There are a lot of things that studies really do show help you live longer. Drinking a glass of red wine a day. Drinking multiple cups of coffee a day. Eating a little dark chocolate every day. No one yells or moralizes at people who don’t partake of wine or coffee or chocolate. Doctors don’t berate people for not having those things. Nobody wants to take away health care for people who don’t do those things. Nobody discriminated against people who don’t do those things. And if you asked people who do yell at fatties why they don’t yell at people who don’t do those things, they’d probably hem and haw and say something about “not their business” and “it’s their choice,” or something. Because, again, the health excuse is a lie. Not drinking wine or coffee, not eating chocolate, these aren’t considered to be morally bad things in our society. Being fat is. So even though being fat is provably not a choice for the vast majority of people, and not partaking of wine, coffee, and chocolate is a choice for the vast majority of people, being fat means people get to tell you how horrible you are for not doing everything in your power to live longer, but not having wine, coffee, or chocolate doesn’t.
And Another Thing
04 Saturday Aug 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
Also, I have to wonder — For fat people who do consume all of those in the recommended quantities — Do others suggest that those foods may be part of healthy longevity choices, or do they admonish those fat people for eating “empty” calories (as in, calories from foods not on the Pre-Approved for Fat People List)?
I mean, of the three, the only one I consume at the levels in studies is coffee, and the most frequent comment I receive — over and above comments about potential caffeine addiction, which would at least be founded — involves concern trolling about how calorie-laden coffee drinks and coffee additives — sugar, cream, milk, non-dairy creamer, etc. — are. Without, of course, knowing what I’m actually putting in my coffee.
I do not drink coffee & will not drink alcohol, but I do drink several cups daily of black & green teas, which have a lot of health benefits, & I have loved & eaten chocolate all my life. I also do a lot of other things which are touted as part of a ‘healthy lifestyle’, such as being an early to bed/early to rise person who usually sleeps 7-8 hours per night, such as being a fanatic about brushing & flossing my teeth, such as wearing sunblock, using a seat belt when I am in a vehicle, getting plenty of regular exercise, having had two normal, healthy pregnancies, spending nearly 3 years breastfeeding, eating a lot of whole grains & fiber on a daily basis, etc. I also have good genes, most particularly on my mother’s side of the family, with many relatives who have lived into their late 80′s to mid-90′s & one great aunt who made it to 101. BTW, many of these people have been fat & not one of them paid much attention to ‘healthy lifestyles’ & I was seen by many relatives as being a real oddball for always being out walking.
I will be 63 next month & I have seen for myself a great many people who do all the so-called ‘right’ things drop dead of a heart attack in their 40′s or 50′s, often while they are out running. There was an ultra-marathoner of 58 who died about a month ago while taking a ‘short’ run of 12 miles. Bayer is now using thin, fit, athletic people in their commercials, people who had a heart attack even though they thought their lifestyle & body size about guaranteed that they would not & are now on an aspirin regimen. Studies may indicate that doing certain things may have some benefits, but no one gets any guarantees & life is a 100% fatal disease which takes us all sooner or later. I live in Maine & we have a lot of people in their 80′s & 90′s still walking around who never exercised regularly, who often drank too much &/or smoked for years, ate a high fat, high meat diet (which is the most common diet in Maine). I will keep living the way I do & hope for the best, but I think what mostly controls our health & longevity is genes & dumb luck. I know that I am in better health at 220 pounds, with cerebral palsy & arthritis, than some of the thin people I know who are half my age & it is likely more luck & genes than lifestyle.