Drop Dead Healthy

by A. J. Jacobs

  . . . and My Two Favorite Ear Protectors.

  Blomberg doesn’t like earplugs or earphones because they put the burden on the hearer, not the noise-maker. But I’m all for them.

  After sampling a bucketful of noise-dampening equipment, here are my top picks.

  —EarProSonic Defenders by Surefire

  www.surefire.com/EarProProducts

  Originally designed for the military and law enforcement, these guys provide amazing protection—and stay in your ear thanks to a rubber handle.

  —Bose Noise-cancelling headphones

  http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/headphones/noise_cancelling_headphones/index.jsp

  Cons: Outrageously expensive (about $300). Pros: They make life tolerable. Also, my sixteen-year-old niece says that big headphones are back, so you won’t necessarily look like a tool.

  Appendix G

  Five Toxins I Now Avoid

  Even if you lived in a hazmat suit in Antarctica and ate only organic lentils grown in boiled water in your hydroponic garden, you’d still encounter plenty of toxins. Like God and Duane Reade drugstores, toxins are everywhere.

  The question is, which suspected toxins will do real damage and which ones can we safely ignore? It’s a headache-inducing puzzle.

  The perfectly rational person must weigh four factors:

  • The strength of the evidence that the suspected toxin harms our bodies at the doses you’re consuming

  • The strength of the evidence that the suspected toxin harms the environment

  • How time-consuming it is to replace the suspected toxin with a less chemical-heavy alternative

  • How much money it costs to replace the suspected toxin with a less chemical-heavy alternative.

  Obviously, there are no black-and-white answers. It’s one big gray area, and the shades of gray are forever shifting.

  By way of illustration, I’m listing the five habits I’ve changed since Project Health. Remember, this is just my list, based on my research and my biases. It’s not meant to be definitive.

  Organic food

  When I can, I try to buy organic food, despite its annoying price tag. Especially when it comes to the “Dirty Dozen”—the most pesticide-heavy fruits identified by the Environmental Working Group. As of 2011, these were apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines (imported), grapes (imported), bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries (domestic), lettuce, kale, collard greens. More at http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/.

  Fish

  I think mercury poisoning from fish is, as Homeland Security says, a credible threat—especially when it comes to my kids. Bagels and lox are now a once-a-month treat for them. I’ve cut my fish consumption down to twice a week and I follow the recommendations from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, which can be found at http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_recommendations.aspx?c=ln.

  One of their key points is to avoid fish high on the food chain (marlin, swordfish, tilefish).

  Plastics

  As the father of three young kids, I went on a ruthless bisphenol A hunt. BPA is a compound found in plastic that might cause, as Time magazine puts it, “brain and behavioral effects in young children.” It’s found in some clear plastic bottles and containers.

  You can check the recycling code on the bottom of your plasticware. Toss anything with the code three, six, or seven—these have BPA. (Just remember this poem: “Four, five, one and two/All the rest are bad for you.”)

  Also, with plastics, I try to avoid phthalates, a compound that increases plastic’s flexibility. Some yet to be-conclusive evidence shows it might be an endocrine disrupter. Plastic shower curtains usually have phthalates, so I replaced ours with a cotton one.

  Soaps and toothpaste

  Triclosan is a controversial antibacterial chemical. Some say it’s an endocrine disruptor and carcinogen (the FDA’s investigation is ongoing). To avoid triclosan, I no longer buy antibacterial soaps, just plain soap. And I converted our family to Tom’s of Maine toothpaste.

  Cookware

  Nonstick cookware usually contains perfluorinated chemicals, which are possible hormone disrupters. I switched the family to stainless steel pots and pans.

  And then I cross my fingers.

  Sources: The Body Toxic by Nena Baker, Slow Death by Rubber Duck by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, the FDA, EPA, the Environmental Working Group, the American Council on Science and Health, Time magazine

  Author’s Note

  All the events in this book are true. Some of the sequences have been rearranged, and, in certain cases, the names and identifying details have been changed.

  This book is for informational and entertainment purposes. It’s not a medical textbook. I have a B.A. after my name, not an M.D. Talk to a doctor before following any health tips in this book. And consult your spouse before moving to Okinawa.

  For more on sources and studies used in this book please see ajjacobs.com/notes.

  Acknowledgments

  I considered writing an anti-acknowledgments page. Sort of a “Thanks for nothing” list of all the people who made my project more difficult or didn’t return my calls.

  But on reflection, that seemed a little petty, and pettiness is not healthy. So I’ll go with the more traditional acknowledgments.

  (And just mention super quickly that I’m disappointed that Shawn Phillips never got around to answering my questions about his ABSolution six-pack workout. Call me, Shawn! I can still get you in the paperback.)

  As for those who did make this book possible, there are many, so settle down on your Swiss ball and get comfortable.

  Thanks to Ben Loehnen, one of the best editors in New York, not to mention Montana, for his insights, humor, enthusiasm, and patience.

  I’m grateful to my visionary publisher Jon Karp, who, like a great trainer, made me dig deeper.

  There are many others at Simon & Schuster I should thank for their unrivaled support, including Julia Prosser, Margaret Kingsbury, Sammy Perlmutter, Jessica Abell, Richard Rhorer, Lisa Healy, Jackie Seow, Jason Heuer, and Marcella Berger.

  Thanks, of course, to Sloan Harris at ICM, my toned and Crossfit-trained agent.

  I’m grateful to my Esquire editors David Granger and Peter Griffin.

  I’m indebted to Rob Weisbach, without whom I wouldn’t be lucky enough to make my living as a writer.

  My bodily advisory board consisted of the following kind and insightful people: Dr. Li Li Ji, Dr. Harry Fisch, Dr. Martha Aiello, Dr. Martin Gibala, Dr. John Ratey, Dr. Jeffrey Katz, Dr. Steven Bratman, Dr. Leslie Vosshall, Dr. Avery Gilbert, Dr. Daniel Kraft, Dr. Alan Hirsch, Dr. Paul Finger, Dr. Eric Topol, Tim Ferriss, Chris McDougall, Les Blomburg of the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, Rebecca Morley of the National Center for Healthy Housing, Mark Merchant, Richard Thaler, Dr. Harriet Hall of the blog Science-based Medicine, Dr. Michael Breus, Oliver Ryan, Greg Irwin of handhealth.com, Evie Vlahakis, Sunny Bates, Dr. Michael Hausman, Dr. David Spierer, Dr. Tony Ricci, Dr. Norman H. Edelman, Dr. Harry Papaconstantinou, John Fossella, Daniel Ariely, Helen Fisher, Dr. Daniel Goodman, Robert Sidbury, Marc Salem, David Friedman, Dr. Norman Doidge, Dr. Thomas Lovetree, Mindy Solkin, Sam Sommers, Charles Duhigg, Thomas Goetz, and Dr. Arnon Lambroza.

  I’m grateful to my aunt Marti for her humor, compassion, and concern for my electrosmog exposure.

  Thanks as well to John Simpson, who volunteered his expertise on kettlebells and sniping. And to the fittest editor in New York, Marysue Rucci, for buying the book in the first place.

  I’m indebted to Gary Taubes for his sharp thinking. And to Marc Hadosh, Jay Walker, Richard Saul Wurman, Jane Rubinstein, Christine Goss, Adam Schoenberg, Natalia Schoenberg, Alley Schoenberg and Andrea Schoenberg, Eddie Melecio, Chris Ferris, Caleb Hellerman, Jerry Pozniak, Hilary Kaplan, Ross Martin, and Courtney Holt for their support.

  I’m grateful to indexer Sydney Wolfe Cohen for his alphabetical genius.

  I’m grateful to all who r
ead the manuscript and gave me their editorial wisdom, including Roger Bennett, Lynnette Vanderwarker, Peter Martin, Eliza Chung, Stephen Friedman, John Podhoretz, Kevin Roose (my former intern-turned-journalistic superstar), Dr. Andrew Moran, Shannon Barr, Albert Kim, Andrew Lund, Dr. Atul Sharma, Michelle Tessler, Candice Braun, Anna Sank, Ryan D’Agostino, Dr. Peter Cram, Dr. Burke Richmond, Dr. Steven Schutzer, and Amy Harmon.

  And of course, thanks to my amazing family, who raise my serotonin level on a daily basis, especially my wife Julie, and my sons, Jasper, Zane, and Lucas.

  Index

  Page numbers in italics refer to illustrations.

  Aamodt, Sandra, 331

  abdominal aortic aneurysm, 27

  abs, six-pack, 10, 84, 216

  Ackerman, Diane, 327

  Ackerman, Jennifer, 72

  acupuncture, 118–21

  AJ’s results from, 120–21

  doing nothing compared with, 121

  energy pathways in, 120, 121

  mummified Siberan corpse found with markings of, 119

  adrenal gland, 139–64, 140

  see also stress

  adrenaline, high, noise-related, 55

  adult baby food, 127

  aerobic (cardio) exercise, 348

  brainpower boosted by, 174–75

  for eyes, 329

  for Finger Fitness, 305–7, 309

  in guerrilla exercise, 353–54

  longevity linked to, 44–45

  schedule for, 33

  slow fitness vs., 158–61

  aerobic running, 252–53

  Aeron chair, butt’s soul mate as, 63

  Aesop’s Fables, hare maligned in, 252

  age, aging, 343

  of brain, 175

  hearing loss in, 55

  of lungs, 219

  old, 44–45, 267

  prolonged, futility of pursuing fitness for, 31

  skin as broadcaster of, 236

  slowed down by volunteering, 179–80

  successful, 24–26

  age denialism, 125–26

  Ahasuerus, King, 199

  Ah-Choo! (Ackerman), 72

  Airborne, evaporation of faith in, 124

  Airlift to America (Shachtman), 179

  air pollution, 219–20

  air quality, house plants for, 28

  air travel:

  face mask worn in, 79–80

  fastidious germaphobic kid in, 81

  magical thinking essential to, 148

  alarmist babble, secondhand smoke dismissed as, 184

  alcohol:

  daily limit of, 14, 89

  reviewing benefits of, 14, 89, 91

  see also booze; wine

  alienation, manual incompetence blamed for, 305

  Alison (Julie’s friend), 161–62

  Alison (sleep clinic technician), 263

  Allen, Woody:

  Execusiser of, 67

  nature avoided by, 43

  almond milk, AJ’s affection for, 271

  almond scent, as AJ’s sedative of choice, 299, 347

  alpha females, scarcity of, 42

  alpha males, in caveman movement, 36–44

  Alterna Health scent, 118

  “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” (song), 152–53

  Alzheimer’s disease, 15, 175

  American Academy of Dermatology, 240

  American Cancer Society, 190, 236

  American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), 187–88

  American Dental Association, 197

  American Lung Association, 220

  American Nazi Party, how AJ was aided in kicking his mango habit by, 231–32

  American Nerd (Nugent), 174

  American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, 135

  amygdala, cursing as activator of, 125

  anesthesia, 115–16

  animal products, Marti’s passionate battle against, 93–94

  antibacterial soaps, 79, 184, 369

  antibiotics, germ resistance to, 79

  AntiGravity yoga, 247

  antinoise movement, 54–57

  achievements of, 56–57

  how it fared on the kookiness scale, 56

  see also noise

  antioxidants, 89

  in blueberries, 60, 97

  dark chocolate loaded with, 14

  overestimation of, 97

  unhealthy food in clothing of, 95

  anxiety:

  mindfulness as bringer of, 27

  mutual outsourcing of, 149–50

  vs. optimism in health matters, 70–71

  in petting Logan the Airedale, 151

  when magical thinking can help, 148–50

  aphrodisiacs, 105–7

  Good & Plenty/cucumber romance spray, 102, 106–7, 109

  “natural,” 107–8

  scientific skepticism about, 107

  apple juice, AJ vs. Julie on where to put it, 170

  apples, 17, 135, 356

  as “Clark Kent” food, 97

  appliance safety, 338

  Appy, Meri-K, 337–39

  accident-prevention philosophy of, 337

  Jacobs apartment scanned by, 337–39

  Archer, Krista, 208–10

  Areca palm, 2, 28

  aromatherapy, 294, 299

  arsenic, 273

  asthma, 220, 241

  athletes, infectious diseases of, 32

  athlete’s foot, 32

  Atkins diet, 17, 227

  Atlantic, 287

  attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 177

  Aveeno lotion, 237

  Averbukh, Vlad, 37–43

  bathroom squatting practiced by, 136

  on caveman diet, 40–41

  cavewoman dates attempted by, 41

  fantasies on how AJ’s new chest would cause regrets in, 83–84

  as fundamentalist caveman, 38

  ill-advised complaints of, 41–43

  raw meat fare of, 38, 228

  red hair, beard, and smart car of, 37

  unintended insults of, 38–39, 40

  Averill, Meredith, 19, 20

  Axel, Richard, 298

  Aykroyd, Dan, 345

  babies, helmets for, 336

  Bach, J. S., 77

  back, 313–24, 314

  lengthening of, 317

  back pain, 313–19

  exacerbated by bad posture, 315

  tips for relief of, 318

  bacteria:

  bad PR of, 77

  cuticles as defense against, 210

  nasal filtration of, 216

  see also germs

  bad for you:

  antibacterial soap, 184

  Balkanizing life, 64

  boxing, 328

  brick wall view, 44

  carbs, 227–29

  car upholstery, 186

  cell phones, 7

  CFL light bulbs, 185–86

  chairs, 63–64, 66

  cigarettes, 214–15

  cleaning fluids, 184

  commercial flowers, 186

  deadlines (stressful), 139

  distracted eating, 21–22

  driving or walking drunk, 341

  eating high on the food chain, 190

  foods developed in last ten thousand years, 228

  germ porn, 76

  germ-saturated gyms, 32

  glassblowing, 328

  hang gliding and skiing, 89

  health food fetishism, 87–90

  heavy drinking, 14

  hypercleanliness, 80–81

  lack of focus, 309

  large doses, 188

  metal fillings, 186

  microwaving food in plastic, 190

  multitasking, 68

  noise, 53–59

  not being in the moment, 68

  obese or unhappy friends, 161–62

  plastic containers failing BPA verse test, 189, 369

  plastic toys, 183

  processed and starchy carbs, 93


  repetitive actions, 170

  sex, 101–3

  see also sexaphobes

  sex without orgasm, 103

  shampoo, 183

  sitting and staring at screens all day, 63

  six-pack abs, 216

  sleeping with pets, 152

  smoking unfiltered menthols while eating cheese-coated lard and screaming at your spouse, 63

  sneakers, 205

  snoring, 259–64

  some marriages, 46–47

  stooping posture, 313–14

  sugar or thinking about sugar, 15, 93, 95, 96, 229–30

  a too-real worldview, 130

  touch screens, 309

  turmeric, 7

  unbalanced delusional optimism, 130

  UV light, 196–97

  waving things about, 309

  wires, 185

  worries and care, 149

  writing books, 139

  see also good for you

  Bad Science (Goldacre), 90, 237

  baldness, testosterone blamed for, 284, 287

  bananas, 93

  Bananas (film), 67

  Band-Aid Removal Preference Dilemma, 252–53

  Barefoot Run, first annual, 203–8

  barefoot running:

  Dr. Archer, the foot doctor’s views on, 208–9

  passerby remarks on, 207

  baseball players, improving eyesight of, 330

  baseball watching, blood pressure improved by, 1, 164, 347

  basketball teams, above-average students not found on, 175–76

  Bassols, Claudia, 285

  bathroom:

  happy and timely visits to, 131

  two years in, 64

  see also toilet topics

  bathroom safety, 338

  bathtubs, slip-resistant decals and grab bars for, 338, 339

  beauty treatments, year-long, in Book of Esther, 236

  bedroom, chilly temperature urged for, 210

  beds:

  fatalities occurring while in or near, 335–36

  leaving them unmade, 330

  bedtime, 265–66

  Beilock, Sian, 164

  Belkin, Lisa, 341

  Bella (worry exchanger), 149–50

  Benihana, noisy ambience of, 53–54

  beta-carotene supplements, lung cancer increased with, 90

  Bible, AJ’s obedience to the arcane rules of, 5–6

  biceps curls, phone hookup for, 67