5 Rules for Navigating the Hazards of Life

I read on Rodale.com that nonstick pans raise your risk thyroid disease, along with other problems like infertility. I sent a copy of the story to my husband because, many years ago, he brought home a nonstick pan to replace our cast-iron pans and I made him get rid of it. He thought it was better since it wasn’t so heavy. I thought it was not better because lifting my cast-iron pans was the only daily weight lifting I was guaranteed to get. He thought it was better because you didn’t have to use things like olive oil and butter to keep food from sticking. I thought it was worse because after all, butter and olive oil are the secrets to good cooking. He thought it was better because it was “modern technology.” I thought it was worse because it seems like most newfangled things turn out to have something terrible about them a few years down the road.

Of course, I was right.

So it made me think about how I have navigated the ever-changing, confusing world of new versus old, healthy versus unhealthy, and dangerous versus safe. I see almost every report and study that says this is good for you, this is bad for you, and often they contradict each other in the same week. So I have learned over the years to use a combination of trend spotting and good old-fashioned common sense. Here, then, are my five rules for navigating the hazards of life:

1. The closer something’s origins are to nature, the better it probably is for you. So therefore, butter must be better than margarine, fresh broccoli is better for you than deep-fried broccoli cheese-stuffed bites dipped in ranch dressing, and water is better than soda. Glass (which comes from sand) and paper (which comes from trees) are better than plastic. And cast-iron pans are better than nonstick.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jim T.

7:55PM PST on Jan 23, 2011

Such a great list! Thanks.

send a green star

Lynn K.

2:43PM PST on Jan 14, 2011

"Real" margarine?? Please! No such thing. It is manufactured. Alien to the body. can't be healthy...

Gwendolyn K.

9:40PM PST on Jan 7, 2011

Good ideas. Thank-you.
By the way, did you know that heating a non-stick pan that is bare (no oil, etc.) lets off very dangerous fumes. People who have precious birds should especially never do this as it can kill them. Remember the canary in the mine thing?

Susan T.

9:53PM PST on Jan 5, 2011

Finally.
A guide that helps my life, is easy to follow and short.

Ernie M.

12:55PM PST on Jan 3, 2011

I like the way you articulated this. A very good artical. Great advice. and that cast iron skillet actually gives you trace amounts of Iron in your diet. Or so they say.

Heather D.

9:10AM PST on Jan 3, 2011

I agree completely about trusting things that are closer to nature - I have used that rule, out of instinct and the fact that they always come back later and say, "oh you know that thing that we always said was safe? Well- it isn't" I'd rather not be the guinea pig!

Barbara E.

11:41PM PST on Jan 2, 2011

Noted and thanx

Crash K.

12:05PM PST on Jan 2, 2011

Great outlook on things :)

Kim W.

11:27AM PST on Jan 2, 2011

Each day I end with a prayer of thanks for the life I have, each day I begin with a prayer for the life I have. Some days are hard, so not so, but this article says it quite well. Moderation, well rounded, works for me.

Barb F.

5:31PM PST on Jan 1, 2011

Great perspective on so many facets of daily life to keep in mind and follow