<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>My Dr May &#187; diabetes</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.mydrmay.com/tag/diabetes/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.mydrmay.com</link>
	<description>Just another WordPress weblog</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:14:09 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Obesity in America: A Growing Problem (Part 1, The Stats)</title>
		<link>http://www.mydrmay.com/2010/03/07/obesity-in-america-a-growing-problem-part-1-the-stats/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mydrmay.com/2010/03/07/obesity-in-america-a-growing-problem-part-1-the-stats/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:35:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[childhood obesity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diabetes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heart disease]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lifespan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lifestyle diseases]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[obesity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[obesity related diseases]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sedentary lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stroke]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Type II diabetes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mydrmay.com/?p=755</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Obesity In America: A Growing Problem (Part 1) 70% of Americans are overweight, and 32% of them are obese. The numbers, and the people, are only expanding. By 2015, at this rate, 75% will be overweight, 41% obese. Lifestyle diseases related to obesity, including: heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes are the top killers, and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YmmHlYAdIes/S5O_ZDy-epI/AAAAAAAAAV4/4DcY8Vukyn8/s1600-h/obesity_attacks_2195.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445906811657812626" style="float: left; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; cursor: hand; width: 250px; height: 169px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YmmHlYAdIes/S5O_ZDy-epI/AAAAAAAAAV4/4DcY8Vukyn8/s400/obesity_attacks_2195.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Obesity In America: A Growing Problem (Part 1)</span></strong></p>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">70% of Americans are overweight, and 32% of them are obese. The numbers, and the people, are only expanding.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/press_releases/2007/wang_adult_obesity.html">By 2015, at this rate, 75% will be overweight, 41% obese</a></span><span style="font-size: medium;">. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Lifestyle diseases related to obesity, including: heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes are the top killers, and account for a huge portion of overall disease care costs. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">These are preventable diseases.</span></strong><br />
</span></p>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<div><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm#"><span style="font-size: medium;">The 15 leading causes of death in 2006 were:</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"> (</span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Bold = obesity related disease deaths</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;">)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">1. </span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Diseases of heart (heart disease) </span></strong><span style="white-space: pre;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></strong></span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">631,636</span></strong></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">2. </span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Malignant neoplasms (cancer)</span></strong><span style="white-space: pre;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></strong></span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">559,888</span></strong></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">3. </span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke)</span></strong><span style="white-space: pre;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></strong></span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">137,119</span></strong></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">4.    Chronic lower respiratory diseases</span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">124,583</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">5.    Accidents (unintentional injuries) </span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">129,599</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">6. </span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Diabetes mellitus (diabetes)</span></strong><span style="white-space: pre;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></strong></span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> 72,449</span></strong></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">7.    Alzheimer’s disease</span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> 72,432</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">8.    Influenza and pneumonia</span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> 56,326</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">9.    Kidney disease</span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> 45,344</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">10.  Septicemia</span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> 34,234</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">11.   Intentional self-harm (suicide)</span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> 33,000</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">12.   Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">13.   Essential hypertension and hypertensive renal disease (hypertension)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">14.   Parkinson’s disease</span></div>
<div><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">15.   Assault (homicide)</span></strong></span><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></strong></span></span><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> 17,034</span></strong></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="color: #000000; font-weight: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">USA Obesity Rates Reach Epidemic Proportions</span></strong></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Eight out of 10 over 25&#8242;s Overweight</strong></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/">In 2008: 19.6% of children ages 6-11 obese</a></strong></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/">In 2008:  18.1% of children 12-19 obese.</a></strong></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>33% of African American and Hispanic children overweight in 2001</strong></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">78% of American&#8217;s not meeting basic activity level recommendations</span></span></strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.healthypeople.gov/data/2010prog/focus22/2004fa22.htm"><span style="color: #ff0000;">In 2002, 38% completely Sedentary</span></a></span></strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>76% increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs old since 1990</strong></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Surge in Childhood Diseases</span></strong></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">New study suggests one in four overweight children is already showing early signs of type II diabetes (impaired glucose intolerance).                          Of children diagnosed with Type II diabetes, 85% are obese</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">70% of obese youth already have one risk factor for heart diseases</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As overweight and obese young people get older, they will require earlier medical intervention and management and health care costs will soar.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">As overweight and obese young people get older, <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/21518.php">the average lifespan of an American will get shorter</a>.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p></span></span></div>
<p></span></strong></p>
<p></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></strong></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></strong></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><br />
</strong></span></div>
</div>
</div>
	<div class="p3-fb-like-btn-wrap">
		<iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mydrmay.com%2F2010%2F03%2F07%2Fobesity-in-america-a-growing-problem-part-1-the-stats%2F&layout=standard&show_faces=false&action=like&colorscheme=light&width=450&height=35" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:35px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>
	</div>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mydrmay.com/2010/03/07/obesity-in-america-a-growing-problem-part-1-the-stats/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Science Fiction</title>
		<link>http://www.mydrmay.com/2009/09/07/science-fiction/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mydrmay.com/2009/09/07/science-fiction/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:36:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anti-oxidant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cholesterol]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumerism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corporate science]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diabetes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FDA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heart disease]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[obeisty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[osteoporosis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[patient advocacy groups]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mydrmay.com/?p=596</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Science Fiction In the last 50 years or so a new science emerged that now dominates and influences almost all, if not all, fields of research: corporate science. The name itself exposes the obvious conflict of interests between the corporate profit motive and scientific independence and integrity. This bottom-line driven science leaves little, to nothing, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YmmHlYAdIes/SqVRfVIZ8FI/AAAAAAAAAPM/oP1i8vnZGJ4/s1600-h/corporatescience1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378794928654118994" style="float: left; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; cursor: hand; width: 400px; height: 347px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YmmHlYAdIes/SqVRfVIZ8FI/AAAAAAAAAPM/oP1i8vnZGJ4/s400/corporatescience1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span style="font-size:medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><strong><br />
</strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><strong><span style="font-size:medium;">Science Fiction</span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;">In the last 50 years or so a new </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">science </span></em><span style="font-size:medium;">emerged that now dominates and influences almost all, if not all, fields of research: corporate </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">science</span></em><span style="font-size:medium;">. The name itself exposes the obvious conflict of interests between the corporate profit motive and scientific independence and integrity. This bottom-line driven </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">science</span></em><span style="font-size:medium;"> leaves little, to nothing, to chance, let alone real science.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;">Perhaps, the only real and accurate corporate sciences are their self-serving studies on population demographics and human motivation/psychology as they affect profit, i.e.; consumerism.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;">Corporate profit-driven </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">science</span></em><span style="font-size:medium;">, as endorsed by the government, <span style="font-size:medium;">and glorified and broadcast by the media, has created a </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">through the looking glass reality </span></em><span style="font-size:medium;">that has us believing incredible non-science, non-sense; selling us spin as science that is literally making us sicker, and killing millions annually as profits soar.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;">We have come to rely on their </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">science</span></em><span style="font-size:medium;">, disguised as television <span style="font-size:medium;">and media </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">news,</span></em><span style="font-size:medium;"> </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">informative</span></em><span style="font-size:medium;"> ads and magazine articles, patient advocacy groups, etc., as our prime source for health and nutrition information. More so than any other source. And then, conveniently, they sell us the </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">cure</span></em><span style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;">Could the atmosphere be any more conducive to manipulation and corruption? Yes.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;">Our </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">belief </span></em><span style="font-size:medium;">in science has been carefully cultivated and nurtured to elicit a knee-jerk, hypnotic-type, unquestioning and accepting response to key words, phrases, visual and auditory cues that drive our buying habits.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;">We have been indoctrinated to respond to unsubstantiated words such as: studies show,</span></span></p>
<p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378808577773954770" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; cursor: hand; width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YmmHlYAdIes/SqVd50EKZtI/AAAAAAAAAP0/kRN-_kWqYvc/s200/SMARTCHOICE.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span style="font-size:medium;"> scientists say, doctors agree, FDA –AMA-American Heart Association or American Cancer Association approved, low-fat, cholesterol-free, high fiber, vitamin-fortified, omega-3, heart healthy, calcium-enriched, anti-oxidant, osteoporosis, acid-reflux, etc.; visual cues such as actors in white coats, a stethoscope, </span><span><span style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:medium;">a clogged artery, an acid-filled stomach, a gurney, an ambulance, an ER, an MRI machine, a ‘Healthy Heart’ logo, and now, a ‘<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/business/05smart.html?_r=1&amp;emc=eta1">Smart Choice</a>’ logo, etc.; </span><span><span style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:medium;">and, auditory cues such as a heartbeat or the electronic sound of an EKG, and the never-end drone: &#8220;ask your doctor if you need.&#8221;</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 18px; ">The mere fact that most people even know these scientific words, phrases, visual and auditory cues is testimony to the extent and effectiveness of the indoctrination. Why else, but for marketing reasons, would your average person even know words like cholesterol, anti-oxidant, osteoporosis, trans-fat, etc.?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;"> How else could you possibly explain the labeling of non-food chemical concoctions such as;</span></span></p>
<p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378807855833618034" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; cursor: hand; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YmmHlYAdIes/SqVdPyoLFnI/AAAAAAAAAPs/RaypYTK60Ds/s200/HEALTHYFOOD.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;"> vitamin-fortified, high-fiber, low-cholesterol, fat-free Froot Loops and Popsicles with anti-oxidants, as ‘Smart Choice’ healthy foods?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;">We are willing, if not unwitting, participants in this science of deception. We continue to allow ourselves to be duped and manipulated by corporate science to the extent that we have lost our most basic understanding of our own health and how to nurture it.</span><span style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;">Sadly, as we have listened to corporate </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">science</span></em><span style="font-size:medium;"> over the past 50 years we have gotten only sicker. All of their scientific non-food products have led to skyrocketing rates of the chronic degenerative diseases: diabetes, heart disease, obesity, osteoporosis and cancer. We then seek salvation from corporate run medical science and pharmaceuticals taking us through </span><em><span style="font-size:medium;">the looking glass </span></em><span style="font-size:medium;">to a place where drugs, tests, and procedures supposedly equal health, but in reality only equate with profits.</span><em><span style="font-size:medium;"> </span></em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;font-family:&quot;;"><span style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></p>
	<div class="p3-fb-like-btn-wrap">
		<iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mydrmay.com%2F2009%2F09%2F07%2Fscience-fiction%2F&layout=standard&show_faces=false&action=like&colorscheme=light&width=450&height=35" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:35px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>
	</div>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mydrmay.com/2009/09/07/science-fiction/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Human Brain: Use It Or Lose It!</title>
		<link>http://www.mydrmay.com/2009/07/08/the-human-brain-use-it-or-lose-it/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mydrmay.com/2009/07/08/the-human-brain-use-it-or-lose-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:02:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adverse effects heart disease]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chronic degenerative diseases]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diabetes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[evolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[survival obesity]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mydrmay.com/?p=499</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Human Brain: Use it or lose it Nicholas Kristof recently wrote a wonderful article: When Our Brains Short-Circuit. The article describes how our brains “systematically misjudge certain kinds of risks.” Above all else, evolution has programmed us for survival. One basic survival mechanism, hardwired into the most primitive part of our brain, is our [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YmmHlYAdIes/SlU36ROTyAI/AAAAAAAAAOM/KdiDnEW413w/s1600-h/brainxray.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356248806022432770" style="float: left; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; cursor: hand; width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YmmHlYAdIes/SlU36ROTyAI/AAAAAAAAAOM/KdiDnEW413w/s400/brainxray.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></p>
<div><strong>The Human Brain: </strong></div>
<div><strong> Use it or lose it</strong></div>
<div><strong><br />
</strong></div>
<div><strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Nicholas Kristof recently wrote a wonderful article: </span><em><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/opinion/02kristof.html">When Our Brains Short-Circuit</a>.</span></em><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The article describes how our brains “systematically misjudge certain kinds of risks.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Above all else, evolution has programmed us for survival<span style="font-weight: normal;">. One basic survival mechanism, </span>hardwired into the most primitive part of our brain, is our instinctive surveillance for, and recognition of, immediate threats. However, perhaps evolution’s greatest achievement, the neocortex, our thinking brain, “is not equally hardwired to respond to dangers that require forethought.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Kristof gives wonderful examples such as our intense fear of snakes verses our <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/opinion/13krugman.html?_r=1">nonchalant response to global climactic change</a> with the potential catastrophic consequence of ending life on the planet as we know it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; ">This <em>short circuit</em> in our brains explains why so many of us fail to plan for our futures, especially in terms of our long-term health<span style="font-weight: normal;">. The evidence for this abounds.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A mother scolds her obese four year old for running into the street, seeing the immediate threat to her child’s life, but not the long-term health consequences of obesity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="font-weight: normal;">Food poisoning at a fast food chain claims eight lives nationally, forcing a government re-call and plant shut-down, while the public continues to eat massive quantities of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: normal;">untainted,</span></em><span style="font-weight: normal;"> but none-the-less, lethal fast foods that are killing them slowly and by the millions.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-swineflu26-2009jun26,0,7526407.story">Swine flu claims a total of 127 lives</a> in one year, creating a national panic and a run on the Tamiflu vaccine. Meanwhile, the largely preventable lifestyle-related chronic degenerative diseases of heart attack, diabetes, obesity and stroke kill an estimated 2.5 million lives each year yet we reject known and simple preventive and curative measures such as exercising more and eating natural, healthy foods.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">An ache or pain has us immediately and unquestioningly reach for an advertised drug, in spite of our awareness of its long list of disabling, life threatening or even lethal potential <em>adverse effects</em>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The pharmaceutical industry capitalizes on our fears of disease and death with the false promise of drugs that further derail our personal responsibility to commit to a lifetime, lifestyle for health.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And on and on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The miracle of humans is that we are so much more than the hardwiring of the primitive parts of our brains. Our neocortex, or new brain, gives us the ability to think, reason, learn and remember to further increase our chance for survival. Sadly, </span><span>while the brain is hardwired for instinctual adaptation mechanisms for survival, there is no natural instinct to protect us from our own stupidity</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">However, do not despair. Ultimately, </span>the only deterrent for long-term risks is thinking<span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<p></strong></div>
	<div class="p3-fb-like-btn-wrap">
		<iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mydrmay.com%2F2009%2F07%2F08%2Fthe-human-brain-use-it-or-lose-it%2F&layout=standard&show_faces=false&action=like&colorscheme=light&width=450&height=35" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:35px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>
	</div>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mydrmay.com/2009/07/08/the-human-brain-use-it-or-lose-it/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

