Down with moderation!

I am not an “everything in moderation” kind of girl, despite the long-standing popularity of that advice – particularly when it comes to health and wellness.

I personally throw myself – body and soul, heart and mind – into a number of select endeavors. Passion almost always trumps moderation. Moderation, to me, is boring.

I don’t even know what “moderation” means. What is a moderate amount of stress? What’s a moderately satisfying relationship?

More importantly, there are some things that are just no damned good – and should not be engaged in at all, moderately or otherwise. And so, from a health and vitality/ counterclockwise perspective, I would counsel LACK of moderation. That is, as close to avoidance as possible. I’d like to bring your attention to 4 of these, what I’m (oh-so-cleverly) calling “The Four Ss of the Apocalypse.” Here they are:

SMOKING Please tell me you don’t smoke tobacco, you don’t hang around people who smoke tobacco and you have not been enticed into the whole vaping thing. Smoking cigarettes is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Of the close to half million such deaths, 40 percent are from cancer (lung, esophagus, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach, cervix and counting), 35 percent are from heart disease or stroke, and 25 percent are from lung diseases. And please, let’s wait for some actual research on health consequences of vaping.

SITTING If you follow this blog, you know how I feel about sitting. In fact, if you are SITTING at your computer right now, or sitting on your couch with your mobile device reading this: STAND UP. Sitting has been implicated in so many health problems and aging miseries that it was recently proclaimed as bad as smoking. Shocking, right? But the research is persuasive. Also, for those of you who take solace in the hour of gym time you carve out for yourself and think you are immune to the effects of sitting… sorry. No. It turns out that 6 hours of sitting negates the health benefits of 1 hour of concerted exercise.

SODA
Just how bad is excessive soda consumption for your body? Very. High rates of soda consumption have been linked with numerous health problems, including weight gain, poor dental health, kidney problems, diabetes and cardiovascular disease—which can ultimately lead to heart attacks, stroke and premature death. And regular soda isn’t the only culprit. Even diet drinks, which utilize artificial sweeteners in place of sugar, are proving to be unhealthy. Researchers at Purdue University believe that artificial sweeteners in soft drinks trick the body into reacting differently when it tastes something sweet, ultimately throwing off metabolism. A related University of Minnesota study of 10,000 adults found that just one diet soda a day was linked to a 34 percent higher risk of metabolic syndrome. A Harvard Med School study of 3000 women found a two-fold increase in risk for kidney decline for those who drank 2 or more diet sodas. Soda is (liquid) junk food, plain and simple.

SUGAR
Here’s the rap sheet on sugar: It is bad for teeth, taxes the liver and can cause significant organ damage, leads to insulin resistance (a stepping stone to metabolic disorder which is a precursor to diabetes), raises cholesterol levels and may contribute to the development of certain cancers. Sugar also has unique fat-promoting effects (which, interesting, actual fats do not have). And, to top it off, it’s highly addictive. No, not the sugar in fruit, which exists within the context of fiber and vitamins and scores of phytochemicals. The sugar in Coke. The sugar in caramel frappacinos and eggnog lattes.

Avoid the 4 Ss. Strike a blow against moderation!