise would be very enlightening.

John W Says:

August 10th, 2007, 11:16 am

how about how being a workaholic is about as good for you (and those around you) as being an alcoholic?

Michael G Says:

August 10th, 2007, 11:42 am

I was wondering if you could write an article that gives some tips on dealing with personal adversity with respect to health. In other words, if I, or a family member, gets sick - what are some tips on how to deal with it emotionally and still view the world in a positive way? You give lots of tips on how to change the negative in your life into the positive and thus gain enjoyment from that - but how can we deal with negative aspects in our life that are completely out of our control (ex: Cancer).

People’s true character really comes when dealing with adversity - how can I work on my character to ensure that if/when adversity strikes, I will be prepared to handle it as best as possible?

Christa Says:

August 10th, 2007, 12:07 pm

Two interesting things I have heard about.
1 Keeping a core list of healthy staple foods in your house at all times. Like a top 12 list of healthy foods you should keep in your kitchen all the time, such as the power foods like Strawberries.
This would help keep you healthy and simplify the grocery shopping list.

2. Over the counter medications and the effect they have on your body. Do they help destress your life, by allowing for example better sleep when you have aches and pains, does the stress of dealing with an itch or an ache or a sinus problem outweigh putting a chemical in your body or does simply taking an antihistamine or an ibuprofen when you have an ache or pain actually benefit your body more by allowing the pain relief. So you can relax and heal.

Just some food for thought….

Christa Says:

August 10th, 2007, 12:21 pm

3. Another thought is cleaning products. Healthy for living or not?
Do you think its better to use the non toxic cleaning products that you make at home, and some ideas on how to make them.

4. Another thought is what you think about those herbal purification systems that advertise cleansing your body from the inside out with herbs.

paul Says:

August 10th, 2007, 13:05 pm

hi leo,
i’m contacting you from ireland, love the blog, i think it’s high quality content is great. i have found it inspirational. i am circa 40 and am diabetic would love to see you write something about this. i know its very specific and understand you are not an expert etc. but i think it’s important as many people, young and old are diabetic and do not realise it. i often think that receiving my diagnosis was one of the best things to happen to me in an ironic way. i am now part ot the healthiest demographic of people as i watch what i eat and exercise regularly. i think it is really important to raise awareness globaly about diabetes.

thanks

Jaclyn Says:

August 10th, 2007, 13:13 pm

I’d love to hear more about fitting productive exercise into your daily life - for all different types of people. As a female with long hair (takes forever to dry!!) who needs to look professional, I always find those suggestions to “exercise on your lunch break” ridiculously unhelpful.

Another great topic would be how to evaluate all of the medical findings one hears about. This study says drinking three cups of green tea a day prevents type A cancer, this one says two cups of coffee prevents type B cancer, blueberries do this and raspberries do that…
How can we filter through all that information and find useful things to incorporate into our daily lives?

rachael Says:

August 10th, 2007, 13:13 pm

Benefits of short term juice fasts…

Alex Corroborant Says:

August 10th, 2007, 13:18 pm

If you are not a health expert, why get into it? Stay with productivity and simple living where you have established some credibility. If you do advise on health, be careful of legal issues. Have a good disclaimer.

SteveB Says:

August 10th, 2007, 13:19 pm

JUICING !!! - Invest in a good juicer (about $100). Most of the things we eat have been Pasteurized or processed (to kill bacteria and improve shelf stability). Or it has been cooked at home or in a restaurant. But this also kills beneficial enzymes!! Anything that has been cooked/pateurized is dead - and dead cells can not nourish live cells - so the body naturally craves more food to compensate. Juicing raw produce and consuming it immediately, (at least a couple times a week helps to stabilize the body’s enzymes and is a great way to nourish the body’s cells AND help lose weight !!

Shola Says:

August 10th, 2007, 15:26 pm

I will like to know more about binge eating. Based on some of your writing, I am able to do more working out than usual. However, I will like to know more about the ying and yang between diet and exercise.

Jungle Boy Says:

August 10th, 2007, 15:56 pm

Hi Leo,

I work in a full time job in the IT area, and it’s never easy to stop and eat, i want to read more about some tips of food that we can bring to work and can be eaten fast, and with no preparations required.

Best Regards from Brazil ;)

Zach Says:

August 10th, 2007, 16:18 pm

Quite simply: the back - soo many people with back problems in desk jobs ..

Amelia G. Says:

August 10th, 2007, 16:45 pm

Whether vitamins are worthwhile in general, or not — or, when they are (prenatal? old age? specific health problems like low iron?) or what gotchas there are with vitamins — if I take iron and calcium, is it a bad idea to take them at the same time, that sort of thing.

Great blog, thanks!

Mebs Says:

August 10th, 2007, 18:03 pm

How people can lose weight by changing the mindset that they need to go on a diet (viewed as a negative) to how they can live a healthy life by focusing on what makes them feel good (viewed as a positive). This new mindset allowed me to lose 20 pounds and I feel great. Bonus: I look great.

Elysbeth Says:

August 10th, 2007, 18:32 pm

What about stress and the inflammatory response? How inflammation affects our entire system and is affected by our eating?

matthew Says:

August 10th, 2007, 18:56 pm

I would love to hear about the pros and cons of Socialized Medicine.

Jasi Says:

August 10th, 2007, 19:07 pm

alternative medicine, holistics, thyroid issues (huge in our 20 - somethings!), standing desks, ergonomics, aromatherapy.

Melanie Says:

August 10th, 2007, 19:09 pm

How to sustain one’s carefully chosen good, Zen habits when traveling on business

Chris Best Says:

August 10th, 2007, 20:08 pm

I know that I should get plenty of sleep in order to exercise but what if that is not possible how much exercise is healthy when you don’t sleep enough? I have sleep apnea and I don’t want to stop exercising.
I like to lift weights. Are squats bad for you after 50?

feldy Says:

August 10th, 2007, 20:09 pm

beginners guide to strength training
or
how to disable yourself from eating unhealthy/ alternatives to unhealthy foods
or
how to nap right

Travis Says:

August 10th, 2007, 20:32 pm

Meditation. Having stress reducing practices should be a cornerstone of any health plan, and meditation is the king of them all!

arnold Says:

August 10th, 2007, 21:34 pm

Using dumbells in your workouts is very helpful in developing strength as well as shape. A lot of people start out using the machines and they miss out a lot of the rewards from working out.

Visit The STReeTJeSUS Blog

Stéphanie Bujon Says:

August 11th, 2007, 4:23 am

I’d love to hear about :
- how to motivate oneself into going to bed sooner (despite of, for example, computer or TV tentations)
- how to organize oneself to eat biological products without changing everything in one’s lifestyle at once

Thank you for your blog.

James Says:

August 11th, 2007, 5:02 am

My vote is on alcohol and how to stop drinking or get drunk cheaper :)

kleanchap Says:

August 11th, 2007, 10:13 am

Since money, jobs and relationships are big stressors these days; I would think it would be nice to talk about stress and anxiety reduction techniques.

Mudry Says:

August 11th, 2007, 15:43 pm

My vote is: about giving up smoking

quench Says:

August 11th, 2007, 22:58 pm

Surprised no one has mentioned this: What about the health effects of working with computers all day? Looking at the screen and the effects on the eyes, the effects (if any) of the radiation, the warnings given to pregnant women about avoiding too much exposure to computers, the heat of laptops, etc.
This was the first thing I thought of. No one talks about it, there isn’t a lot of good information out there on it, and anything you could say about food and sleep (while useful) can be found in many, many places. The topic of electronics health would make more of a contribution, and it would be of obvious interest to your audience.

Leigh Says:

August 12th, 2007, 11:49 am

1) As a coffee-lover, I would love to hear your perspective on the effects of caffine on one’s body and day-to-day routine.

2) Stretching and the “when it’s best to stretch” debate.

3) Body/mind detox. A how to and where to research to clense and referesh your body.

John-o Says:

August 12th, 2007, 19:13 pm

Leo,

You always mentioned that you’ve quit smoking, but I have yet to see a post on “Quit-Smoking Hacks.” It might help me to adopt another one of your good habits.

Nancy B. Says:

August 13th, 2007, 22:06 pm

SLEEP!! How to get back to sleep on the nights I wake up around 2 AM and can’t go back to sleep. Usually happens when I’m really stressed out. What foods promote a good night’s sleep; what to avoid? How to get through a day on 4-5 hrs. sleep without caffeine (which I know exacerbates the insomnia).

To Chris Best — My husband has apnea too. The doctor told him to lose weight and prescribed a CPAP. He hated the CPAP at first - until he found that he was better rested after 6 hours sleep with the CPAP than he was after 10 hours without. Hope this helps!

Leo Says:

August 13th, 2007, 22:35 pm

Thanks so much for all the input, guys! Just wanted to let you know that I’ve been checking on this list and enjoying the suggestions, even if I haven’t been responding to every one.

I promise to get to as many of these topics as I can. Some of them are definitely beyond my experience and knowledge, but I know a couple of more “expert” bloggers who can chime in with their tips on those topics.

Now the question is, which ones should I do first? :) So many good topics!

David / Homeopathy Zone Says:

August 15th, 2007, 4:03 am

My suggestion is to write about a few “best of” foods, food supplements or other products that should simplify the task of staying healthy and save much money.

A short exmple list would be:
- Ground flax-seeds (plus coffee grinder)
- Omega Juicer 8003/5 which can juice anything from soft fruits to wheatgrass and cleans up in less than 2 minutes.
- Bee pollen (as a fantastic multivitamin)

Another suggestion is to enter the realm of more involved treatment methods such as homeopathy and Chinese medicine, whose principles can be summarized in list form, even if direct advice is difficult to provide without personalized diagnosis.

Mark Littleton Says:

August 16th, 2007, 18:11 pm

How about some info on how sugar is really bad for you and in everything we eat, and I believe the cause of most of the health problems in USA.

maria Says:

August 17th, 2007, 16:38 pm

please write about quitting smoking for good! this is so important and the best thing you can do for your health, but so many people (including me) fail to give up this horrible habit. i’ve tried countless times and still never managed to be nicotine free for longer than a month. i would love reading some tips from you on this issue.

Dani Layne Says:

August 19th, 2007, 15:00 pm

I would like to hear more about what people are doing about allergies. I am having problems inside and out. I have been taking medison my whole life. How can I get my body healthy and be able to breathe with out taking a pill.

Thank You
ZEN

Nicole Says:

August 22nd, 2007, 14:09 pm

I would like to learn about ways for increasing my fiber and cutting out bad carbs and sugars. Diabetes runs in my family and I’m scared to death of bringing it on.

Flybeers Says:

August 24th, 2007, 9:02 am

Hi there,
finally a breath of fresh air here. I was hoping someone here can point me in the right direction of some kind of good quality live development, motivational seminar? The ones I have seen are just way to expensive, so maybe you have some alternative suggestions. Thanks
Flybeers