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Ask HN: Any health tips?

• tokenadult 16y ago
  Avoid fads. Overdoses of this or that trendy food or supplement are surely a bad idea. Support healthy eating by daily outdoor exercise. Get more sleep than you have been getting recently.
  • seymores 16y ago
    I think almost everyone I know in the IT industry underestimate how important it is to get enough sleep.
    • wazoox 16y ago
      Until you get older. I recently came to the realisation that I need three days to overcome the fatigue of a 3 hours night sleep. That means I can't afford a short night every week, else my productivity will drop dramatically.
• gcv 16y ago
  Plenty of exercise. Try hundredpushups.com for a nice, easy-to-start program.
  • wazoox 16y ago
    Be careful that pushups can get hard. I had shoulder pains after doing more than 50 pushups a day for a few weeks (down to 30 now). Vary exercise, and particularly do aerobic exercise, walking, biking, running, swimming, skipping rope... The best is to do some exercise every day.
    • flatline 16y ago
      Plus, strengthening/tightening the pectoral and forward deltoid muscles is not really a good starting place if you are going to be sitting hunched over a keyboard all day. Exercise that focuses on good posture (read: strengthening of back and abs) and cardio is probably a better starting place.
      • jamesbritt 16y ago
        I was having some back pains while sitting, but after I started running, and lost some weight (205 lbs -> 180 lbs) they stopped. And they stopped more, I think, from the running than from the weight loss.
    • freshfey 16y ago
      Your shoulder pain is not the result of the pushup program, but more the result of bad form, disbalances in your body (one muscle group is stronger and has to support the other one -> more tension on the weak) or other health issues.
      • wazoox 16y ago
        Oh yes it is. I had ankle and knee pain running more than 40 km a week, too. I'm simply getting too old for more than 2 hours of intense sport a day, I had to get back to 60 to 90 minutes.
  • matthew-wegner 16y ago
    Plenty isn't as important as high-intensity exercise. The hormones you're looking for are released in relation to intensity, not duration. You're much better off with a 20-minute workout that leaves you gasping than you are milling around the gym for an hour and a half.
• CytokineStorm 16y ago
  Why rely on HN's anecdotal advice when you can use scientific evidence? http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/play/snake-oil-supplements/ http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/play/snake-oil-supplem...
• msluyter 16y ago
  Adopt a program of RSI prevention, whether you have it or not.
• watmough 16y ago
  Take a fish oil supplement and a multivitamin. Eat as little as you can get away with allowing you to control your weight (up or down!), and do everything you can to reduce your stress levels.
• deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
  • pxlpshr 16y ago
    I think that's bad advice. Going to a doctor and getting prescription meds should be the last resort. Some of the stimulants prescribed for ADHD are dangerous, highly addictive, and can increase risk for heart attacks, high blood pressure, strokes, et al.
    • deleted 16y ago
      [deleted]
    • tokenadult 16y ago
      Going to a doctor and getting prescription meds should be the last resort. I can think of worse things to do, so I don't think seeking competent medical advice should be the very last resort. Some prescribed medicines, including the medicines prescribed for ADD, can have dangerous side effects. But taken under medical supervision, they can also be helpful for many patients and result in healthier, more satisfying living.
      • metamemetics 16y ago
        Using Amphetamines is a purely symptomatic treatment and has nothing to do with fundamental health that is implicit in the OP's inquiry, At higher doses amphetamines are undeniably highly destructive to mental and physical health. Lower doses clearly have their uses but I would not bring them up in a 'health' thread. If you use amphetamines regularly, make sure to take additional Magnesium. It is required for your muscles to relax and is depleted by amphetamine use. It can help prevent muscle tension\heart palpitations.
      • bmj 16y ago
        I don't disagree, but I think it's also important to understand that many doctors are more than happy to dispense prescriptions without a thorough examination or exploring non-pharmaceutical solutions. In the U.S., many physicians do not take a holistic view of health, and that leads to over-prescription of drugs when it is possible that some other type of therapy might be appropriate (I'm thinking of neuro-developmental delay, listening fitness, or vision therapy in the case of kids).
• edkennedy 16y ago
  Welcome to BODYBREAK, with Hal Johnson and Joanne McCloud. Greens+ extra energy eliminates the need for mid afternoon naps, and as a side benefit you may not need to drink coffee anymore! Piracetam/Aniracetam has personally proven effective for focus, memory and mental acuity. ZMA can increase the quality of sleep as well as assist muscle growth and testosterone production. Exercise improves mood and many other health factors. We recommend trying this workout: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/timothyf.htm http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/timothyf.htm Tim Ferris also has a diet designed for losing weight: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/04/06/how-to-lose-20-lbs-of-fat-in-30-days-without-doing-any-exercise/ http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/04/06/how-to-lose-... SEX. Lots of it. reduce your stress and practice good fitness emotionally and physically. I read something interesting this morning that stress can cause increases in abdominal fat, which is the worst type of fat in terms of it's long term health detriment. http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/cortisol.htm http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/cortisol.htm Have a healthy attitude, stay positive, and remember KEEP FIT AND HAVE FUN!!!
  • edkennedy 16y ago
    I guess this message would of been better conveyed in video format.
    • whimsy 16y ago
      It would have been better if it didn't read like an infomercial.
      • edkennedy 16y ago
        Sometimes I forget everyone is not Canadian. Bodybreak was a series of educational ads on Canadian TV in the 80's. For ex: Here's an exercise you can do sitting down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1p6K0xGKd0&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1p6K0xGKd0&feature=relat...
• protomyth 16y ago
  I was told to take vitamin b complex by a doctor because my finger tips were going numb (I thought it was something worse). I don't think it helped my focus.
• tjstankus 16y ago
  Pay attention to macronutrients (carbohydrates/protein/fat) and eat them in proportion to each other. You'll need to do some reading and a bit of experimentation to find what fits your needs best. Getting the right balance of macronutrients will postively affect your mental acuity. That and exercise. If you're getting enough exercise, it's much easier to get good sleep. Once these big picture things are in place, then worry about micronutrients (vitamins).
• awolf 16y ago
  Daily exercise (biking, running, or swimming) has greatly increased my overall coding productivity. I'm able to work longer hours with a higher level of focus.
• michael_dorfman 16y ago
  Following health tips you found on internet discussion sites (even ones as interesting as HN) is a bit like chewing gum you found on the sidewalk. Seriously: "What works for you and what doesn't"? Science.
• mbenjaminsmith 16y ago
  Get enough sleep; eat fresh / organic meats, veggies, fruits; exercise (training for amateur competition is good); try to stay as positive as possible.
• keefe 16y ago
  In my view, we are physical/emotional/intellectual creatures and harmonious functioning of all three centers leads to exponentially increasing productivity. Physically, I treat the body as a machine that runs on macronutrients (fiber, protein,carbs) and micronutrients. I looked up daily requirements of each macro and I make sure I get them. Micronutrients come from a vitamin. A cornerstone of my diet is the protein smoothie - orange juice, brown rice protein, probiotic yogurt. Muscles are made of protein and they grow by stressing them until they breakdown then letting them regrow bigger. So, I do cardio every day and weights alternating upper/lower 5/7 days. Emotionally, the key for me is minimizing lying and living according to my principles. I also make sure to take time to take pleasure and relaxation. This does wonders for my motivation. I also try not to express or fixate on negative emotions, rather to take them as a signal that change is required and then let them go by as unnecessary wastes of energy. Intellectually, I am merciless with myself. I use lists and lots, really a lot, totally excessive numbers of tests to make sure that I'm not seeing what I want to see. That's about my philosophy of living a healthy life.
  • mixmax 16y ago
    I'm curios about the tests. Can you expand?
    • keefe 16y ago
      nothing particularly interesting really. most of them are in junit. otherwise, it's simple stuff like marking off when I stick to schedule or violate it, estimating times and then checking those estimates.
• metamemetics 16y ago
  -Fruit is healthy\quick\convenient\delicious and is always a great standby. Try to eat a little fat with them though (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts are great) to stabilize the blood sugar impact and absorb any Vitamin A. -Cook with coconut oil or olive oil -If you don't like eating your veggies, try them with more garlic. Or add spinach in with whatever you're cooking, it gets a good flavor once heated and even works with pasta. -Vitamin D supplement is extremely important if you are moderately nocturnal, you also can't absorb any calcium without it (look into this late-night coders)
• scorxn 16y ago
  Despite the ad-peppering, http://www.simplefit.org/ http://www.simplefit.org/ has some good info and a very manageable workout/nutrition schedule.
• johnswamps 16y ago
  A cup of tea and 5-15 minutes of meditation always helps to start my day.
• javanix 16y ago
  Stay away from ALL fast food. Even their "healthy" choices are designed to maximize profit margins, and there's just something unsavory about decades of processed food. I stopped eating fast food about 3 years ago, and I have felt healthier ever since - I didn't change any other significant part of my diet/living situation - and I've only gotten sick once or twice, my migraines have decreased despite the added stress of college, plus I've become a better cook.
• chipsy 16y ago
  I believe strongly in the power of supplements to structure the rest of diet. Here is my current supplement structure: Multivitamin + 6000 IU Vitamin D + Calcium Omega-3 Whey protein(at approximately the bodybuilder-style "one gram per pound bodyweight" level) For meals I mostly eat in a low-carb/paleo fashion - because I find the fatty foods easier to digest, overall. Protein, fat, fiber, are what I look for(and quality fats too, a lot of the cheap vegetable oils seem shady and give me bad reactions). Adding the whey protein really helped because it nullified a lot of the cravings that would make me break the meal plan. Discovery: if you eat like a bodybuilder, even without training you're going to start looking sort of like one. The other supplements are general health measures to help my mood, alertness and immune system. My GF, who has not yet bought into clean eating, recently got the same bug as I did at about the same time. I barely realized it was there and was over it in three days. She was taken down for about a week with some vicious "can't-do-a-thing" days in the middle. I've only been with her a short while, so I hope I can encourage her.
• fizx 16y ago
  Quit drinking soda.
• juliend2 16y ago
  (organic) vitamin D helped me this winter because there is less sun during these months (in Canada). I also sit a lot less in front of my computer since i've read http://www.businessweek.com/print/magazine/content/10_19/b4177071221162.htm http://www.businessweek.com/print/magazine/content/10_19/b41... (thanks HN for this) .
• m0nty 16y ago
  I went low-carb three weeks ago and have lost c. 6lbs (edited!) since. I gave up alcohol a week later (still have the occasional one though). Feeling much better, sleeping better, more energy, etc. I have always been skeptical of "fad" diets but this one is working fine for me. "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes was the starting point for all this.
  • ovi256 16y ago
    That much weight loss (6 Kg) sounds great! Good job. Be careful with loosing too much too fast, that could leave you with skin folds (excess skin hanging loose). I seem to remember 1 kg per week is the safe amount. Ask a physician.
    • m0nty 16y ago
      Ack! I meant 6lbs, 3Kg!! My understanding is it tails off after a few weeks, but thank you for the advice. I think it has something to do with fluid loss in the early stages or something like that.
      • carbocation 16y ago
        Yes. Glycogen is branched, polymerized glucose, and has a strong affinity for water. When you go low-carb, you reduce your glycogen stores, and thus your water stores. This type of weight loss is rapid but temporary (insofar as it's not a reduction in what most people want to lose: fat).
• scorpioxy 16y ago
  Just one, exercise. I try to exercise at least 3 times a week, I do some cardio and then exercise with weights. After a month or so, your food intake will likely change and you'll start to realize what you need in terms of nutrition. Your body will also become stronger and you will sleep much better and the exercise itself is great for stress relief. As far as supplements, I don't like them. Even the case of taking multi-vitamins is getting mixed reviews from physicians.(I take a vitamin D supplement on Dr's orders)
• DougWebb 16y ago
  I had a bad cholesterol profile: low HDL and high LDL and triglycerides. I really didn't want to take any statins because of the dangerous side-effects, so my doctor prescribed niacin instead: Niaspan. I had taken over-the-counter niacin before with no results, but the Niaspan gave me the niacin flush that first night, and after a few months my LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were all in well inside the healthy range, and my HDL was just below the healthy range. I just had my six-month followup blood tests, but I haven't gotten the results yet. I'm expecting to be in pretty good shape. I've taken between 1000mg and 3000mg per night, adjusting based on my body's response. At first the flush happened within an hour of taking the pills, then it either stopped or it was happening while I slept. I ramped up the dosage as the flush effect weakened and I stayed at 3000mg for a while, but now that's too much. It seems like my body only needs 2000mg now for the full effect, but I don't flush until about six hours after I take the pills. Based on my blood test results, I may ramp up again to get the flush faster or back off to reduce it. The flush itself lasts about an hour. It's not comfortable, but it's not bad either. You get hot, red, and kind of itchy. I understand that it's part of the healthy effect of the niacin: expanding your blood vessels and washing out toxins through your skin (which causes the itching). If you want to try this, you need to get the prescription stuff. The OTC niacin is definitely not the same, at least not here in the US where vitamins are unregulated food products that generally don't contain what they claim to contain.
  • pbz 16y ago
    "Furthermore, the American Heart Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program both take the position that only prescription niacin should be used to treat dyslipidemias, and only under the management of a physician. The reason given is that niacin at effective intakes of 1500–3000 mg/day can also potentially have severe adverse effects. Monitoring of liver enzymes is necessary." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niacin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niacin
  • carbocation 16y ago
    Niacin has toxicities, just like statins. Except for niacin's flush (which is not indicative of any harm, but can be quite uncomfortable), I think the absolute risk of dangerous toxicity for both statins and niacin is very low. Taking both, in supervised fashion, is reasonable. As an aside, I agree with you re: getting prescription niacin. If you do go with the over-the-counter stuff, make sure it is not "no-flush". The evidence is not consistent with the notion that no-flush niacin has any lipid-modifying effect.
• wendroid 16y ago
  Get to bed by midnight & get up when you wake (no alarm clock). Only eat wholemeal wheat. Eat plenty of greens - broccoli, kale, savoy cabbage (high iron stuff) Eat an apple on your way to the office. Coffee only before mid-day
• theycallmemorty 16y ago
  Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Don't do anything in your bedroom except sleep and sex.
• lotharbot 16y ago
  Drink enough water. Even slight dehydration causes fatigue, emotional discomfort, and loss of focus. (There's an easy way to tell if you're hydrated: your urine will be nearly clear.) Get enough sleep. Eat a balanced diet: lots of veggies and fruit, some lean meat and dairy, and the right amount of carbs to keep your blood sugar consistent without adding too many empty calories. Keep your body moving. Sitting in your chair staring at a screen for 8 straight hours is stressful. Get up and take a short walk while you're thinking through a problem. Pick up a hobby like biking, swimming, or martial arts.
  • seymores 16y ago
    But taking vitamin B complex make my urine bright pretty yellow :-)
• hga 16y ago
  If you have problems with insomnia or even a tiny bit of seasonal depression: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-goLITE-BLU-Therapy-Device/dp/B001I45XL8/ http://www.amazon.com/Philips-goLITE-BLU-Therapy-Device/dp/B...
• jacoblyles 16y ago
  Don't eat such large portions, and cut back on the caffeine. Both of these things help me stay mentally sharp.
• chett 16y ago
  Over the last 6 months I've lost a little over 20 lbs by eating healthier and exercising. I tracked what I ate with an iPhone app and joined the gym. Tracking food intake was tedious but helped me unlearn bad eating habits. I've gone from panting after 5 minutes on the treadmill to running 4 miles in about 35 minutes. I feel like I've found a sustainable, enjoyable pastime that will keep me in good health for years to come. Support from my wife was crucial too.
• praptak 16y ago
  As a medicine doctor and a former president of USA I advice you not to seek health advice from anonymous guys on the internet. Btw, yerba mate kicks ass.
• wallflower 16y ago
  A foam roller. Awesome for relaxation. http://www.livestrong.com/article/24888-using-foam-roller-back-pain/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/24888-using-foam-roller-ba...
• sev 16y ago
  * Stay far away from microwaves * Don't drink soda * No fast food * Have fruits and veggies daily * Lots of water * Exercise daily * Stretch daily * Meditate/Yoga
  • sev 16y ago
    thanks to the person voting this down. i must have said something extremely horrible. much appreciated for the wake-up call.
  • wesley 16y ago
    Is the microwave myth still going strong here?
• spython 16y ago
  Give up smoking. Really.
• krmmalik 16y ago
  Someone taught me a philosophy "Eat Well, Move Well, Think Well", which i am trying to implement in my life right now. Eat Well - Other than the obvious, this also related to your environment, in terms of the quality of the water you drink, the detergents you use and their harmful effects etc Move Well - Its not just about plenty of exercise, but more about the right kind of exercise. Anything that stimulates the correct response from your spine which feeds back to the brain Think Well - Having a positive, can do attitude as well as performing visualization exercises of yourself in a healthy state, since the mind cannot differentiate between reality and imagery in the brain.
• Artifex 16y ago
  Avoid all wheat, oats and soy products for a week. See how you feel. Turned out I had a gluten sensitivity for the longest time, and I felt loads better going off all gluten. Soy also acts as a phytoestrogen in the male body - could potentially be counteracting testosterone production.
• bpourriahi 16y ago
  I have read no books on Vitamin D and only a couple asthma-related articles on its benefits. My lungs were in severe pain and I had been looking for anything that could help, so I tried it. WOW. HUGE difference. Turns out D is extremely important and being deficient can impair and damage many things. It has helped with focus, agility, and I feel MUCH better. It has really help with my depression and lack of focus, which were very serious issues (I was unable to work.. seriously). Try it for yourself and judge. Not the puny 400IU a day. Take 10,000IU a day for a week (it's not toxic) and see if you feel better. I have hypothyroid and this perpetuates D deficiency.. I desperately needed it. But most people need more Vitamin D, and its effects are widespread and largely unknown. You can do your own research, but please don't tell me its toxic because of the FDA. Try for yourself and pay attention to your body. Just know 400IU is worthless.
• lena 16y ago
  Don't forget your teeth. Dental health is correlated with general health, and some dental problems are not reversible (I have severe erosion because I used to drink soft drinks all day). Apart from diligent tooth brushing (give the inside of your teeth as much time as the outside, and brush at least 2 minutes) eating habits are very important for dental health as well. - Limit the amount of times you eat (it is better to eat 6 candies in one sitting than it is to eat 4 pieces of candy during the day) - Don't drink soda, but realise that for your teeth apple and other fruit juices are just as bad, so severely limit them as well. - Don't brush your teeth immidiately after eating. - Eat xylitol mints or chew xylitol gum after meals
• whimsy 16y ago
  Wasn't there a blog post by someone within the last few weeks re: some sort of "hacker workout schedule" involving x pushups, y crunches and z something else? That looked intriguing to me, but I forget where it was.
• zackola 16y ago
  don't drink soda. eat more vegetables, eat less meat.
• johnmw 16y ago
  My uncle lived to 106 and until he was about 102 he had more energy than me. Apart from his good genes (alas, he was an uncle in law), I think his two main secrets were: 1. He loved life. Really loved it. He kept active, doing the things he loved until he died. 2. He seemed to live pretty much stress free.