Health tips Health Tips and News  - The Straight Dope On Food, Health, &
Exercise

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life.  Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it.  Everything
wears out eventually.  Speeding up your heart will not make you live
longer;that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it
faster.  Want to live longer?  Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies.  What does a cow eat?
Hay and corn.  And what are these?  Vegetables.  So a steak is nothing more
than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.  Need
grain?  Eat chicken.  Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy
vegetable).  And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily
allowance of vegetable slop.

Q: Is beer or wine bad for me?
A: Look, it goes to the earlier point about fruits and vegetables.  As we all
know, scientists divide everything in the world into three categories animal,
mineral, and vegetable.  We all know that beer and wine are not animal, and
they are not on the periodic table of elements, so that only leaves one
thing, right?  My advice: Have a burger and a beer and enjoy your liquid
vegetables.

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body, and you have body fat, your ratio is one to one.
If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: At the gym, a guy asked me to "spot" for him while he did the bench press.
What did he mean?
A: "Spotting" for someone means you stand over him while he blows air up your
shorts.  It's an accepted practice at health clubs; though if you find that
it becomes the ONLY reason why you're going in, you probably ought to
reevaluate your exercise program.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise
program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry.  My philosophy is: No Pain -Good.

Q: If I stop smoking, will I live longer?
A: Nope.  Smoking is a sign of individual expression and peace of mind.
If you stop, you'll probably stress yourself to death in record time.

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: You're not listening.  Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.
In fact, they're permeated in it.  How could getting more vegetables be bad
for you?

Q: What's the secret to healthy eating?
A: Thicker gravy.

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not!  When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger.  You should
only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had.