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The Good Vices: From Beer to Sex, the Surprising Truth About What's Actually Good for You
Being healthy is easier, less expensive, and a whole lot more enjoyable than you think.
Much of the health advice we receive today tells us that in order to be healthy, we must consume a Spartan diet, exercise with the intensity of an Olympic athlete, and take a drug for every ailment. We constantly worry about the foods we should or shouldn't be eating and the medical tests we have neglected to take. And all that worry costs us dearly--financially, emotionally, and physically.
In The Good Vices , prominent naturopathic physician Dr. Harry Ofgang and health journalist Erik Ofgang tear down decades of myth and prejudice to reveal how some of our guilty pleasures are not only okay but actually good for our health. For example:
Forget what you thought you knew about what's healthy, and enjoy some good vices instead.
Much of the health advice we receive today tells us that in order to be healthy, we must consume a Spartan diet, exercise with the intensity of an Olympic athlete, and take a drug for every ailment. We constantly worry about the foods we should or shouldn't be eating and the medical tests we have neglected to take. And all that worry costs us dearly--financially, emotionally, and physically.
In The Good Vices , prominent naturopathic physician Dr. Harry Ofgang and health journalist Erik Ofgang tear down decades of myth and prejudice to reveal how some of our guilty pleasures are not only okay but actually good for our health. For example:
Forget what you thought you knew about what's healthy, and enjoy some good vices instead.
- GenresNonfictionHealth
208 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 13, 2019
This copy of The Good Vices: From Beer to Sex, the Surprising Truth About What's Good for You is an advance uncorrected proof, therefore the quotes and page numbers referenced may not correlate with the final published book. This copy was received as part of a Library Thing giveaway.
The 196 page book is jam-packed with studies, but the reading is never dry. There are quotes by well-known historical characters and Dr. Ofgang and his son also intersperse a sense of humor that keeps the nonfiction contents lively.
I have selected the following facts as reminders to myself. This should act as a spoiler alert to those of you who choose to read the book with a fresh set of eyes. Each reader will undoubtedly be drawn to different aspects of the authors' naturopathic approaches to health.
(p. 44) A fascinating 2014 study found that students who started their school day at 8:30 or later showed better grades, improved attendance, and decreased substance abuse and depression.
(p. 83) Fat is a nutrient that helps with absorption of fat soluble vitamins. (A, D, E, K) Low levels of vitamin D may contribute to IBD, colitis, and Chrohn's.
(p. 84) Full-fat dairy is a healthier diet option than low-fat dairy. Full-fat yogurt's probiotics contribute to gut health.
(p. 92) Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) only affects one percent of the population.
(p 97) FODMAPs=fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, polyols
Apples, milk, ice cream, and onions are included in this group.
(p. 125) Office windows that allow for natural sunlight may contribute to an additional average of forty-six minutes of sleep per night.
(p. 126) Sunlight may contribute to a reduction in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
(p. 133) The supermarket varieties of fermented foods may not contain the healthy bacteria generated by the traditional varieties of these foods.
(p. 150) Allergies and asthma are reduced in homes where dishes are washed by hand rather that by dishwashers.
(page 151-152) Triclosan and triclocarbon found in soaps, toothpastes, laundry detergents, fabrics, toys, and pacifiers may be harmful.
(p. 157) Improve memory loss with the elderlly by providing incentives for remembering. Nursing home patients may benefit by being given the responsibility for care of plants.
(p. 158) "Extreme grief can precipitate death from a 'broken heart,' . . . ."
(p. 159) Hugs have health benefits. Because they signify emotional support, they have the ability to prevent colds or keep them milder.
Dr. Ofgang and Erik Ofgang have provided a glympse into the most recent developments in personal health care. They dispell many myths. The Good Vices is an informative and very worthwhile read.
The 196 page book is jam-packed with studies, but the reading is never dry. There are quotes by well-known historical characters and Dr. Ofgang and his son also intersperse a sense of humor that keeps the nonfiction contents lively.
I have selected the following facts as reminders to myself. This should act as a spoiler alert to those of you who choose to read the book with a fresh set of eyes. Each reader will undoubtedly be drawn to different aspects of the authors' naturopathic approaches to health.
(p. 44) A fascinating 2014 study found that students who started their school day at 8:30 or later showed better grades, improved attendance, and decreased substance abuse and depression.
(p. 83) Fat is a nutrient that helps with absorption of fat soluble vitamins. (A, D, E, K) Low levels of vitamin D may contribute to IBD, colitis, and Chrohn's.
(p. 84) Full-fat dairy is a healthier diet option than low-fat dairy. Full-fat yogurt's probiotics contribute to gut health.
(p. 92) Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) only affects one percent of the population.
(p 97) FODMAPs=fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, polyols
Apples, milk, ice cream, and onions are included in this group.
(p. 125) Office windows that allow for natural sunlight may contribute to an additional average of forty-six minutes of sleep per night.
(p. 126) Sunlight may contribute to a reduction in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
(p. 133) The supermarket varieties of fermented foods may not contain the healthy bacteria generated by the traditional varieties of these foods.
(p. 150) Allergies and asthma are reduced in homes where dishes are washed by hand rather that by dishwashers.
(page 151-152) Triclosan and triclocarbon found in soaps, toothpastes, laundry detergents, fabrics, toys, and pacifiers may be harmful.
(p. 157) Improve memory loss with the elderlly by providing incentives for remembering. Nursing home patients may benefit by being given the responsibility for care of plants.
(p. 158) "Extreme grief can precipitate death from a 'broken heart,' . . . ."
(p. 159) Hugs have health benefits. Because they signify emotional support, they have the ability to prevent colds or keep them milder.
Dr. Ofgang and Erik Ofgang have provided a glympse into the most recent developments in personal health care. They dispell many myths. The Good Vices is an informative and very worthwhile read.
March 4, 2024
Meh, mostly things we’ve heard before. Some good quotes from others.
April 28, 2019
A fun and educational book about lifestyle factors on health. It focuses on health impacts of "vices", such as alcohol, sleep, sex, diet, etc. It is written on the basis of examining the results of multiple studies on the subjects and coming up with a recommendation, which is essentially everything in moderation and do things that bring you happiness. As a doctor, I found the book to be helpful to a good amount of people to get a balanced look on health factors without putting in shock factor or other extreme examples. It is a quick and enjoyable read. The authors can be funny sometimes but also sometimes there not, but it keeps the information lighthearted.
June 26, 2019
Quick read that provides some cursory knowledge and stats showing that a lot of what society has been told about what might be good for you- is wrong. If you already know a lot of this stuff the book can still be worth skimming. I found out about some important researchers to follow-up on (e.g. Ellen Langer).
August 27, 2019
Common sense rules! or rather, moderation does.
With all of the conflicting information out there, sometimes it's difficult to determine 'what's right'. However, this short, quick-paced read confirms what feels like common sense... nothing is entirely good or bad - but everything works in moderation. Extremism (in any direction) causes problems...
With all of the conflicting information out there, sometimes it's difficult to determine 'what's right'. However, this short, quick-paced read confirms what feels like common sense... nothing is entirely good or bad - but everything works in moderation. Extremism (in any direction) causes problems...
May 23, 2022
Some very diverse opinions. Interestingly the authors talk about relativistic and actual statistics and then use way too much relativistic info that the message feels phony. They preach moderation throughout the book. I agree, the reader should practice moderation in believing the material presented.
July 2, 2023
okay okay it gets a 2 stars from meeeee
Robin's Thoughts :
- interesting information and lots of stats
- repetitive
- i didn't really wanna keep ready it (but I did)
- i'm not necessarily a nonfiction + health information reader so maybe just not the book for me
- maybe it would've been better if i just read like a chapter at a time over the span of (*insert time length here*)
Robin's Thoughts :
- interesting information and lots of stats
- repetitive
- i didn't really wanna keep ready it (but I did)
- i'm not necessarily a nonfiction + health information reader so maybe just not the book for me
- maybe it would've been better if i just read like a chapter at a time over the span of (*insert time length here*)
April 23, 2020
If you are up to date with most health and wellness trends, none of what's in this book will be new to you. It is still well written and easy to get through. It was a fun read and i would follow both authors future work
Read
July 13, 2019Fun and easy read.
July 16, 2019
Hot tip to the authors: Putting the essential information in a blurb at the start of each chapter is...not a great strategy. I quickly learned that I was not going to learn much beyond the blurbs.
November 11, 2020
Mostly science I already knew, but fun nonetheless to read through a (reasonably) well reasoned and researched debunking of old conventional wisdom about what's good and bad for us.
June 25, 2022
Very good book. Lots of stats but still easy and enjoyable to read.
August 16, 2024
In short:
Most things are good in moderation.
Use common sense.
Most things are good in moderation.
Use common sense.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews