A recurring question people have for me is whether or not they should eat organic or conventional, or non-organic food, food. There are a lot of variables that we need to consider here, so the question isn't as easy as "yes" or "no."
Here are some factors that influence my decision about eating organic:
-Is it available?
Most of the time, organic produce isn't even available. Even though it's growing at a phenomenal rate, at least before the recession, it's not available to a large extent in most grocery stores, and most products don't even come in organic versions. My local grocery store has organic apples, pears, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, and bananas. So everything else you buy is conventional. There's no point eating organic lettuce with conventional carrots, radishes, and bean sprouts. It's either all organic, or it's not.
-Is it organic throughout the production line?
The production line includes the trip from the farm, to the truck, the warehouse, the cooler in the grocery store, the display, and everybody who handles it. There only has to be one leak in the system for conventional food to contaminate organic. Organic foods are poorly labeled, and most stores aren't very meticulous about contamination. At least Whole Foods has color-coded labels to identify organic and conventional foods, and takes extensive measures to make sure that organic produce isn't contaminated. The shelves and displays are sanitized before organic produce is displayed; organic produce must not be placed below conventional food, and workers change gloves after they have handled conventional produce. But that's only Whole Foods.
-Will I consume the pesticides and chemicals?
The Environmental Working Group has a list of items that you should always eat organic: apples, pears, cherries, kale, lettuce, carrots, grapes, nectarines, celery, and peppers. Other foods such as eggplant, avocados, bananas, tropical fruits, broccoli, tomatoes, and onions are relatively low in pesticides. Even so, if you're concerned about environment and the impact of pesticides and herbicides, then you'll want to eat as much organic as possible. The chemicals they use on bananas are nasty from what hear, but I haven't been to Costa Rica to confirm this. If you're eating meat, then please eat grass-fed, organic meat. Don't eat conventional, cheap meat full of pesticides and antibiotics. It's not worth it. Organic seafood doesn't exist.
-Can you afford it?
Most of the markup on organic produce is actually an emotional premium. That is, grocery stores know that people will pay a lot more for organic if they believe it's healthier for their bodies and the environment. It doesn't cost that much more to be organic, so most of the profit goes to the grocery store, not the farmer. It's a matter of how much it's worth to you: is the risk of consuming pesticides that great? Will it harm you? Will it increase your risk for cancer? Possibly. Pesticides might be one reason why cancer is so prevalent in today's society, but there's no definitive proof. Here's what I say: choose organic when you buy the foods I mentioned above, and then be more liberal with other foods with tough skins.
-Does organic food have more ingredients?
It's not clear. A British report last year sponsored by the Food Standards Agency in the UK analyzed 55 studies and concluded that organic and conventional food has equal amounts of eleven nutrients, including calcium zinc, vitamin c, magnesium and potassium. It did not measure flavonoids or antioxidant content. Other studies have shown that organic foods have more antioxidants and flavonoids than conventional produce. Will it make a difference? Oxidation is what makes you age, so if you want to slow down the aging process, then you'll want as many antioxidants as you can. Of course, you can always take a supplement if you can't find organic produce. If you're an athlete, then get as many antioxidants as you can. In 2008 the Organic Center found that organic foods has more nutrients, and a French study last year concluded that organic produce has more minerals and antioxidants and fewer nitrates. Pesticide levels can fall dramatically just after a few days of eating just organic foods.
Take Home Message
Don't go all over the area getting organic food. If you really want it, go to a natural food store where you'll get as much organic food as possible. Buy the 12 foods called the 'Dirty Dozen' by the Environmental Working Group, but don't worry about the other foods. Don't sacrifice your college education to buy organic. I think organic is better for the environment, and it's probably not healthy to chronically ingest pesticides.
Kevin
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Choosing Good Meat
Meat is usually the main course of the American diet. Notice how we say that someone is a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy. We always call our meals "meat and (insert side dish)." Even though the side dishes provide more nutrients than the meat, those are referred to as the second course. The meat is the main show. As a "flexitarian," this distresses me, but I just have to accept that.
Having watched 'Food Inc.', and having read Fast Food Nation and a couple other books that describe in graphic detail the atrocious methods we use to raise and deliver meat in this country, I can't accept eating meat that doesn't meet certain standards. If you're going to eat meat, then hear are my recommendations.
-Eat seafood. Yes, seafood is meat. Fish are animals too. Sardines, Wild Alaskan salmon, Maine tilapia, mahi mahi, and Gulf shrimp make great choices.
-Free range omega-3 eggs. Eggland's Best makes the best eggs. They're usually brown and they're only $3.50 per box. That's a lot of protein for $3.50, folks.
-Look for meat that meets the USDA organic label. This means the animals have been raised with pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or grains with GMOs. Get grass-fed meat, as it has a lot more conjugated linoleic acid and omega-3 fatty acids. "Free range" and "cage-free" doesn't mean outdoors. If you're not sure, contact the manufacturer. If they actually use good standards, they'll be more than happy to tell you. If not, they'll avoid you like Tyson chicken.
-For beef, don't worry about saturated fat. It's not that bad. Saturated fat plus sugar will kill you. You need a certain amount of fat, and grass-fed beef is a good way to get it.
-Lamb- these animals need a lot of land. Whether or not they're raised humanely, they're still using a lot of resources.
Pork- Refer to beef.
Venison/deer- buy it from a local hunter. Venison is a very lean but tasty meat. Wild game is the best way to eat meat. Humanely killed and not loaded with corn.
Turkey- get heritage turkeys or go to an organic market. I once ordered a turkey from a local farm in Maryland. It wasn't certified but I called them to make sure their standards met mine. Their standards are so good that kids take tours of the facility!
Chicken Breast- skinless has less fat, but so what? If you like dark meat, then eat it. Just make sure the quality is good. Crappy, skinless chicken is worse than a high-quality, full-fat meat.
Buffalo/Bison- Go to Ted Turner's restaurant.
I hope this helps. Your best bet is to go to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods to get the highest quality of meat. Avoid Tyson, Purdue and Smithfield. If it's cheap, don't eat it. There's a reason it's cheap. And you probably don't want to know what it is.
Kevin
Having watched 'Food Inc.', and having read Fast Food Nation and a couple other books that describe in graphic detail the atrocious methods we use to raise and deliver meat in this country, I can't accept eating meat that doesn't meet certain standards. If you're going to eat meat, then hear are my recommendations.
-Eat seafood. Yes, seafood is meat. Fish are animals too. Sardines, Wild Alaskan salmon, Maine tilapia, mahi mahi, and Gulf shrimp make great choices.
-Free range omega-3 eggs. Eggland's Best makes the best eggs. They're usually brown and they're only $3.50 per box. That's a lot of protein for $3.50, folks.
-Look for meat that meets the USDA organic label. This means the animals have been raised with pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or grains with GMOs. Get grass-fed meat, as it has a lot more conjugated linoleic acid and omega-3 fatty acids. "Free range" and "cage-free" doesn't mean outdoors. If you're not sure, contact the manufacturer. If they actually use good standards, they'll be more than happy to tell you. If not, they'll avoid you like Tyson chicken.
-For beef, don't worry about saturated fat. It's not that bad. Saturated fat plus sugar will kill you. You need a certain amount of fat, and grass-fed beef is a good way to get it.
-Lamb- these animals need a lot of land. Whether or not they're raised humanely, they're still using a lot of resources.
Pork- Refer to beef.
Venison/deer- buy it from a local hunter. Venison is a very lean but tasty meat. Wild game is the best way to eat meat. Humanely killed and not loaded with corn.
Turkey- get heritage turkeys or go to an organic market. I once ordered a turkey from a local farm in Maryland. It wasn't certified but I called them to make sure their standards met mine. Their standards are so good that kids take tours of the facility!
Chicken Breast- skinless has less fat, but so what? If you like dark meat, then eat it. Just make sure the quality is good. Crappy, skinless chicken is worse than a high-quality, full-fat meat.
Buffalo/Bison- Go to Ted Turner's restaurant.
I hope this helps. Your best bet is to go to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods to get the highest quality of meat. Avoid Tyson, Purdue and Smithfield. If it's cheap, don't eat it. There's a reason it's cheap. And you probably don't want to know what it is.
Kevin
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sweeteners
I talked about Splenda a few months ago and how too much might not be a good thing. I don't believe Splenda per se is that bad. After all, most sports supplements contain it. And I don't see athletes leaning over and dieing. But too much could clog your liver and maybe even disrupt your metabolism. To date, there isn't much evidence for that, but I would still limit Splenda.
I'm now going to talk about natural sweeteners.
Stevia- my preferred choice. You can get in tablets, in liquid form, or as a powder. I prefer the liquid form and add it to my tea and smoothies. Tablets work best when you're on the road and all the restaurant has is the pink stuff. South Americans have been using this sweetener for years. Stevia arrived in the US not too long ago, and until last year it was called a "dietary supplement." No longer. Now it's being used in many products such as soda and candy. Even though stevia is non-glycemic, that is, it doesn't raise blood sugar, it might trigger an insulin response because the brain senses that it is sweet. There is no definitive proof of this, and the long use of this sweetener attests to its safety.
Lo han- this is extract of a Chinese fruit. 250x sweeter than sugar.
Erythritol- tastes similar to sugar but is usually combined with other sweeteners.
Agave- the nectar of the desert plant in Mexico, it has a lower glycemic-index than honey because of its high fructose content. Limit yourself to one tablespoon. It's not calorie-free.
Barley malt syrup- the maltose in this sweetener doesn't raise insulin levels. Works well in baking or cooking.
Brown rice syrup- cultured cooked rice and enzymes converts sugar to maltose. Haven't seen too much. Not a lot of feedback here.
Purevia/Truvia- Pepsi makes the former while Coca Cola makes the latter. They're actually hybrids of the purified extract of stevia, or rebaudioside A, and erythritol, a sugar alcohol. One study showed that rebiana caused mutations, but the amounts were extraordinarily large. But the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Helath Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives declared it safe as a sweetener. The Japanese have used it since the 1970s with no problem. These sweeteners come in packets, and PureVia can be found in SoBe Life Water, my favorite "sports drink."
Aspartame/saccharin- the evidence is mixed here. I like to splurge on Diet Cherry Coke once in awhile. Some lab tests have shown that these sweeteners can cause cancer in rats. To be safe, limit it.
Kevin
I'm now going to talk about natural sweeteners.
Stevia- my preferred choice. You can get in tablets, in liquid form, or as a powder. I prefer the liquid form and add it to my tea and smoothies. Tablets work best when you're on the road and all the restaurant has is the pink stuff. South Americans have been using this sweetener for years. Stevia arrived in the US not too long ago, and until last year it was called a "dietary supplement." No longer. Now it's being used in many products such as soda and candy. Even though stevia is non-glycemic, that is, it doesn't raise blood sugar, it might trigger an insulin response because the brain senses that it is sweet. There is no definitive proof of this, and the long use of this sweetener attests to its safety.
Lo han- this is extract of a Chinese fruit. 250x sweeter than sugar.
Erythritol- tastes similar to sugar but is usually combined with other sweeteners.
Agave- the nectar of the desert plant in Mexico, it has a lower glycemic-index than honey because of its high fructose content. Limit yourself to one tablespoon. It's not calorie-free.
Barley malt syrup- the maltose in this sweetener doesn't raise insulin levels. Works well in baking or cooking.
Brown rice syrup- cultured cooked rice and enzymes converts sugar to maltose. Haven't seen too much. Not a lot of feedback here.
Purevia/Truvia- Pepsi makes the former while Coca Cola makes the latter. They're actually hybrids of the purified extract of stevia, or rebaudioside A, and erythritol, a sugar alcohol. One study showed that rebiana caused mutations, but the amounts were extraordinarily large. But the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Helath Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives declared it safe as a sweetener. The Japanese have used it since the 1970s with no problem. These sweeteners come in packets, and PureVia can be found in SoBe Life Water, my favorite "sports drink."
Aspartame/saccharin- the evidence is mixed here. I like to splurge on Diet Cherry Coke once in awhile. Some lab tests have shown that these sweeteners can cause cancer in rats. To be safe, limit it.
Kevin
The Bone Diet
I used to work with a client who had osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis. She asked me for my advice on building healthy bones. Of course, the best way to do that is with weight-bearing exercise. That's why she came to me.
Diet is another good way to build strong bones, but medications such as Fosamax Boniva probably aren't. Users report everything from bone and join pain, destruction of the jaw bone, esophageal reflux, and spontaneous fracture of the bone. If you thought the brakes on a Toyota were dangerous, then you haven't been taking these drugs.
Fortunately she wasn't taking these medications. Instead, she was talking 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). I told her to get at least 2000 IU. I take 4000 IU per day, but I'll take less during the summer when there's more sunlight.
If you're going to get calcium in your diet, then skip the dairy. Dairy can actually leach calcium from your bones. It's no wonder that this country has one of the highest rates of osteoporosis. Most people in this world lack the enzyme to digest milk so clearly it's not an essential food. If you're trying to avoid dairy, then watch out for whey and casein, two cow-milk proteins. If you have to eat dairy, then get organic and make sure the quality is good. Plant-based milks are fortified with calcium: soy milk, rice, oat
If you're worried about osteoporosis, get 1,200 mg of calcium daily. Good sources of calcium include chard, spinach, broccoli, beans, figs, edamame, and almonds.
What's not known is that vitamin K is also important. It increases bone density and reduces the risk of fracture. I recommend supplementing with 50-100 mcg of k2. You can also get k in miso, a fermented source of soy.
Like always, avoid processed foods, trans fats, and high amounts of meat. Meat contains arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that's inflammatory. Exercise to strengthen bones. Take an antioxidant supplement to reduce COX-2, a enzyme that's a major source of inflammation. Like I said in my post about spices, add tumeric and ginger to your diet, as they have anti-inflammatory effects. Of course, take your fish oil to reduce inflammation.
A good combination of exercise, a clean diet, fish oil, no unnecessary medications, and supplements will manage the pain of osteoarthritis.
Keep those bones strong, especially if you don't walk or run a lot.
Kevin
Diet is another good way to build strong bones, but medications such as Fosamax Boniva probably aren't. Users report everything from bone and join pain, destruction of the jaw bone, esophageal reflux, and spontaneous fracture of the bone. If you thought the brakes on a Toyota were dangerous, then you haven't been taking these drugs.
Fortunately she wasn't taking these medications. Instead, she was talking 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). I told her to get at least 2000 IU. I take 4000 IU per day, but I'll take less during the summer when there's more sunlight.
If you're going to get calcium in your diet, then skip the dairy. Dairy can actually leach calcium from your bones. It's no wonder that this country has one of the highest rates of osteoporosis. Most people in this world lack the enzyme to digest milk so clearly it's not an essential food. If you're trying to avoid dairy, then watch out for whey and casein, two cow-milk proteins. If you have to eat dairy, then get organic and make sure the quality is good. Plant-based milks are fortified with calcium: soy milk, rice, oat
If you're worried about osteoporosis, get 1,200 mg of calcium daily. Good sources of calcium include chard, spinach, broccoli, beans, figs, edamame, and almonds.
What's not known is that vitamin K is also important. It increases bone density and reduces the risk of fracture. I recommend supplementing with 50-100 mcg of k2. You can also get k in miso, a fermented source of soy.
Like always, avoid processed foods, trans fats, and high amounts of meat. Meat contains arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that's inflammatory. Exercise to strengthen bones. Take an antioxidant supplement to reduce COX-2, a enzyme that's a major source of inflammation. Like I said in my post about spices, add tumeric and ginger to your diet, as they have anti-inflammatory effects. Of course, take your fish oil to reduce inflammation.
A good combination of exercise, a clean diet, fish oil, no unnecessary medications, and supplements will manage the pain of osteoarthritis.
Keep those bones strong, especially if you don't walk or run a lot.
Kevin
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Immunity Diet
Have you been getting sick recently? It might be because you touched your face. It might be because you take public transportation, or you share keyboards, or you're locker rooms a lot, or you work with clients a lot. There are billions of bacteria in your body and you can't avoid it. Even wearing white gloves like Michael Jackson won't protect you completely.
One of my colleagues the other day asked me to get him some echinacea oil because he said it helped prevent and treat his colds during the winter. The reviews on echinacea is mixed, but I started to investigate other ways to boost your immunity.
Cortisol is a hormone that's released when we experience large amounts of stress. Cortisol is no good. With all things equal it can add body fat, without changing your diet or exercise. It's that powerful. How do you combat it? Get your finances straight. Find a job you like. Hang out with people who support you. In fact, the new study of psychoneuroimmunology shows that loving relationships can boost immunity and lower cortisol. So if you're a loner, go to happy hour once in awhile. Stress also exhausts your kidneys, where our adrenal glands are. Adrenal glands help us adapt to change and if they're not working properly, then you'll be more susceptible to colds and other illnesses.
Have plenty of joy in your life. Read scripture. Turn off the news. Spend time with friends and family. Don't miss opportunities to have good times with people. If that means going to a restaurant, then go.
Vitamin C (cleverly called emergency-C at Trader Joe's). Stress depletes vitamin C, which helps your immune system fight off pathogens. If you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, you probably get enough. 1000 mg is enough. Your multivitamin should provide plenty. Don't fall for megadoses. They dehydrate you and cause diarrhea.
Like Vitamin C, Zinc helps your lymphocytes fight infection. Zinc has the added benefit of cutting the length of colds. Aim for 15 mg per day, and up to 50 mg every when you're sick. Good sources include seafood and meat, but if you're vegetarian, take a supplement.
Vitamin A, E, D- You should always supplement with vitamin D. Aim for 4000 mg per day. You can usually get enough vitamin A through your MV and plenty of fruits and vegetables. You can supplement while you're sick with 20,000 IUs. Vitamin E is usually found in nuts, but you can also supplement.
Coconut oil- It seems researchers are finding more and more reasons to eat coconut oil. I still don't eat it, as I usually don't cook much. But coconut has lauric acid, a type of saturated fat, which is antimicrobial.
Other supplements- AHCC is a mushroom plenty that aids the immune system. Olive leaf extract boosts the immune system and helps fight infections. Elderberry, like zinc, reduces the length of the flu.
Looking forward to spring,
Kevin
One of my colleagues the other day asked me to get him some echinacea oil because he said it helped prevent and treat his colds during the winter. The reviews on echinacea is mixed, but I started to investigate other ways to boost your immunity.
Cortisol is a hormone that's released when we experience large amounts of stress. Cortisol is no good. With all things equal it can add body fat, without changing your diet or exercise. It's that powerful. How do you combat it? Get your finances straight. Find a job you like. Hang out with people who support you. In fact, the new study of psychoneuroimmunology shows that loving relationships can boost immunity and lower cortisol. So if you're a loner, go to happy hour once in awhile. Stress also exhausts your kidneys, where our adrenal glands are. Adrenal glands help us adapt to change and if they're not working properly, then you'll be more susceptible to colds and other illnesses.
Have plenty of joy in your life. Read scripture. Turn off the news. Spend time with friends and family. Don't miss opportunities to have good times with people. If that means going to a restaurant, then go.
Vitamin C (cleverly called emergency-C at Trader Joe's). Stress depletes vitamin C, which helps your immune system fight off pathogens. If you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, you probably get enough. 1000 mg is enough. Your multivitamin should provide plenty. Don't fall for megadoses. They dehydrate you and cause diarrhea.
Like Vitamin C, Zinc helps your lymphocytes fight infection. Zinc has the added benefit of cutting the length of colds. Aim for 15 mg per day, and up to 50 mg every when you're sick. Good sources include seafood and meat, but if you're vegetarian, take a supplement.
Vitamin A, E, D- You should always supplement with vitamin D. Aim for 4000 mg per day. You can usually get enough vitamin A through your MV and plenty of fruits and vegetables. You can supplement while you're sick with 20,000 IUs. Vitamin E is usually found in nuts, but you can also supplement.
Coconut oil- It seems researchers are finding more and more reasons to eat coconut oil. I still don't eat it, as I usually don't cook much. But coconut has lauric acid, a type of saturated fat, which is antimicrobial.
Other supplements- AHCC is a mushroom plenty that aids the immune system. Olive leaf extract boosts the immune system and helps fight infections. Elderberry, like zinc, reduces the length of the flu.
Looking forward to spring,
Kevin
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Libido Diet
The popularity of Viagra, Cialis, and Extenz indicates that erectile dysfunction and sexual performance is a primary concern among men. The elusive quest for foods, herbs, and spices that act as aphrodisiac is as old as civilization. ED affects 30 million American men. Even ladies suffer from poor sexual performance. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that 43 million report sexual dis-satisfaction.
There are physical and mental reasons why you might have a flagging libido. Mental reasons include too much stress, a low-calorie diet, anger, anxiety, and even financial problems. These reasons, combined with poor diet, can really zap your energy and sexual performance.
I'm here to talk about the physical or diet reasons. If you don't work out or you're pretty sedentary, you're not going to have much of a sex life for a couple reasons. First, you're not going to be very attractive. You're not going to have a lot of energy, and the opposite sex isn't going to be inclined to come to you. You might be able to sweet talk them, but a good body is going to help. But exercise also boosts circulation. Good circulation can improve mental health, and clean out all your organs, including your reproductive organs. exercise raises levels of chemicals in the brain that make you more lustful.
So if you're not working out, start. If you have anxiety, worry, and too much stress in life, fix that. Eliminate as much as possible. But assuming your problem is mental, then you might want to include some of the following foods.
Almonds and avocados contain fatty acids that improve brain health. Remember, good mental health is important for a good sexual life.
Celery- contains androsterone, a hormone that can attract women
Capsaicin- not a food, but a compound found in chili peppers. They make chili peppers hot
Chocolate- raises level of chemicals that make you feel in love
Coconut- the scent of coconut can actually arouse men and women
Oysters- the mineral zinc helps improve sexual functioning
Figs- amino acids enhance performance
Lavender- the scent in candles is a sexual stimulate
Licorice candy- if you want to turn on female, give her a couple pieces of candy. Don't get Twizzlers, they contain a lot of junk. Get natural licorice at Whole Foods.
Nutmeg- the spice found in Indian food has been used to boost desire for centuries
Pumpkin Pie- just the aroma can arouse sexual desire
Popcorn- its aroma makes men want to have sex
Finally, there is one supplement that might help. L-arginine, an amino acid, can help boost circulation. But before buying a supplement, or a prescription medication, I recommend you eat these natural foods, take care of your stress, and move a lot. You should eat these foods and work out anyway. So better sexual performance might be one more reason to find time to exercise.
Kevin
There are physical and mental reasons why you might have a flagging libido. Mental reasons include too much stress, a low-calorie diet, anger, anxiety, and even financial problems. These reasons, combined with poor diet, can really zap your energy and sexual performance.
I'm here to talk about the physical or diet reasons. If you don't work out or you're pretty sedentary, you're not going to have much of a sex life for a couple reasons. First, you're not going to be very attractive. You're not going to have a lot of energy, and the opposite sex isn't going to be inclined to come to you. You might be able to sweet talk them, but a good body is going to help. But exercise also boosts circulation. Good circulation can improve mental health, and clean out all your organs, including your reproductive organs. exercise raises levels of chemicals in the brain that make you more lustful.
So if you're not working out, start. If you have anxiety, worry, and too much stress in life, fix that. Eliminate as much as possible. But assuming your problem is mental, then you might want to include some of the following foods.
Almonds and avocados contain fatty acids that improve brain health. Remember, good mental health is important for a good sexual life.
Celery- contains androsterone, a hormone that can attract women
Capsaicin- not a food, but a compound found in chili peppers. They make chili peppers hot
Chocolate- raises level of chemicals that make you feel in love
Coconut- the scent of coconut can actually arouse men and women
Oysters- the mineral zinc helps improve sexual functioning
Figs- amino acids enhance performance
Lavender- the scent in candles is a sexual stimulate
Licorice candy- if you want to turn on female, give her a couple pieces of candy. Don't get Twizzlers, they contain a lot of junk. Get natural licorice at Whole Foods.
Nutmeg- the spice found in Indian food has been used to boost desire for centuries
Pumpkin Pie- just the aroma can arouse sexual desire
Popcorn- its aroma makes men want to have sex
Finally, there is one supplement that might help. L-arginine, an amino acid, can help boost circulation. But before buying a supplement, or a prescription medication, I recommend you eat these natural foods, take care of your stress, and move a lot. You should eat these foods and work out anyway. So better sexual performance might be one more reason to find time to exercise.
Kevin
Monday, February 8, 2010
25 Ways to Make Football Better
Last Sunday it was 6:00 before I realized that football was on. I had totally forgotten. I used to be a big football fan through high school. Then I slowly drifted away. The most football I’ve watched since then is the first season of Playmakers and the movie Any Given Sunday, both negative portrayals of football.
I was thinking about why I don’t watch football anymore. I’m sick of pass interference, onsides kicks, instant replay, strict rules on being out of bounds, commercials, and the constant down time. Instead of naming this post “25 Reasons Football Sucks,” I’d rather make it positive and call it “25 Ways to Improve Football.”
Since 1970 football has been America’s pastime, despite everything George Will says about baseball. Baseball doesn’t have the allure it used to, and football is without a doubt a much bigger draw than baseball. More kids watch it, and nobody talks about baseball on Monday mornings like they do football.
I like many things about America, but I don’t love everything. One is our fascination and obsession with a truly stupid sport. It doesn’t have to be stupid. The sport could implement my rules and make it a great national pastime. But until profits and popularity decline, it won’t happen. It boggles me how we could enjoy a sport like this, which is really a corrupt and slow version of another great sport, rugby.
Here are my 25 recommendations for Roger Goodell and the 32 owners of football.
Get rid of instant replay. There are enough delays and pauses in the game, so why add another one? Save instant replay for the playoffs when calls are critical. Baseball has no instant replay, and neither should football. Have faith in the refs.
Why do refs have to announce the call to the entire stadium? They should make a signal and penalize the team.
Allow false starts.
Have a staggered schedule. Start games at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 and 8:00 on Sundays. Have on game on Thursday, and another on Saturday.
Decrease the play clock from 40 to 30 seconds. These guys should sprint to the line of scrimmage.
Ban running plays inside the 10
Ban field goals in overtime
Allow each team to have possession in overtime
Be more liberal about being out of bounds. How many games have been delayed because refs can’t determine whether or not a receiver was 2/10s of an inch out of bounds? Does it matter?
Ban on-sides kicks.
Quarterbacks shouldn’t be allowed to spike the ball at the end of the game to kill the clock.
Get rid of the two-minute warning. This is another excuse for a commercial break.
Get rid of commercial breaks between the kickoff and the first play from the line of scrimmage.
Get rid of special teams. The kicking team should use its defensive unit. The receiving team should use its offensive unit.
Get rid of the extra point. A field goal is a field goal.
Allow pass interference. Can anyone actually define pass interference? Isn’t part of the game blocking the pass?
Make two preseason games regular season games.
Get rid of bye weeks. Our troops abroad don’t get a bye week, neither should pampered football players.
Allowing holding, interference, and any other “penalty” that requires physical contact.
Ban players above 300 pounds.
Get rid of salary caps. Most of the revenue in football comes from television. There are no “big markets” and “small markets.” As long as each stadium is filled to capacity, there’s no difference between Cincinnati and Chicago.
Combine the position of fullback and running back
Change the season from September-January to March –July. The Super Bowl could be anywhere
Increase the length of each quarter to 20:00 and don’t stop the clock except for an occasional commercial break.
Allow quarterbacks to pass beyond the line of scrimmage. The quarterback rarely runs past this line anyway so why not let him pass?
If you think about it, soccer and rugby are far more logical games. It’s not a matter of running down the clock. Possession constantly changes. There are no penalties. There are no stoppages in play. When play goes out of bounds, the game quickly resumes. The goal in soccer is to put the ball into the net. The goal of rugby is to run past the end zone. Both those sports can easily be played by non-professionals. Both require far less equipment. Rugby is physically brutal, but soccer is not.
Football (which should be called passball) should do everything to emulate those two sports, which are far more popular on a global scale than football. People around the world watch the Super Bowl, but not regular season games.
There’s my prescription for a better form of football. Football’s popularity is due more to the successful marketing of the NFL than the nature of the sport, which, as you can see, is silly.
Kevin
I was thinking about why I don’t watch football anymore. I’m sick of pass interference, onsides kicks, instant replay, strict rules on being out of bounds, commercials, and the constant down time. Instead of naming this post “25 Reasons Football Sucks,” I’d rather make it positive and call it “25 Ways to Improve Football.”
Since 1970 football has been America’s pastime, despite everything George Will says about baseball. Baseball doesn’t have the allure it used to, and football is without a doubt a much bigger draw than baseball. More kids watch it, and nobody talks about baseball on Monday mornings like they do football.
I like many things about America, but I don’t love everything. One is our fascination and obsession with a truly stupid sport. It doesn’t have to be stupid. The sport could implement my rules and make it a great national pastime. But until profits and popularity decline, it won’t happen. It boggles me how we could enjoy a sport like this, which is really a corrupt and slow version of another great sport, rugby.
Here are my 25 recommendations for Roger Goodell and the 32 owners of football.
Get rid of instant replay. There are enough delays and pauses in the game, so why add another one? Save instant replay for the playoffs when calls are critical. Baseball has no instant replay, and neither should football. Have faith in the refs.
Why do refs have to announce the call to the entire stadium? They should make a signal and penalize the team.
Allow false starts.
Have a staggered schedule. Start games at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 and 8:00 on Sundays. Have on game on Thursday, and another on Saturday.
Decrease the play clock from 40 to 30 seconds. These guys should sprint to the line of scrimmage.
Ban running plays inside the 10
Ban field goals in overtime
Allow each team to have possession in overtime
Be more liberal about being out of bounds. How many games have been delayed because refs can’t determine whether or not a receiver was 2/10s of an inch out of bounds? Does it matter?
Ban on-sides kicks.
Quarterbacks shouldn’t be allowed to spike the ball at the end of the game to kill the clock.
Get rid of the two-minute warning. This is another excuse for a commercial break.
Get rid of commercial breaks between the kickoff and the first play from the line of scrimmage.
Get rid of special teams. The kicking team should use its defensive unit. The receiving team should use its offensive unit.
Get rid of the extra point. A field goal is a field goal.
Allow pass interference. Can anyone actually define pass interference? Isn’t part of the game blocking the pass?
Make two preseason games regular season games.
Get rid of bye weeks. Our troops abroad don’t get a bye week, neither should pampered football players.
Allowing holding, interference, and any other “penalty” that requires physical contact.
Ban players above 300 pounds.
Get rid of salary caps. Most of the revenue in football comes from television. There are no “big markets” and “small markets.” As long as each stadium is filled to capacity, there’s no difference between Cincinnati and Chicago.
Combine the position of fullback and running back
Change the season from September-January to March –July. The Super Bowl could be anywhere
Increase the length of each quarter to 20:00 and don’t stop the clock except for an occasional commercial break.
Allow quarterbacks to pass beyond the line of scrimmage. The quarterback rarely runs past this line anyway so why not let him pass?
If you think about it, soccer and rugby are far more logical games. It’s not a matter of running down the clock. Possession constantly changes. There are no penalties. There are no stoppages in play. When play goes out of bounds, the game quickly resumes. The goal in soccer is to put the ball into the net. The goal of rugby is to run past the end zone. Both those sports can easily be played by non-professionals. Both require far less equipment. Rugby is physically brutal, but soccer is not.
Football (which should be called passball) should do everything to emulate those two sports, which are far more popular on a global scale than football. People around the world watch the Super Bowl, but not regular season games.
There’s my prescription for a better form of football. Football’s popularity is due more to the successful marketing of the NFL than the nature of the sport, which, as you can see, is silly.
Kevin
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