by A. J. Jacobs
bingeing:
on Chips Ahoy!, 66
nutritional, 59–60
Plato on, 293–94
why exercise can lead to, 32–33
bioflavonoids, 106
bird excrement, price of skin treatment with, 235
birth, biblical injunction on pain in, 116
birthday song, handwashing to, 78
bladder cancer, 16, 89, 275
Blaine, David, 216–17
breath-holding record set by, 216
morning juice recipe of, 216
Blomberg, Les, 365–66
Blood pressure:
effect of a park stroll on, 44
petting dogs and, 150
raised by watching football, lowered by baseball, 1, 164, 347
TSA pat-down possibly beneficial for, 154
blood sugar, 230, 363
Blood-type diet, 13
blueberries, 60
marketing efforts behind obsession with, 97
with savoring meditation, 20–21, 86
worthwhile time spent on, 26
BluePrintCleanse, 268, 269, 271, 272
Blue Zones, The (Buettner), 64, 71
Bodies exhibit, 213–14
body:
asking for a refund on, 116
channels or meridians of, 120
excruciating mindfulness of, 27
incomprehensible betrayal by, 72
losing some marshmallowness of, 181
as 1978 Ford Pinto, 15
seeking signs of progress in, 83–84
some parts left out of project, 346
see also specific body parts
boils, 32
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex (Roach), 103, 104
Bono, F-word demonstrated by, 125
boobs, male, cause of, 183, 283
books, nonelectronic, good news for, 266
booze:
marriage vs., 47
in Vice Diet, 13–16, 330
see also alcohol; drinking; wine
Borgnine, Ernest, secret of longevity as told by, 103–4
Born to Run (McDougall), 47–48, 203, 205
Bose noise-canceling headphones, 52, 57–58, 59, 340, 366
Bottlemania (Royte), 273
bowel cancer, 92
boys, quelling hormonal hyperactivity in, 101–3
brain, 165–71, 166
a bit full of itself, 307
effect of holding hands on, 308
effect of repetition on, 170
emotions entangled with olfactory part of, 298
exercising of, 165–67
fog in, 19
as hand’s handservant, 305
how noise wreaks havoc on, 55
mind-expanding activities for, 168–70
“Miracle-Gro” for, 175
as muscle, 165–67
odor workouts good for, 297
real painkiller and placebo identical to, 122–23
shrinkage of, 3
testing of, 166, 171–73
on two-way street, 329
uploading of, 112
watching sports might be good for, 164
brain cancer, 188–89
brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), 175
Brain Resource Center, 171, 176
Brain Trainer, AJ’s deletion of, 168
brainwaves, 266
learning control of, 176–77
tracking of, 172
Brandt, Allan, 215
Bratman, Steven, 92
all health advice boiled down by, 89
on hazards of orthorexia nervosa, 87–90, 98, 347, 364
Brazil nuts, 89, 106
breakfast, 17
cereals, 96, 363
protein and fats for, 363
breast cancer, 15, 92, 273
HRT and, 284
orgasms helpful in lowering rates of, 104
stress as cause of, 142
breastfeeding, child’s IQ raised by, 300–301
breathing, 215–21
deep, 216–18
nose vs. mouth, 215–16
in sexual activity, 105
stomach-, 217–18
Breus, Michael, 264–65
broccoli, 92, 93
Brock, Pope, 283
Bronzaft, Arline:
classroom noise pollution studied by, 56
on her unpublished novel of murder, sex, and noise, 57, 60
noisy refrigerator of, 55
talking noise with, 54–57
Brownie/Greenie (anole lizard), 152, 189
Brynner, Yul, Jim Fixx in afterlife epiphany featuring, 31
bubonic plague, 152
Buck, Linda, 298
Burney, Fanny, her 1810 mastectomy described by, 115–16
butt:
getting off the, 63–71, 123
proper positioning of, 316
where to put it while sitting, 318
California, health viewpoint of, 7
Calorie Restriction movement (CR), 17–21
savoring meditation in, 20–21
Calorie Restriction Society, 18–21
calories, burning of:
by being cold, 210
Fitbit’s stats on, 108–9
by iced drinks, 276
ideal apartment temperature for, 2
by just standing, 66
by laughing, 144
by missionary-position sex (for men), 105
by running vs. walking errands, 65
by sitting, 66
by us vs. our grandfolks, 64
Campbell, T. Colin, 92
Canadian Family Physician, 104
cancer, 64, 241
likelihood of its showing up, 27
optimism linked weakly to recovery from, 71
positive thinking misapplied in, 141–42
stress believed a cause of, 142
see also specific cancers
cancer prevention, 7
coffee advocated for, 15
exercise as aid to, 32
marriage and, 46
tepid water advised for, 275
candles, hazardous, 338–39
Capgras syndrome, 131
car accidents, 335, 341
sleep-related, 258, 259
carbohydrates, carbs:
dangerous sugar concentrations in, 93
high-glycemic and starchy, 93
see also specific carbohydrates
cardio (aerobic) exercise, see aerobic exercise
cardio fetishism, 307
cardiovascular system:
noise and, 55
teeth and gums linked to, 193–95
carpal tunnel syndrome, 310
carriage return, benefit of, 309
carrots, 90, 361
Carson, Rachel, 188
Casper the Friendly Ghost, 213–14
cat ownership, 151–52, 359–60
cat scratch fever, 152
caveman (Paleo) movement, 36–44
fundamentalist vs. reform people in, 38
meat-heavy diet of, 37, 38, 40–41
squatting advocated by, 136
Caveman Workout, 36–44
idea behind, 36–37
natural running in, 39–40, 42
prowling tiger imitated in, 30, 39–40
sprinting half-naked through the park with, 42
TV coverage of, 38, 40, 41
wisecracks inspired by, 37
cavewomen, paucity of, 41
cayenne peppers, 17, 356
ceilings, noise-reducing, 56
celery and peanut butter, erotic hopes for, 106
cell phones:
deaths of drivers on, 341
Marti’s cautions on brain-frying risks of, 7, 188–89
cells:
life span of, 112
number at work in our bodies, 27
Centers for Disease Control, 27, 77, 152
harrowing list of ways you can die or be injured issued by, 335–36
Central Park:
biking around the Great Lawn of, 277
Caveman Workout meeting in, 36–43
Christo’s Gates in, 69–70
Jacobs boys lost and found in, 332–33
jogging through, and taking cab home, 44, 47
smashing logs in, 248
Strollercise in, 246, 247
as wilderness, 36
cereals, breakfast, 96, 363
cerebral cortex, 167
Cezanne, Paul, optical issues of, 327
chairs:
disease ascribed to overuse of, 64
hand-shaped, 306
see also sitting
chameleons, 152
Chanel, Coco:
as bronzing’s godmother, 239–40
Nazi ties of, 240
Charlatan (Brock), 283
chemicals, spokespeople for, 187
chess, pizza eater’s loss in, 19–20
chest press machines, 35
chewdaism, 24, 84, 355
chewing gum, 198–99
with xylitol, 199
chew-per-mouthful ratio, 50
“Chicken Dance Elmo,” noise reduction of, 57
child abuse, 341
American cheese accused of, 185
children:
as barbells, 354
discussing mortality with, 110–12
parents’ fears vs. true causes of harm to, 341
risks of plasticware for, 369
sunlight vs. artificial light for, 331
tricky combination of slow eating and, 24
see also Jacobs boys
chimpanzees:
flossing by, 41
help from testicles of, 283
China, Finger Fitness understood in, 307
China Study, The (Campbell), 92, 93
Chinese medicine, 121
chocolate:
dark, antioxidant haul in, 14
dark, in superfood salad, 60
natural, 16
in Vice Diet, 13–16, 330
cholera, 91
cholesterol:
coffee as booster of, 15
effect of dog owning on, 151
chopsticks, take-along, 355
Christakis, Nicholas, 162
Christmas, fasting on, 20
Christo, 69–70
chromosomes, protective caps for, 31–32
Cigarette Century, The (Brandt), 215
cigarettes, 214–15
circadian rhythm, disruption of, 7, 350
civilization, toasting the slow death of, 187
Clomid:
how it works in men, 284
reasons for AJ ending use of, 287
side effects of, 284–85
Coan, James, 308
Coca-Cola, 17, 95
cockiness, vision aided by, 329
coffee, in Vice Diet, 13–16
cold remedies, medically mixed view of, 72
colds:
antibiotics best avoided for, 79
cold rejected as cause of, 211
handwashing urged for prevention of, 78
humming also tried for prevention of, 1
why each side of the germs debate doesn’t get any, 78, 80
collagen, 60, 237
colonics, 135
colonoscopies, 135
colorectal cancer, 64, 135
colorectal health, 131–37, 132
Complete Book of Running, The (Fixx), 29
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Triathlon Training, The (Katai and Barr), 277
compression suit, 98–99
concentration:
neurofeedback as aid to, 176–77
noise’s potent effect on, 55
Coney Island eating contests, kale vs. hot dogs in, 60
conservatives, as obsessively clean, 82–83
Cookie Diet, 13
cookware, nonstick, 369
Copenhagen, World Laughter Day in, 144
Cornell University, 18, 21, 46, 83, 92, 96, 276
correlation and causation, confusion of, 91
cortisol, 110, 141, 144, 201–2
Council on Science and Health, 187
counting backwards, 173
Cousins, Norman, 146
cow brains, supplier found for, 40
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, 263–64, 346
crankiness, as in underfed New Yorkers, 271
Crawford, Matthew, 305
creatine supplements, 84
Crohn’s disease, 136
CrossFit training, working out to exhaustion at, 247–48
crossword puzzles, 168
Cruise, Tom, dropped as celebrity crush, 192
Crumb, Robert, 315
Crunch, 34–36
pole-dancing classes at, 34
CR Way, The (McGlothin and Averill), 18, 362
cupping, 123–24
cursing, pain reduced by, 125
curtains, vacuuming of, 82
C-word, 125
Dairy Queen, 15
Dalton, Pamela, 297, 299
Damon, Matt, AJ’s workout more strenuous than his, 192
Darrow, Clarence, on genetic improbabilities, 26
Darth Vader, push-up breathing of, 215–16
David vs. Goliath, nerdish outcome of, 173–74
DDT, malaria deaths ascribed to ban on, 188
death:
accidental, 335–36
closure provided by, 10
Jacobs boys’ interest in, 110–12
debates:
on barefoot running, 208–9
cardio (aerobic) exercise vs. slow fitness, 158–61
cigarettes vs. candy, 215
diet, see diet debate
domestic, see Jacobs, A. J.; Jacobs, Julie Schoenberg
on flossing methods, 197–98
on germ theory, see germ debate
good chemistry vs. toxic chemistry, 183–91
on healthiest man alive, 43
on nerds vs. jocks, 173–76
on purest and safest water, 272–75
on realism vs. delusional optimism, 130
on sugar toxicity, 229–32
of toilet sitters vs. squatters, 136
decibel meter, findings with, 58–59
Degas, Edgar, why indoor scenes were preferred by, 327
de Grey, Aubrey, 111–12
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, 36
dementia, marriage and, 46
Denmark, helmet use in, 340
dental hygienist, glowing teeth promised by, 196
dental spa, 195–97
toes and ankles squeezed at, 195
dentists, horrifying revelations of their former methods, 196
DePinho, Ronald, aging in mice reversed by, 31–32
depression, 122, 139, 241, 259, 282, 297, 309
Depressive Realism, delusional optimism and, 179–80
dermatologists, 239, 242–44
“deskercise,” 68
desk jockeys, treadmill, 68
desk workouts, 67–69
just standing in, 67
phone hookup for biceps curls in, 67
detached retinas, boxers prone to, 328
diabetes, 64, 92, 96, 229, 241
passport owners correlated with lower rates of, 91
sweet scent of, 294
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 88
didgeridoo, snorer’s playing of, 261–62
neighbors prevented from snoring by, 262
diesel fuel, mood elevation experienced with aroma of, 299
diet, 13–28
AJ’s daily menu, 223–25, 224
bland, for lowering nefarious sex drive, 101–3
low-carb, high-protein, 92, 227–29
modified Mediterranean, 223–25
Paleo-Atkins type of, 225
partial list, 13
plant-based, 92
raw-food vegan, 225–27
raw meat, including internal o
rgans, 38
sex-drive-booster, 105–6
Standard American, 92, 227
substitutions in, 225
sugar-free, 229–32
Vice, 13–16, 17
diet debate, 91–95
at AJ’s extended family dinners, 93–94
AJ’s pledge in, 225
low-carb, high-protein diet side of, 92–93, 227
plant-based diet side of, 92, 93–95, 227
raw food vs. Paleo diet, 225–29
digestive process, AJ’s thoughts of, 27
disease:
lapsarian view of, 142
mind-body issues in, 141–42
DNA testing, see genetic testing
doctors, most common reason for going to, 312
doggie bags, portion control with, 50
dog ownership, 150–52, 359–60
dogs, acupuncture on, 120
Doidge, Norman, 169
dolphins, enviable sleep system of, 257
“Don’t Walk” sign, doing pull-ups from, 65
door handles, germs on, 75–76
dopamine, 175
sexual desire stirred by, 107, 109
Douglas (friend), 126
drinking:
driving vs. walking after, 341
marriage as a curb on, 47
see also alcohol; booze; wine
drowning, while in bed, 336
Dr. Oz Show, 135, 264, 279, 331
Dr. Oz’s website, 59
drunk driving, risks of drunk walking compared with, 341
Duhigg, Charles, 245, 272–75
dumbbells:
lavender-colored vs. ten-pounder, 35
shopping bags as, 65
Duncan, David Ewing, 190
Durant, John, 37–43
becoming a “professional caveman” as goal of, 227–28
foods developed in last ten thousand years avoided by, 228
ideal girlfriend of, 228
as reformist caveman (cooks his meat), 38
dust mites, 92, 330
sleep lost over, 77
Dutch ash trees, Wi-Fi bad for, 185
dweebs, athletically inclined, 174
D-word, see death
earbuds, hearing loss induced by, 55
ear plugs, 366
eventual discomfort of, 57
see also noise
ears, 53–59
wear and tear of, 55
see also noise
Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy (Willett), 362
eating, 13–28
of the colors, 364
competitive, 60
of dirt, paper, glue, or clay, 131
distracted, father of, 21–22
80 percent prayer said in, 84, 156
fork size in, 23, 26
gaming yourself in, 231–32, 356, 363
by locavores, 362–63
for longevity, 24–26
low on food chain, 190
mindfulness attempted in, 22–24, 27
mindless, 21
pause points in, 363
plate size in, 22
portion-size challenge in, 17–22, 84–85, 355–56; see also portion control
role of chewing in, 23–24, 84, 355
of ugly vs. attractive animals, 170
watching Letterman vs. Leno while, 21
