Rush Limbaugh: Clueless about health or clever advertiser?
 

Today, Rush said that no matter how healthy your lifestyle is, you will still become old, get sick, and die. The biggest risk factor for sickness and death is age and you can't prevent aging. In other words, eating a healthy diet and exercising won't help.

He's either very ignorant when it comes to the value of healthy lifestyle choices, or he's a brilliant advertiser earning brownie points with the food industry that he represents and earns money from.

Which one do you think he is? Considering that he has suffered form obesity in the past and has been on 12 major diets, I think he may be somewhat ignorant but a clever (food industry) brown-noser at the same time.

I'd be interested in any opinion on this.

:)

I am not an admirer of Rush, especially his delivery. However, his basic premise is correct and some folks have a real problem facing the fact of their eventual demise

Many industries have have made billions upon billions advertising that their product, diet, regime, plastic surgery etc will help make them ageless. The 60's is the new 40's is a case in point. Age is just a number is another.

IMHO genetics the prime indicator. I do believe in exercising to keep the body flexible and strong. The Greeks advice of "all things in moderation" is good advice. Final maintaining a god mental and emotional outlook also helps.

Excellent post by rubicon!

Even if you see Rush as a wind bag (which is how I see his delivery), this is 100% true: "no matter how healthy your lifestyle is, you will still become old, get sick, and die."

We've already heard the O.P.'s superiority in eating "healthier" than all the rest of us slobs who eat things other than carrot sticks and baked--not fried--lentil chips (aka "baked cardboard" sold at Whole Foods for $5 a bag).

But he/she, too, will die by some kind of disease process or "healthy" lifestyle choice like bicycling in the regular streets here that are full of landscaper trucks and their trailers that can make a young-looking, super-fit bicyclist into mincemeat.

It might help to take things in context. Rush was extrapolating on a series of articles by Atlantic Monthly columnist Megan McArdle relating to her experiences with hypertension and her baffling discussions with her doctor. Then she did some of her own research and reached the conclusions (for herself anyway) in the main article and then in a small follow-up that got Rush thinking about the subject in his own inimitable way.

There's a lot of truth to the saying that "you cannot cure old age". I think that's all Rush is saying.

Following is the two articles by Ms. McArdle, preceded by the transcript of the Rush Show that Villages PL is opining on.


http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/20..._don_t_get_old

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...t-sick/251184/

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...et-old/251193/

You can eat healthy, have your cholesterol problems under control, work out 24/7 and have a 6pack to show for it...But if you don't look both ways crossing the street, you will be one fine looking corpse. The grim reaper comes calling when your number is up and old age isn't a given.

Many years ago I worked with a guy who was in great shape and a health nut before his time. He carried a jug of water before carrying water became fashionable. He carried a cooler with fresh fruits and home made food as he wouldn't eat out because of his fear of dirty restaurant kitchens, and germs in general. He would chide me on the way I ate (having a cheeseburger and coffee on my end of day break) and offer me a peach or something.

Not long after his 40th birthday this good man died almost instantly from an aneurism. There was no warning.

old age is the primary killer...it cannot be sugar coated....ask the likes of a Jack LaLane (to pick one of many).

One certainly can do themselves a favor as they age by not being obese or living a sedentary life.

Living in moderation lets one enjoy much more of what life has to offer.

And what is obvious by the appearance of the average American on the street....it doesn't seem to matter.

Each person knowingly picks their own poison like Elvis (to pick one of many).

btk

Thanks, RichieLion, that clears up a lot for me. I printed all 3 items that you gave a link to and will read them more carefully later when I'm not on the computer. In the mean time, I have a question for anyone reading this:

If Rush really believes what he said, why is he working so hard to save our democratic republic? Doesn't he know that it's in poor health and about to die of old age? The biggest factor, in determining why great civilizations die, is "old age." Doesn't he realize how silly it is trying to have a healthy democratic republic when old age is going to take it from us anyway?

No, instead, he only knows how silly it is for someone to try to live a healthy lifestyle. Why is that? Why the difference between one and the other? My opinion is: Follow the money! He works for radio and radio earns a good portion of its revenue from advertising processed (fast) foods.

Anyone have a comment on that?

:)

Regarding this "The biggest factor, in determining why great civilizations die, is "old age.".........

No, great civilizations die when they allow leaders with vile, sinister motives to take over........

....and when the civilization shrinks its BIRTH RATE to be grossly out of balance with the death rate.

Yes, I agree that some do have a problem with their eventual demise. But, hey, isn't that the same reason why religion is so popular? Yet most of us don't go around complaining about the belief of "eternal life in heaven," do we? Rush says he loves puncturing myths; Is that one next? ;) No, he will only puncture myths where there's a payoff, like the one he gets from advertising processed foods on the radio. :)

Again, I agree. But don't forget the other side of the equation. On the other side, there's Rush (speaking for the fast food industry) telling us that eating fast food isn't going to hurt us to any significant degree, if at all. And billions upon billions have been made selling highly processed junk.

Well, there's where I have a little bit of dissagreement. In many cases, genes have to be triggered by something in the environment. Each of us may be susceptible to certain diseases, but it usually takes something from the environment (including one's diet) to act as a trigger. (Although, that should not be interpreted as a potential to live forever.)


:agree: Except, perhaps, for the moderation part. What does it really mean? Does it mean one pizza per week? Once a month? Once a year? My threshold (or tolerance) for moderation just happens to be much lower than that of the average person. I'm assuming that "moderation" means moderate consumption of processed foods. Would anyone apply it to fidelity in marriage? Would it be acceptable to cheat on a spouse as long as it's done in moderation? Do you see what I mean? Some people are very much against cheating. Well, I happen to be very much against cheating on my diet regimen because I don't happen to believe that I will be better off for doing so.

:)

Ummm, you may be about 3 years too late with your warning. :) It happens in small increments, just like health declines slowly in old age.

:)

Villages PL:

I personally made a judgement in error by addressing my opinion of Rush. The important aspect of this topic is mankind's response to death and not him.

From a religious aspect you are correct; albeit I don't see too many people rushing to get into heaven.

As for genetics. The short of it is that we age because at some point our genes fail to reproduce. Scientist are working to extend the reproduction process. Genetics are key to longevity.

Let's take the issue of faty foods and cholestrol. Experts paint a broad brush and some go to extremes. As an example a Harvard study explained that there are three types of consumers of fatty foods: those whose system excrete cholestrol, those who compensate and those who store. Obviously the storer (of fat) is the bigger problem. so to suggest that everyone eating meat, etc is shortening their life expectancy can be mischaracterized. It could well be because of the store factor that even with such a consumer eating more vegetables his/her life expectancy will be shortened. Also we have people who are born with congenial defects that are in a manner speaking invincible until they rear their ugly heads.

Which leads me to address the Greek's suggestions for moderation. When I remind my brother about this Greek philosophy his come back is always" I believe in moderation in fact I believe in a lot of moderation."

The problem with many of us is that we have forgotten the benefit of sacriface. Perhaps it is because as a Catholic I found the benefits of fasting, etc. to be very beneficial. To this day there are many things I intentionally forego because I believe it is of a benefit to my body and soul.

Far too small a number of American can appreciate the benefits of self-sacriface as we have become a wealthy consumer oriented society where materialism and hedonistic ways of living have become not only fashionable but the norm. Its why for instance that a Tim Tebow is laughed at because of his belief in foregoing cardinal pleasure until he is married.

We use to admire such people

As a young boy my Dad pointed to a guy he knew. My Dad told me that this guy would drive the streets of our city until dawn because he was afraid that he would die in his sleep. You guess it he died in his sleep. How many of us would want such a passing. Finally we as a people seem to believe we can remove the risks associaed with living. Isn't that unfortunate as some people buy into this nonsense. We can certainly find ways to reduce some of our risks but we will never be able to eliminate them.

Rush appears to believe in excesses in everything: food, drugs, marriages.

Too true:laugh:

I feel that's really a simplistic outlook and a far fetched kind of conspiracy theory. I really doubt he's thinking of his advertisers on this subject. If you've listened to Rush over the years you know he eschews any exercise in weight loss and downplays the importance of it in that aspect. I thinks it's a foolish thing, but he's entitled to live his life the way he sees fit. He thinks genetics play the greatest role in your life longevity, and science doesn't prove him wrong.

Comparing body chemistry to the life of nations? Cute, but hard to portray parallels. Nations have died for many reasons.