During One of the Worst Flu Seasons, is the Flu Vaccine the Answer?

• The US is currently in the middle of at least three widespread outbreaks of influenza and flu-like illness, including an unusually aggressive influenza virus, a novel norovirus, whooping cough (pertussis), as well as an uptick in laryngitis, and strep with cough

• Apparently many flu shot recipients are coming down with influenza and flu-like illness despite having been vaccinated—a strong indication that flu vaccines are ineffective in keeping people well despite the fact that the vaccines available this year are a good match to the actual flu strains in circulation

• According to recent reviews of hundreds of studies on the effectiveness of flu vaccines in children and adults, flu shots were found to be quite ineffective. At best, the vaccines might be effective against influenza A and B viruses about half the time and the CDC admits that influenza viruses only represent about 20-30 percent of all circulating viruses in this and other “flu seasons.”

• The combined results of vaccine trials show that under ideal conditions (influenza vaccine completely matching circulating viral configuration) 33 healthy adults need to be vaccinated to avoid one set of influenza symptoms. In average conditions (partially matching vaccine) 100 people need to be vaccinated to avoid one set of influenza symptoms.

• Vaccine studies show influenza vaccine use does not affect the number of people hospitalized or working days lost, but were found to cause one case of Guillian-Barré syndrome for every one million vaccinations

For more information: During One of the Worst Flu Seasons, is the Flu Vaccine the Answer?

The Unsavory Truth of the McRib

• Sneaky “tricks of the trade” employed by the meat industry include “pink slime” made of otherwise unusable scraps, meat glue, and reconstituted meat—all of which fool you into thinking you’re buying something of higher quality than you are

• McDonald’s seasonally-available McRib sandwich contains more than 70 ingredients, including a chemical used in gym shoes and other items requiring a rubbery substance. And the pork is actually a restructured meat product made from the less expensive innards and scraps from the pig

• Russia has recently banned U.S. meat supplies after discovering it contains ractopamine—a beta agonist drug that increases protein synthesis, thereby making the animal more muscular. This reduces the fat content of the meat. Ractopamine is known to affect the human cardiovascular system, may cause food poisoning, and is thought to be responsible for hyperactivity, muscle breakdown, and increased death and disability in livestock

• As much as 20 percent of ractopamine remains in the meat you buy from the supermarket. Despite potential health risks, the drug is used in 45 percent of U.S. pigs, 30 percent of ration-fed cattle, and an unknown percentage of turkeys

For more information:  The Unsavory Truth of the McRib and Other Fake Foods, and Why Russia Banned US-Raised Meat

Do You Suffer From Headaches?

If you are having headaches all of the time, it’s probably from drinking diet drinks. The artificial ingredients in them are extremely dangerous and terrible for your body. If you are having extremely bad headaches that hit every few months it’s most likely from birth control pills. Loading your body up with synthetic hormones is a horrible idea and and can even lead to cancer later on.  If you are suffering from either type of headache, stop using those products and your headaches will be gone in no time.

What most people don’t realize is that headaches aren’t the problem, headaches are merely a symptom that something is wrong. It’s your body telling you there is a problem. That’s why when people just take another pill to help with their headaches, they aren’t curing what caused it, they are merely masking the symptom. It would be like if your oil was low in your car and instead of fixing the problem, you just turn off the low oil light.

Henry Cavill Man of Steel Workout 3: Arms & Shoulders

If you have not read the first two parts of this workout, you may do so here:
Henry Cavill Man of Steel Workout: Chest & Back
Henry Cavill Man of Steel Workout 2: Legs & Abs

Superset 1:  Bicep Curls/Tricep Extension
Superset 2:  Bent Over Delt Raise/Shoulder Shrugs
Superset 3:  Hammer Curls/Triceps Kickback
Superset 4:  Concentration Curls/Laying Triceps Press (One Arm)
Superset 5:  Reverse Curls/Triceps Pushdown
Superset 6:  Shoulder Press/Lateral Raise

Extreme Endurance Cardio Does More Harm than Good

•  
• Extreme endurance cardio, such as marathon running, actually damages your heart, and can negate the health benefits you’d otherwise reap from a regular fitness program. Research has shown that once you reach 40-50 minutes of vigorous exercise per day, the benefits from your efforts plateau, and further efforts do not convey further improvements in life expectancy.

• Extended extreme cardio sets in motion inflammatory mechanisms that damage your heart. So while your heart is indeed designed to work very hard, and will be strengthened from doing so, it’s only designed to do so intermittently, and for short periods—not for an hour or more at a time.

• Veteran endurance athletes have a five-fold increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a dangerous irregular heart rhythm. Worse yet, some endurance athletes also present ventricular tachycardia, which can lead to ventricular fibrillation—a leading cause of sudden cardiac death.

• To optimize the health benefits from running, you’ll want to run 5-20 miles per week—the ideal amount being 10-15 miles per week. Once you reach 25 miles or more per week, the benefits actually disappear. Running too fast (faster than 8 miles per hour) or more than five times per week also negates the health benefits of running.

• The best survival rates among runners are in those who run at a slow to average pace for a total of 1 to 2.5 hours per week, divided between two to three runs per week.

For more information, check out: Extreme Endurance Cardio May Do More Harm than Good

Newest Diabetes Drug Can Increase Your Risk of Cancer

Diabetes has increased more than 700 percent in the last 50 years. More than one in four Americans are either pre-diabetic or have full-blown diabetes.

Henry Cavill Man of Steel Workout 2: Legs & Abs

If you have not read the first article on Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel workout, do so here before reading this one: Henry Cavill Man of Steel Workout: Chest & Back

I explained how the sets, reps and weight works in the last article, so be sure to read that one first, before going over this one.

Superset 1:  Squats/Leg Raise
Superset 2:  Lunges/Crunch
Superset 3:  Dead Lift/Side Bends
Superset 4:  Toe Raise/Ab Roll out
Back Extension

After you have finished the weight lifting portion of this workout, end with 20 minutes of moderate cardio of your choice.