Dr. Mercola Examines the Renaissance of Texting

Friday, October 24, 2008

The fourth quarter of 2007 marks the first time ever that American cell phone subscribers sent text messages more than they phoned! The volume of text messages has increased by 64 % since then, while the average number of calls has dropped slightly.

Phone companies have enticed users to text more by offering unlimited text messaging bundles. And teenagers are biting the offer the most, evolving into the most prolific texters. The most prolific being teenagers ages 13 to 17 sending or receiving 1,742 messages a month, with 18 to 24 year olds averaging a mere 790 messages.

Text messaging has become such an ingrained means of communication that Harris Interactive reported that 42 % of teenagers declare that they can text even with their eyes closed. Dr. Mercola observes that teenagers’ preference for texting has more to do with convenience than safety. And those without 24/7 access to the internet, text more than those who do.

According to Dr. Mercola texting may lessen the health risks associated with cell phone use by keeping your cell phone away from your head. However you may just be moving the health risks from your head to your waist if you keep your cell phone close to that area.

Texting however allows you get straight to the point by bypassing common pleasantries that govern human relations and allows the use of an abbreviated language that doesn’t bother with spelling, punctuation and grammar.

And this is where the debate starts.

There is rising concern among linguists that the short cuts used in text messaging and email will result in sloppy writing habits among young people, and consequently impact their ability to spell and write. Email has already had a big influence on our writing and consequently increased our tolerance for misspelled words and less than perfect punctuation.

As texting continues to grow in popularity, the impact on society could be detrimental. For instance, a report by Ireland’s Education Department that reviewed high school students’ English test results showed that "Text messaging, with its use of phonetic spelling and little or no punctuation, seems to pose a threat to traditional conventions in writing"

A report in American Speech however concluded that texting embodies "an expansive new linguistic renaissance,” and exhibits “the same dynamic, ongoing processes of linguistic change that are currently under way in contemporary varieties of English.”

Dr. Mercola concludes however that “This will undoubtedly remain a hot research topic in the years to come, but I suspect that an over-reliance on texting will have disastrous consequences for future generations”

Dr. Mercola Weighs the Pros and Cons of Texting

We live in a fast-changing world. And in this fast world, Americans are the frontrunners. Fast food and high tech gadgets are not just part of daily life; they have become a way of life. And when we talk about gadgets, one of the must haves is the cellular phone.

Cellular or mobile phones have changed the way people communicate. The advent of text messaging further emphasizes that shift. The popularity of texting has soared because it is cheap, fast and convenient. In the last quarter of 2007, American cell phone subscribers sent more text messages than used their phones for calls for the first time in history. Since then, the average subscriber’s volume of text messages has increased by 64 percent, while the average number of calls has decreased.

Texting has caught the fancy of teenagers, with those aged 13 to 17 sending or receiving 1,742 messages per month while 18-to-24-year-olds average 790 messages. A study conducted by Harris Interactive found that 42 percent of teenagers claim they can write text messages even while blindfolded.

Dr. Joseph Mercola has been educating people on the dangers of cell phones for nearly a decade now. For Dr. Mercola, the one major health benefit that you can get from texting is that it keeps your cell phone away from your head and may lower some of the health risks associated with cell phone use.

However, holding your phone near your waist instead of near your head will just move the risks to a different area of your body.

Text messaging has already been proven to cause harm on the road. According to a Nationwide Insurance study, almost 20 percent of drivers send and receive text messages while driving, including 66 percent of teenagers between ages 18 to 24. Because texting-related traffic accidents are on the rise, the states of Washington, California and New Jersey have already banned texting while driving and 16 others are expected to follow suit.

Is Texting “Dumbing Down” America?

Aside from the practical dangers, too much texting may destroy the next generation's ability to communicate effectively due to poor spelling and “text-speak.” Because texting is so convenient, communication may become more impersonal, leading to fewer face-to-face meetings and less time spent actually talking.

Linguists warn that text messages will cause sloppy writing habits among young people because of all the shortcuts they use, which may affect their ability to spell and write.

Ireland’s Education Department reviewed high school students’ English test results and reported that “text messaging, with its use of phonetic spelling and little or no punctuation, seems to pose a threat to traditional conventions in writing."

But also, a report in American Speech concluded that texting will not ruin the English language because it represents "an expansive new linguistic renaissance,” and reflects “the same dynamic, ongoing processes of linguistic change that are currently under way in contemporary varieties of English.”

Dr. Mercola believes that texting and the dangers of cell phone use will undoubtedly remain hot research topics in the years to come. Stay up to date with what’s happening in the world of medicine. Subscribing to the Mercola.com Natural Health Newsletter for free now!

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Dr. Joseph Mercola Shares the Benefits of Nutritional Typing

Friday, August 29, 2008

Diet, in layman’s terms, is the food and drink regularly consumed by an individual. Many consider health, culture, morality, religion, environmental impact, and other factors in picking the food they eat.

Over the years, a number of dietary trends have surfaced, each promoting certain advantages and health benefits. There are people who have gone vegetarian or vegan. Some have stuck with a low-carbohydrate diet while others limit their fat intake instead.
But for Dr. Joseph Mercola, there is no one-size-fits-all mentality when it comes to diet. Mercola is an osteopathic physician and natural health expert. He is also the author of Take Control of Your Health, a comprehensive guide towards achieving optimal health.

Mercola believes that in order to determine the diet that is most for you, you must first learn about your nutritional type. In Mercola’s Nutritional Typing program, a person belongs to either one of three general nutrition types: protein, veggie and mixed.
According to Mercola, the human body needs to consume a certain blend of the right food types in the same way that a car was designed to run on certain types of fuel. Protein types thrive on a low-carbohydrate, high-protein and high-fat diets while veggie types need the majority of their food to be vegetables. On the other hand, a person with a mixed type needs dietary requirements between the veggie and protein types.

So how do you determine your nutritional type?

For starters, you can eat the usual servings of proteins, fats and carbohydrates that you normally consume. You then analyze your reactions to the meal and find out how well you divided the amounts of the three food groups. You generally have to feel better an hour after the meal. If not, change the ratios between the three food groups the next time you eat that meal and again analyze your reactions.

If you are still having food cravings after eating the meal or if you still lack energy, these are indicators that you are most likely not satisfying the requirements of your nutritional type.
One you have determined the appropriate food ratios, you can begin experiencing the benefits of nutritional typing, including increased energy and better weight management.

You can learn more about Nutritional Typing by getting a copy of Take Control of Your Health or by logging on to Mercola.com.

Stay Informed of Health Matters with Dr. Joseph Mercola

Friday, August 15, 2008

For Dr. Joseph Mercola, the proper diet combined with a healthy lifestyle will help you gain optimal health.

Mercola, an osteopathic physician trained in the art of natural medicine, is the founder of Mercola.com. At Mercola.com, he helps people get back on track, healthwise, by giving advice on what to eat and informing them of factors that may have an adverse effect on their health.

One of these factors centers on the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on health.

EMFs emanate from electrically-charged objects. The excessive presence of man-made EMFs in our homes cause what is known as electro smog. The abundance of EMFs come from domestic electrical installations and household appliances including power lines, mobile phones, radios, television sets, Wi-Fi, BlueTooth, satellite dishes and electrical motors and transformers in general.

Is electro smog harmful to your health?

There is a lot of research going on about this, including those that indicate an increased health risk concerning the use of mobile phones. As early as March 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft report recommending that EMFs be classified as a probable Class B carcinogen – the same level as formaldehyde, DDT, dioxins and PCBs. However, the EPA succumbed to pressure from utility, military and computer lobbyists and did not classify EMFs as a Class B carcinogen in its final revision, saying that it was not appropriate to label EMFs as carcinogenic until proven by further studies.

While at present, EMFs still cannot be directly linked to cancer and other serious ailments, what’s certain is that as technology continues to evolve, so does the risk of electro smog.

The effect of EMFs is just one issue. At Mercola.com, Dr. Mercola tells you what you need to know because your health is important. Learn about the things you can do and what to avoid in order to stay healthy with his free Natural Health Newsletter. It provides tons of articles and information on anything and everything related to your health.

For Dr. Mercola, living a healthy lifestyle and avoiding risk factors is as important as having the proper diet. Dr. Mercola attends to patients at his clinic, the Natural Health Center (formerly known as the Optimal Wellness Center ). Get to know more about Dr. Mercola and his practice at www.mercola.com.

Absolutely Amazing All-Natural Products Recommended by Dr. Joseph Mercola

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Dr. Joseph Mercola wants to share a simple but often taken for granted secret in staying healthy – use natural products.

Dr. Mercola is known in the health and wellness circles as an advocate of natural healing. The use of all-natural products is a vital aspect of his whole-person approach to healing. He recommends only the best products in their respective categories and only those that you can use daily and can really help you improve your health including:

Organic Pure Gold Raw Honey – Honey has been satisfying man’s sweet tooth for thousands of years but did you know that it also has many health-enhancing qualities? It’s an energy-booster, soothes your skin, promotes a healthy heart and helps promote the growth of good bacteria in the intestinal tract. However, most of the “natural” honey you find at the supermarket has actually been heavily processed and heated, stripping away the vital nutrients. Pure Gold Raw Honey comes from a bee farm in Michigan whose fields are kept free from pesticides and herbicides. The honey is bottled immediately after extraction without heating to deliver the finest quality and retain the vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, enzymes, amino acids and nutraceuticals – nutrients essential for maintaining the immune system and also help fight free radicals.

Pro-Optimal Whey – Most health professionals say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but a lot of people tend to skip it because they are always on-the-go. Jumpstart your mornings with a dose of energy by taking Pro-Optimal Whey. Pro-Optimal Whey is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate beverage that provides contains more than 15 vitamins and minerals, including glutamine and glutathione, which boost your immune system. It comes in three delicious flavors: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. Drink it as your regular protein shake or use it to spice-up your pancakes and smoothies. Make it part of your mornings, workouts or snacks. It’s the healthy way to stay active longer!

Himalayan Crystal Salt – Your tastebuds long for it and the body can’t function without it. But did you know that common table salt is 97.5% sodium chloride? The average person’s sodium chloride intake is between 4,000 to 6,000 mg and the body needs 23 times more cell water to neutralize it every unused gram. Excess intake of common table salt may lead to cellulite, rheumatism, arthritis, gout and kidney and gall bladder stones. Avoid all these complications by using Himalayan Crystal Salt, the purest salt on earth. Hand-mined in the Himalayas, this crystal salt has spent over 250 million years maturing under tectonic pressure and is free from environmental pollutants. It’s certified by the Europe-based Frezenius Institute to contain all the natural trace elements found in the body and helps regulate water content, promote bone strength, blood sugar and sinus health and other benefits. Use it to season your food or treat your skin with a rejuvenating bath soak.

Go natural now and make a big difference to your health! Find out more at http://products.mercola.com