pro-chewing movement, 23–24
Prochnik, George, 55, 56
produce, sanitizing of, 81
Project Health, 1–12
background of, 1–7
battle plan of, 9–11
bite-size approach to, 11
body parts not covered in, 346
as crash course on AJ’s body, 6
defeatism and fatalism in, 293, 300
as exercise in radical humility, 296
finding missing kids as test of, 331–33
fog of conflicting advice in, 138; see also debates
healthier-than-thou attitude stirred by, 191–92
healthy family time preempted by, 278
Internet comments on, 196
Jacobs boys’ curiosity about, 110
Jim Fixx argument applied to, 293
managing time for, 155–57
mild hernia at midpoint of, 180
mindfulness as first big theme of, 27
mind improvement included in, 168
motivation needed in, 245, 250, 255
nerd’s-eye worldview shocked by, 174
quantifying progress in, 10
receding goal line of, 331
stomach as jumping-off point in, 11, 12
as third leg of AJ’s triathlon, 4
to-do list for, 1–2, 28, 346–47
unintended consequences of, 163
see also specific body parts and functions
Project Libido, 105–9
romance spray tried in, 102, 106, 109
prostate cancer, 15, 273
frequent ejaculations helpful in lowering risk of, 104
prostate examination, 279
proteins:
insects as good source of, 41
Kellogg’s crusade against, 363
in Paleo diet, 227–29
with plant-based diet, 227
protein shakes, before-and-after ads for, 34
Proust, Marcel, as geek hero, 174
Prozac, 33
Psychological Science, 329
Pukey (CrossFit’s mascot), 248
puppy-urine skin cleanser, 236
Purell dispensers, germ-coated, 79
Pure raw food restaurant, 274
PUR filter, 275
Purim, celebration of, 199–200
quackery, staying power of, 8–9
Quantified Self movement, 99
quinoa, 15, 210, 347
Rachel (cousin), 290
Radical Honesty, 38–39
Radiolab, 231
Rahsaan (caveman), 30, 38, 40
Rand, Ayn, 187
Rastafarian diet, 13
Ratey, John, 64, 175–76
raw foodism, 13, 226–27
raw-food vegan diet, 225–27
plant-based diet vs., 227
reality, co-creating of, 129
Really Basic Life Skills 101, AJ’s proposals for, 198
red ginseng, libido boosting reputation of, 106, 107
red wine, 14–15, 191, 223
Reed, Danielle, 296
reframing, 153, 252
memento mori as ultimate form of, 154–55
rejuvenation techniques, 283–87
religion, healthy living and, 88, 199–202
remote controls, 81
actually getting up vs. use of, 354
germs on, 75
repetition, mindfulness balanced by, 171
repetitive stress injuries, 309–10
Restak, Richard, 305
restaurants:
Benihana, 53–54
Candle 79 (vegan), 225
faux health, 51
flouting fire alarms in, 337
Korean barbecue, 227
mindfulness at Momofuku, 171
Nick & Toni’s, 343
portion-control techniques at, 50
salmon, wild, not blackened, and hold the starch, 222
resveratrol, in red wine, 15
Retin-A, 237–39
Ribot’s Law, 178
ringworm, 32
Ripa, Kelly, 247
Roach, Mary, 103, 104
Rockefeller, John D., 24
Rockefeller University, 106–7
Roman Legionnaire’s Workout, 248
Roosevelt, Theodore, 25, 174
Rosin, Hanna, 287
Royte, Elizabeth, 273
Ruebush, Mary, Hygiene Hypothesis advocacy of, 80–81
running, 29
barefoot, 203–8, 204
dangers and inefficiency of, 158
joy of, 47–48, 322
long-distance, 33
running errands, literally:
downside of, 65
handiness of deodorant and new shirt in, 353
more calories spent in, 65–66
Runyon, Damon, 147
Safe Kids USA, 337
safety, 334, 335–42
CDC index on ways you can be killed or hurt, 335–36
see also specific hazards
saffron, 207
Sagan, Carl, 255
skeptical open-mindedness of, 9, 48
salt, 92
effect of weaning oneself away from, 109–10
origins of our addiction to, 15
San Diego, long-lived Seventh Day Adventists in, 221
Sandwich, John Montagu, Fourth Earl of, 22
Sapolsky, Robert, 142, 200, 283
Sardinia, longevity in, 64, 346
scalp cancer, 183
Schelling, Thomas, 48, 231
Schmozart Effect, 168
Schoenberg, Barbara, 266
saved by AJ’s magical thinking, 148–49
science:
on antisnoring exercises, 261
on aphrodisiacs, 107
on brain-vision relationship, 329
on cold remedies, 72
immortality assisted by, 111–12
juice fasts supported by, 272
on link between cancer and stress, 142
on man-made climate change, 94
on neuroplasticity, 165–71
plant-based diet gaining support of, 94
on prerace carbo-loading, 319
on raw food diet, 227
salubrity of sex supported by, 104
slow fitness movement still short on, 161
tepid water claims dismissed by, 276
on testosterone-aggression link, 286
see also studies
Seavey, Todd, the anti-Marti, 187–88
Secret Life of Germs, The (Tierno), 81
Seiller, Barry, 330
self-abuse, see masturbation
self-loathing, acquiring of, 88
self-massage, 110, 359
selves, present vs. future, 48–50, 49, 356
Selye, Hans, 141
semen analysis, 281–82
discussing the results of, 282–84
at world’s least erotic place, 281
Semmelweis, Ignaz, 78
Serenity Prayer, 360
serotonin, 162, 175
sexaphobes, 101–3
on postcoital lassitude, 103
on preserving secretions, 103
sexual activity, 101–9
aphrodisiacs in, see aphrodisiacs
calories burned for passive, general, and vigorous, 108–9
hiccups cured by, 104
passive, calories burned by, 276
in Project Libido, 105–7
six weeks of, 64
Shachtman, Tom, 179
Shakespeare, William, 67
shampoo, healthy new formula for, 189
Shannon (friend), 262
Shaw, George Bernard, on marriage, 45
Shop Class as Soulcraft (Crawford), 305
shoulder:
injuries to, 113–15
lung channel linked to, 120
sin, illness as penalty for, 142
Sirens, singing of, 231
sirtuins, 112, 155
sitting:
diseases attributable to, 64,
66
instructions for, 318
squatting preferred to, 318
twofold problem with, 66
Situations Matter (Sommers), 22
skin, 234, 235–44
dead, keeping dust mites away from, 82
preserving collagen in, 60, 237
tanning of, 239–44
skin cancer, 236
moles as precursors of, 242
skin care, 234, 235–44
moisturizers for, 237
prices for, 235
sunscreen for, 239–41
skin infections, from gyms and sports, 32
skin products, 235–41
Skittles Diet, 364
skull, 334, 335–42
see also helmets; safety
Slate magazine, 136
sleep, 89, 255, 256, 257–66
best position for, 260
coffee’s effect on, 15
as cold remedy, 72
not possible at treadmill desk, 68
time needed for, 28, 265–66
ZQ scores for, 266
sleep, getting to, 264–65
counting backwards by threes, 264–65
counting sheep (ineffective), 264
or try showers, tart cherry juice, electronic curfews, 264
Sleep, Interrupted (Park), 260
sleep apnea, 259–60
CPAP machine as best remedy for, 263
sleep disorders, diseases associated with, 258, 259
Sleep Disorders Institute, 262–64, 346
wires taped to AJ’s head at, 256, 262
slow fitness movement, 157–61, 253
small steps:
in barefoot running, 206
on treadmill, 207
smells, smelling:
emotional connection of, 298–99
of the flowers, 294, 299
how women can relax with, 295
mood and behavior influenced by, 294
perils of overzealousness in, 298
testing of, 295–96
workouts for, 297–98
smoke, secondhand, 184, 301
smoke alarms, 338
smoking, 63, 90, 91, 213–15
at Bodies exhibit, 214
death toll from, 187
egonomics strategy for quitting of, 231
snail secretions, facials with, 235
sneakers:
injury prevention wrongly promised for, 205
Vibrams preferred to, 206
who should wear them, 208
snoring, 259–64
cause of, 259
monitored by AJ’s tape recorder, 261, 262
as sleep apnea symptom, 259–60
snoring remedies, 262–64
Breath Right nasal strips, 262
neck pillow, 261
playing the didgeridoo, 261–62
tennis ball cure, 260
tongue exercises, 261
soap:
AJ’s need for organic, vegetable-based, 184
antibacterial, 79, 184, 369
soft but safe, 189
soccer players, why low T is found in, 283
soccer teams, above-average students on, 175
social interaction:
of drinkers, 91
of pet owners, 151–52
social isolation, eating healthily and, 88
Sommers, Sam, 22, 84
spaciness, as when dialing your phone takes nearly a minute, 271
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (Ratey), 175–76
spermine, skin shined with, 235
spice rack, odor workouts with, 297–98
spiders, on low-calorie diets, 18
Spongebob Band-Aid, placebo effect of, 122
sponges, sanitizing of, 82
sports, professional, 163–64, 330
sprinklers, 337, 338
squatting, 318–19, 353
Asian, how to do it, 318
in caveman movement, 136
lunch while, 354
on toilet, 132, 136
Standard American Diet (SAD), 92
asbestos sandwich diet superior to, 227
standers, sitters vs., 66–67
standing:
in the presence of the elderly, 69–71
working while, 67–69
Star Trek (film), standing for, 67
Staten Island, triathlon suitable for AJ on, 251–55
Staten Island Ferry:
impertinent bozo on, 320
other passengers on, 319–20
stationary bicycle, 253
staying out late, marriage as a curb on, 47
Stein, Leslie, 295, 299
Sternberg, Esther, 141, 294
Stirt, Joe, 357–58
stomach, 13–28, 87–98, 223–32
harsh words deserved by, 294
see also diet; eating; food
stomachaches, pro-chewing as cure for, 24
stomach-breathing, 217–18
Stoney, Justin, stomach-breathing approach of, 217–18
strangers, holding hands with, 308
stress, 139–64, 140
aromatherapy for, 299
of cell-phone-free life, 190
coinage of term, 141
about cost of noise-canceling headphones, 57
effect of noise on, 55
five methods for reduction of, 359–60
health obsession as cause of, 87
heart rate increased by, 141
laughter therapy for, 142–47
in long vs. short haul, 141
in marital conflict, 308
meditation for, 359
neurofeedback for, 176
Nightingale’s fragrant relief of, 294
orgasms for lowering of, 104
outsourcing of, 359
pet ownership and, 150–52, 359–60
in positive feedback loop, 142
from reading latest studies, 61
reframing advised for, 153
religion giveth and taketh away, 200–201
self-massage for, 359
serenity prayer for, 360
soothed by exercise, 32–33
Strollercise, 246, 247
on acupuncture, 121
on aerobic benefits of bedroom behavior, 105
on analgesic cursing, 125
on appetite (and calorie) suppression, 17, 356
on attending to body stats, 99
on baseball watching and blood pressure, 1
on being outside, 43–44
on benefits of drinking, 14–15
on blueberry antioxidant rating, 97
on calories spent in running vs. walking, 9, 66
on chewing sugar-free gum, 198–99
on cholesterol levels of dog owners, 151
on chronic pain, 116
Cochrane Collaboration reviews of, 9
on combating ADHD in kids, 177
on contagion of obesity, weight loss, and happiness, 161–62
on counting sheep, 264
on curious scent intended to turn a woman on, 106–7
on depressed realists, 130
on distractions, 309
on drivers using cell phones, 341
on eaters watching Letterman vs. Leno, 21
on effect of a decent view in surgical recovery, 44
on effect of male B.O. on women, 295
epidemiological, confounding factors in, 90–91
on extreme low-calorie diets, 18
on failure of gym to undo harm of prolonged sitting, 64
on Finger Fitness, 307
on first-person-shooter video games, 330
on hard-to-read fonts, 2
on having a purpose in life, 4, 25
on health benefits of charity, 179–80
on health effects of frequent orgasms, 104
on heart attack rates of cat owners, 151
on heart attacks of German soccer fans, 163
on heart pro
blems of big sitters, 66
on HIIT vs. steady-state exercise, 253
on holding hands under stress, 308
on how patients did with pills they knew were dummies, 124
human vs. animal, 90
on inadequacy of exercise schedules, 61
on keeping a food journal, 99
on keys to longevity, 25
Latest Study Syndrome in, 8–9
on laughing and stress, 144
on linking clean teeth and healthy heart, 195
on long-distance running, 33
on low but persistent health worries, 71
on marriage-health connection, 46–47
meta-analyses as focus in, 9
on mother-in-law’s tongue (plant), 28
on Mozart Effect, 167–68
on multitasking while eating, 21
on noise pollution and reading levels, 56
on optimism in heart patients, 70–71
on Oscar winners’ longevity, 1
on peaking of women’s language skills, 287
on placebo efficacy, 122–23
on political effect of hand sanitizing, 82–83
on rapid habit switching, 13
on raw food, 227
on rise of cancer among Finnish smokers, 90
on self-massage, 110
on shape, size, and color of pills, 123
on smarts of jocks vs. nerds, 175
on spicy foods, 137
on stress-disease connection, 142
on strolling in the park, 44
on sugar addiction, 229
with topsy-turvy eye charts, 329
on traffic deaths caused by cell phone use, 341
on T-supplements, 284
on undersleeping, 258
on UV light in tooth-whitening, 197
on value of faith in pills, 124
on visual cues for working out, 48
with Vizual Edge, 330
on watching sports, 163–64
on watching yourself eat, 23, 356
on wearing glasses, 327
on what noise does to taste, 59
on Wi-Fi’s harm to Dutch ash trees, 185
subways:
AJ’s T-aggression on, 297
decibel levels of, 59
fear of disaster on, 342
walking up and down the stairs of, 353
sugar, 229–32
damage done by, 229
dangerous concentrations of, in carbs, 93
defenders of, 229
in ersatz health food, 95, 96
food labeling translations of, 96
in healthy-looking mangoes, 230–32
our inherited craving for, 15
as Public Health Enemy number one, 229
risky sweet thoughts of, 229–30
in Standard American Diet (SAD), 92
Sullivan, Andrew, testosterone shots of, 285
sunglasses, noise-canceling headphones compared with, 58
sunscreen:
vitamin D fans skeptical of, 241
when, where, and how much to apply, 240–41
sunscreen tube, squeezing of, 240
superfoods, list of, 59–60
supergerms, origins of, 79
Superman, three reasons why he must be Jewish, 199–200, 201