Clapping may be hazardous to your health

Here in Taiwan, the elderly like to gather at dawn in parks around the island for early morning exercise. A favorite is to clap hands loudly which they believe energizes the body's chi.

However, hand-clapping also wakes up groggy and humorless gangsters. According to a recent news report the night owls posted signs in some of the parks in the southern city of Kaohsiung warning the elderly exercisers to not clap so loudly when doing their early morning exercises...or else.

Fast food and obesity

A friend recently emailed me this photo of an obese "David," and since I don't know the source, I can't provide a photo credit.

m

This image seems to sum up the current body condition for the developed world.

m

Luckily, people are getting fed up with a lack of healthy food options. The Associated Press reported on July 31 that the City Council of South Los Angeles voted for a year-long halt to opening any new fast food restaurants in the poor sections of town where obesity levels are highest.

m

South Los Angeles restaurants are 73 percent fast-food, while upscale West Los Angeles only has 42 percent fast-food joints. For the poor it's hard to make healthy choices when fast food is so cheap and readily available.

m

In addition, California was the first state to stop trans fats being used in restaurants.

m

Let's hope this is the beginning of global awareness to getting trim and fit.