Dear Friend,

I've said it for years: I'ver never believed that exercise is the lifesaver that everyone tries to make it out to be. In fact, it could actually be quite dangerous. And I'm not just talking about the blisters and the muscle strains either.

This has been one of the most controversial subjects over the years. And now the latest research seems to support this way of thinking.

In a previous e-letter (25 May 2009) Pascale raised the issue of how minimal exercise could actually be more beneficial to you than its more strenuous counterpart. And now Dr Douglas explains why. Read below...

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

---------------------------------------------

Rigorous exercise could increase heart disease risk
Dr WC Douglas
Editor of Healthier News

New research has come from New York University Medical Centre, and suggests that the more you engage in vigorous exercise, the more you're at risk for atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition characterised by irregular rapid heart rate. The results of AF range from minor (fainting) to potentially lethal (heart failure or stroke).

For years, the idea that exercise is the guaranteed path to perfect health and a longer life has driven many people to overexert themselves in gyms. And for what? There's no credible evidence that any of this activity will actually prolong your life.

The other side of the coin, however, is that there's plenty of evidence that exercise may actually increase your chances of kicking the proverbial bucket. If you have serious, unrecognised heart disease, exercise may cause you to experience sudden death from a heart attack. In fact, the leading cause of exercise-related deaths even in well-trained athletes is coronary heart disease.

Ready for the scary part?

It was found that the men who exercised enough to break a sweat five to seven days each week upped the chances of developing AF by a whopping 20%.

And in case you haven't figured this out already, the group that did no vigorous exercise - didn't have any increase in their propensity for AF.

And here's the paradox: The people who were part of the "break a sweat" crowd were the "healthy" set - men under 50 who ran regularly. Exercise mavens would have you believe that the opposite would surely be the case. In fact, the research showed that the incidence of AF among this select group was sky-high. It was up by 53% in men who jog and as much as 74% for young men who routinely "break a sweat".

The increased exposure to AF among the extremely active is not as contradictory as you might think. Cardiomegaly - enlargement of the heart - is considered "healthy" in athletes. By the same token, athletes with irregular electrocardiograms are not told that they've got a condition that goes hand-in-hand with heart disease. But in "normal" people (non-athletes), both of these conditions would be cause for the utmost concern.

When you take all this into account, the numbers of this "new" research aren't so surprising. It's no great shock that so many "super athletes" like marathoners die young as a result of - you guessed it - heart disease.

But of course the authors of this study hasten to point out that the results of their research do not, by themselves prove that "vigorous exercise" - however that's actually defined - is a direct cause of AF. But if you ask me, I would be sure to take it easy the next time you head out to the gym to try and "break a sweat".

------------------------------------------

Don't get car sick - ever again!

Q: My husband and I are planning to take a cross-country trip this summer. I'm sort of dreading it, because after long hours in the car, I start to suffer from motion sickness. And all the medications I've tried have just knocked me out! What can I do to enjoy my trip?

Dr. Wright: It may not be making many sensational headlines, but ginger is the best-proven treatment for nausea induced by a wide variety of causes, including motion sickness.

Most anti-nausea drugs work by blocking signals to the brain that induce nausea. Ginger, on the other hand, has a localised effect on the stomach. Since its presence in the stomach is a useful part of its action, small doses (250- 500 milligrams) repeated often will give the best results. One common side effect of ginger is heartburn. If this occurs, use a lower dose more often or take the ginger with food. You will find ginger and ginger powder supplements easily in most health shops.