Living through a heat wave forces you to focus on your health. The shear experience of the heat, sunshine strength and stress induced on to the body made my brain think it's core focus was survival.
What can we do to minimize the distress? Stay in doors, but no air conditioning makes that unbearable. Where is there free air conditioning, at the cinema so an unplanned movie is the order of the day. Darkness has descended but the heat is still high. A BBQ dinner is in order.
OK, we are told to drink plenty during the heat wave, but what foods are best to eat? Should we just surf from one air conditioned cafe to the next? This does get expensive and the food is not that healthy for everyday consumption. Where are the healthy air conditioned places near me?
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Sunday, July 16, 2006
lifestyle linking enjoyment
From deep in the sub conscious or the background of the conscious the need to experience things you enjoy doing come to the fore. For me they seem to follow a non-linear sine or cosine graph with time being on the x axis.
These inner message lead to action in term of search, what are the key words to enter into google, ‘San Francisco Symphony’, my geo location focusing the scope plus my exiting knowledge of the world had made me set listen to them as a goal or experience I want to participate in. What concert to choose? You read the options and I see ‘Lord of the Rings’ evening. Now that combines two things that I enjoy. It’s a no brainer to buy a ticket. The experience was great, my favourite moment being one seamless transfer of harmony between the orchestra and choir.
So, enjoyment in this instance was the consumption of an experience.
These inner message lead to action in term of search, what are the key words to enter into google, ‘San Francisco Symphony’, my geo location focusing the scope plus my exiting knowledge of the world had made me set listen to them as a goal or experience I want to participate in. What concert to choose? You read the options and I see ‘Lord of the Rings’ evening. Now that combines two things that I enjoy. It’s a no brainer to buy a ticket. The experience was great, my favourite moment being one seamless transfer of harmony between the orchestra and choir.
So, enjoyment in this instance was the consumption of an experience.
Monday, July 03, 2006
health short term - long term
For me some of those future health impacts are know with certainty, hay fever season start from March and lasts to September in Scotland. However, this year I spent part of winter in California and hay fever started in February but I found no need to take any anti histamines during the summer months. A steroid spray and eye drops keeping symptoms at bay. I took the decision to stop taking the tablets. I have this constant desire not to take pharma medicine and the grass looks brown so these factors added up to allow me to stop. And I feel better, for not taking the tablets, in a long-term sense, as I still have to take some pharma medicine. However, there is so much public pollen information out there. Why can this not be personalized to the allergy blood tests I have and my knowledge on the times of year I get hay fever?
My lifestyle activates also set annual health goals. I like skiing, especially free skiing. This is fairly extreme exercise in terms of endurance and physical stress and I suppose mental stress, positive success and determination to reach a summit. I know that I cannot just turn on the health to live these goals. Therefore, I need to keep fit all during the year and focus on particular exercises as winter draws in.
Chronic disease, whether it be heart, cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s etc. I associate with old age. Or is it an accumulation of my lifestyle choices and genes? Science, in my mind has not given us a framework with any degree of certainty in terms of the direct cause and effect of these diseases. Time frames of cause and effect are long, I assume. I am persuaded to change based on such science? Contrast this with a sudden pain in my right hip. I feel it and take the time to rest and exercise it. However, could this be the start to hip replacement in later years? If I knew this would I change my lifestyle goals? Or would I seek ways to live the goals but minimize the risks I am now aware of?
It is a tricky balance, short term seems to win but in the long run I want to maximise my overall lifestyle.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
lifestyle linking sleep
Probably the number one health change I have focused on over the last four years is to sleep better. My entrepreneurial lifestyle combined with travel means I feel I would qualify for the, Margaret Thatcher's school of Sleep, (she was famed for only needing 4-5 sleep per night, Now 80, I know she has suffered a stroke.) Maybe there is a lesson in that to take note of?
The life of a start up entrepreneur means you are intensely focused on all the things you can do to make your business a success. However, how do you switch off? How do you stop thinking about that one issues that seems to consume your whole life while you search for an answer? OK, you may fall asleep but your brain is still processing at full speed. What can you do to park the processing to the morning?
Sleeping tablets, glass of warm milk, a friend suggests mediation. I doubt I'll ever be won over by the first two, but meditation, maybe. How does it work? What exercise can you practice, which website are the best for me? Or maybe I'll just try me own thoughts on the matter and until I feel I need further help, I'll leave it all for now.
The life of a start up entrepreneur means you are intensely focused on all the things you can do to make your business a success. However, how do you switch off? How do you stop thinking about that one issues that seems to consume your whole life while you search for an answer? OK, you may fall asleep but your brain is still processing at full speed. What can you do to park the processing to the morning?
Sleeping tablets, glass of warm milk, a friend suggests mediation. I doubt I'll ever be won over by the first two, but meditation, maybe. How does it work? What exercise can you practice, which website are the best for me? Or maybe I'll just try me own thoughts on the matter and until I feel I need further help, I'll leave it all for now.
Mineral supplement, natural?
I have resisted until today to take a daily multi minerals and vitamin supplement. Surely, if I am eating real foods, fresh, local and organic and water as pure as it comes from nature in a Scottish valley then surely I should be getting all those mineral and vitamins? I have listened to others, friends to medical experts, retailers to natural food stores in the past but I have not been persuaded however, this week I started taking a daily natural multi mineral and vitamin supplement.
I should state that I am still highly sceptical of any 'benefits' so I am performing my own trail for the next few months.
Why give a daily supplement a go? What persuaded me to act? I was listening to a talk given by a food evangelist for all her days. A pioneer in recipe writing in the USA. A person that I found lots of commonality with. She had resist supplements too and she has engaged in a far more in-depth manner than I have with leading nutrition and medical experts. There advice to her was that today’s soils are just too depleted of minerals and thus plants growing in the ground have no minerals to pack inside their roots, tubers and leafs etc. Regardless of how we cook the fruit/vegetables they just do not contain the levels of minerals and vitamins our body’s demand. Thus they recommend a daily multi supplement.
So, in the end it was a non-medical expert that made the impact on me to buy my first bottle of supplements. I had to decide where to buy them, online or in store. I chose a physical store, specializing in natural and organic produce ranges. Why? Because I believe there supplement will be made from natural ingredients and I buy there regularly.
How will I measure the benefits? In reduced colds? Over what time frame? Questions I a still thinking about.
I should state that I am still highly sceptical of any 'benefits' so I am performing my own trail for the next few months.
Why give a daily supplement a go? What persuaded me to act? I was listening to a talk given by a food evangelist for all her days. A pioneer in recipe writing in the USA. A person that I found lots of commonality with. She had resist supplements too and she has engaged in a far more in-depth manner than I have with leading nutrition and medical experts. There advice to her was that today’s soils are just too depleted of minerals and thus plants growing in the ground have no minerals to pack inside their roots, tubers and leafs etc. Regardless of how we cook the fruit/vegetables they just do not contain the levels of minerals and vitamins our body’s demand. Thus they recommend a daily multi supplement.
So, in the end it was a non-medical expert that made the impact on me to buy my first bottle of supplements. I had to decide where to buy them, online or in store. I chose a physical store, specializing in natural and organic produce ranges. Why? Because I believe there supplement will be made from natural ingredients and I buy there regularly.
How will I measure the benefits? In reduced colds? Over what time frame? Questions I a still thinking about.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Consumption and my genes
To fuel my lifestyle I consume a wide range of substances, from water to orange juice, potatoes to pasta, bread to bacon, cooked to raw etc. From my pre-existing knowledge I understand I am, who I am, from my genes and the environment I have experienced since being born. But is there a direct correlation with specific foods and my health? I have an understanding of nutrigenomics and businesses like, www.infogene.com , www.dnadirect.com are allowing me to find out the gene impact of certain foods and health issues.
Given I know the results from these tests, will I change my behavior to minimize my risk of developing chronic disease? Or is my focus to maximize the experiences and goals my lifestyle aspires to? How do I know what gene test to buy? Why can't I send one test that will tell me all the answers?
Given I know the results from these tests, will I change my behavior to minimize my risk of developing chronic disease? Or is my focus to maximize the experiences and goals my lifestyle aspires to? How do I know what gene test to buy? Why can't I send one test that will tell me all the answers?
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Jet lag advice, person sitting next to you?
Tally up 12 hours on a plane and you land 8 hours behind GMT = Jet Lag for me.
By good luck the passenger sitting next to me was a medical student from Germany. His advice was to keep going to 10pm US time. Last time I gave into to sleep around 6pm. Sure enough, tiredness was willing me to sleep but I was motivated to reach 10pm, I wanted to test the theory. Falling asleep was instant at ten. I woke early, 5am, about when the sun raised it's head and every day since I haven't felt the jet lag too bad at all this time. It took me a month to get over it last time. Now will this theory work every time for me? Does any medical lifestyle study support this theory? What other activities, well being or food/water combinations could I try to support my body's conversion to a new time zone?
By good luck the passenger sitting next to me was a medical student from Germany. His advice was to keep going to 10pm US time. Last time I gave into to sleep around 6pm. Sure enough, tiredness was willing me to sleep but I was motivated to reach 10pm, I wanted to test the theory. Falling asleep was instant at ten. I woke early, 5am, about when the sun raised it's head and every day since I haven't felt the jet lag too bad at all this time. It took me a month to get over it last time. Now will this theory work every time for me? Does any medical lifestyle study support this theory? What other activities, well being or food/water combinations could I try to support my body's conversion to a new time zone?
Long haul flight = sore throat no. 2
It is just coincidence or a direct cause and effect that I suffered a really bad sore throat on the return flight to Scotland and a not so acute sore throat on the flight back to California? This time it cleared in a couple of days. Both flights were full up and over heated, (previous flights were half empty and it suffer no ill health effects). Is this the reason? Was there a back ground virus in my system waiting it's opportunity to strike?
More importantly, my lifestyle dictates that I will have many more such flights to take and I would like to minimize the risk of developing a killer sore throat in the future.
Should I eat better, rest better pre flight, during the flight, after the flight? Sleep better? Try and find a flight that will be less full? Surely, other regular long haul flyers have got good tips on what keeps them healthy during flights and is there any medical research on this topic to consider?
More importantly, my lifestyle dictates that I will have many more such flights to take and I would like to minimize the risk of developing a killer sore throat in the future.
Should I eat better, rest better pre flight, during the flight, after the flight? Sleep better? Try and find a flight that will be less full? Surely, other regular long haul flyers have got good tips on what keeps them healthy during flights and is there any medical research on this topic to consider?
Monday, May 15, 2006
Attention --- health data
There are many potential benefits to be realized from a 'lifestyle linking' health world. In this world our personal health data is being collected, stored and used. The question is: Who has control over this data? Our answer: the individual. Only with the individual in control of their attention data, working on their behalf, applied with their permission, motivation and values will these benefits be realized. These principals are held by the Attention Trust and its members. See our membership page here .
Thursday, May 11, 2006
'lifestyle linking health' business
How does the 'lifestyle linking health' vision impact on business and how they serve their customers?
Let me explain by way of an example/anecdote: Our local butcher said with much enthusiasm 'that's what I like to see" when he saw a row of empty meat trays when it was only lunch time. So, what was do different about today? The sun was shining and summer was in the air for the first time and BBQ's were on the consumers agenda. The weather had created extra demand.
Now, any seasoned retailer worth their money will know how important the weather is on affecting sales from food to clothing etc. However, it also struck me that none of these businesses integrate weather content into their websites? (please tell me if you know of one). OK, the empowered individual will have this on their home page or portal start page but a business can provide this information and link it to their customers purchasing of their products.
The butcher was right to be happy to sell all his products by lunch time but what about the regular customer that comes in after to find empty shelves. Are they happy? Linking demand factors can help: consumer demand can be transmitted quicker to the butcher, the butcher can help by providing the best weather information for the location and thus produce more product to cater for know demand and existing customer have products to buy.
What about the 'health' element in this story? The individuals lifestyle is influenced by the weather in prompting a BBQ. The individual also has high cholesterol. Therefore, it would be sensible to go for low fat BBQ meat option or they could even go for fish instead of meat. And if they wanted to go one step further and share their nutrition requirements with the butcher then the business would be able to customize their sausage production to reduced fat percentage.
I believe the individuals lifestyle wins, hands down ever time in deciding what actions, activities, consumption or buying they will undertake. The specific delivery of all these will depend on how empowered the individual is with the 'linking' information whether that be price, product choice, availability, weather or health.
Let me explain by way of an example/anecdote: Our local butcher said with much enthusiasm 'that's what I like to see" when he saw a row of empty meat trays when it was only lunch time. So, what was do different about today? The sun was shining and summer was in the air for the first time and BBQ's were on the consumers agenda. The weather had created extra demand.
Now, any seasoned retailer worth their money will know how important the weather is on affecting sales from food to clothing etc. However, it also struck me that none of these businesses integrate weather content into their websites? (please tell me if you know of one). OK, the empowered individual will have this on their home page or portal start page but a business can provide this information and link it to their customers purchasing of their products.
The butcher was right to be happy to sell all his products by lunch time but what about the regular customer that comes in after to find empty shelves. Are they happy? Linking demand factors can help: consumer demand can be transmitted quicker to the butcher, the butcher can help by providing the best weather information for the location and thus produce more product to cater for know demand and existing customer have products to buy.
What about the 'health' element in this story? The individuals lifestyle is influenced by the weather in prompting a BBQ. The individual also has high cholesterol. Therefore, it would be sensible to go for low fat BBQ meat option or they could even go for fish instead of meat. And if they wanted to go one step further and share their nutrition requirements with the butcher then the business would be able to customize their sausage production to reduced fat percentage.
I believe the individuals lifestyle wins, hands down ever time in deciding what actions, activities, consumption or buying they will undertake. The specific delivery of all these will depend on how empowered the individual is with the 'linking' information whether that be price, product choice, availability, weather or health.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Chronic Disease Prevention
Does our daily lifestyle routines really directly impact and correlate to your probability of developing chronic disease? Medical research concludes it does but it's not a 100% accurate science or prediction game.
However, it would be useful to have the generally accepted cause and effect evidence on tap to empower and inform our decision making.
However, it would be useful to have the generally accepted cause and effect evidence on tap to empower and inform our decision making.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Lifestyle goal: World Masters Swimming Championship
My goal is to compete at The World Masters Swimming Championships in August 2006. My training is going to step up in pace in the weeks and months ahead. But will my diet 'step up in pace' too to provide the right fuel at the right times?
I should be able to learn from the many swimming blogs what are good practices to follow. It would be great if I could down load and then use their grocery shopping suggestions and link that do my training schedule.
I should be able to learn from the many swimming blogs what are good practices to follow. It would be great if I could down load and then use their grocery shopping suggestions and link that do my training schedule.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
'lifestyle linking' Sun block, weather, health impact
The sun is a lot stronger here in California than it is back in Scotland at this time of the year. Sunburn is a concern. What suntan lotion should I buy?
There are lots of bottles to choose from. I don't believe tan's are a sign of good health so I always opt for a high factor. Factor 50+ which is what I buy. I go swimming so the label saying it's water proof for up to 80 mins. I feel I have made a good buy but have I? I would have liked my buying logic to have been reviewed by an expert e.g. skin cancer specialist.
Also, it is cloudy outside some days, applying cream every day becomes a chore. Is it OK not to apply sun cream on a cloudy day? Now, surely a combination of a weather station service and health expert e.g. skin cancer specialist could provide me with guidance on a daily basis?
And how much should I apply every day? Is there any short, medium or long term risk of using the cream every day? Would I be better off wearing a hat?
'lifestyle linking' Sun glasses
I arrived in California with out my sun glasses. I need to purchase a new pair. The pair at home in Scotland are of high quality so I don't want to spend too much cash.
However, will buying a cheaper pair with a sticker claiming 'maximum UV' protection suffice for a few weeks or should I invest a lot more money in a designer brand with superior sounding marketing?
Again, I do not know the relative health impacts the two options will have on my eye sight. I am thinking, the cheaper option say MAX protection and the small print provides supporting evidence. A more expensive pair will come along with a free consultation but it that just more marketing from the sales consultant or based on medical fact?
I would like to have real time data at the point of purchase on the health impact of these two product choices. If the cheap pair are taking care of my eyes and with the expensive pair, I am just paying for brand and style then I would buy the cheap pair. However, if wearing the cheap pair of sun glasses, I am in effect getting no protection from UV rays then I would be prepared to pay for the more expensive option?
A lifestyle linking service would provide the health impact on demand to us consumer to be weighed up against the pricing options and budgets.
'lifestyle linking' Weekly Shop
The photo is of my weekly shop for groceries and other domestic products for the home and myself.
I have set myself the lifestyle goal of competing in the World Masters Swimming Championships in August of 2006. This links directly with my lifestyle i.e.the amount of training I need to put in between now then then. As my training intensifies will the quality of my weekly shop for groceries do likewise? To be honest, as knowledgeable as I am, I have no real lidea what I should be buying to maximize my nutrition to complement my training.
I would like to get an analysis of my shopping and be able to input from an nutrition expert or competitive swimmer of my choice some value adding advice that will assist me buy better foods.
I have set myself the lifestyle goal of competing in the World Masters Swimming Championships in August of 2006. This links directly with my lifestyle i.e.the amount of training I need to put in between now then then. As my training intensifies will the quality of my weekly shop for groceries do likewise? To be honest, as knowledgeable as I am, I have no real lidea what I should be buying to maximize my nutrition to complement my training.
I would like to get an analysis of my shopping and be able to input from an nutrition expert or competitive swimmer of my choice some value adding advice that will assist me buy better foods.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
'lifestyle linking' Health
Welcome to my 'lifestyle linking' health blog
My 'lifestyle linking' health vision is about empowering individuals to link their health needs with their daily lifestyle routines.
My 'lifestyle linking' health vision is about empowering individuals to link their health needs with their daily lifestyle routines.
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