Dr Oz’s daughter, Daphne Oz, wrote an article for Glamour that I saw on AOL Health earlier this week. She gave five health tips that she lives by including: Don’t Follow Your Doctor Blindly, Your Drink of Choice Should Be Water, You Should Be The #1 Expert on Your Body, Getting a Little Dirty is Good for You and Your Body Craves Playtime. Here is the full article by Daphne Oz:
Daphne Oz learned these truths growing up in a house full of doctors (her dad is the famous Dr. Mehmet Oz). Now she’s sharing with all of us:
When I was a kid, my parents had a basic philosophy: Don’t sweat the small stuff, but be sure to take care of the big stuff. These are some of the lessons I learned — they’ve kept me healthy, and I hope they help you too.
1. Don’t Follow Your Doctor Blindly.
At our dinner table, medical treatments and surgery techniques were constantly debated by my dad, uncle and grandpa — all surgeons — and my mother, a holistic health practitioner. So I got used to the idea that different doctors have different perspectives. It’s tempting to turn doctors into some kind of gods, but the truth is, they’re human. Getting a second opinion before starting any course of treatment is not only OK, it’s essential!
2. Your Drink of Choice Should Be Water.
In our house, juice was just for taking vitamins or medicine, and milk went with cereal. When we were thirsty, we drank water. In college I was flummoxed when I saw people guzzle soda like it was, well, water. A regular 12-ounce can of cola has around 140 calories — have one a day and you could gain a pound every month!
3. You Should Be the #1 Expert On Your Body.
I don’t know if you saw that classic episode of Oprah where my dad talked about poop — for a full hour! Needless to say, I was taught at a very early age to pay attention to how my body felt on a daily basis, and when something was wrong, I knew it. “When you are comfortable with all your body’s ‘normals’ you’ll be better able to notice abnormalities,” said obstetrician/gynecologist Jennifer Ashton. “Some of the most important information that a woman can share with her doctor is when and how something in her body has changed.”
4. Getting A Little Dirty Is Good For You.
Lately it seems like all my friends have become germ freaks, wielding bottles of Purell to thwart any bacterial offenders. But we might have had it right as kids, when we were perfectly content to suck on a dirty Cheerio that fell on the floor. I spent much of my childhood running around my grandparents farm; we washed our hands before every meal, but we no doubt got plenty of dirt (and yes, probably even manure) in our mouths. Now researchers know that bacteria you pick up in natural environs actually help bolster immunity by teaching your body to respond properly. If we disinfect everything, our bodies may become underprepared to deal with problematic bugs, leading to more severe illness and allergies.
5. Your Body Craves Playtime!
We have a tradition that still takes place when all four Oz kids are home. It’s called Oz Family Olympics, and we spend a Saturday morning having stair races, basketball tourneys or Ping-Pong rallies. We sneak in some exercise, laugh constantly and afterward, feel amazing. “Playing restores you,” said psychologist Stephanie Pratola. Unlike so much else in our lives, “play is impossible to do the wrong way. It promotes being in the moment and tapping into unconscious and imaginative moments. For all those reasons, it helps with stress relief and makes you better at problem solving. And it’s fun!'”
Credit goes to this article in Glamour!
Dianne Sahakian says
Dear Daphne I think your father’s show is the greatest and also very educational. I liked your article as it show how uptight most people are, and yes water is great for you, like you said, but growing up while growing up my parents had us drink milk and maybe a glass of juice in the morning to start our day. We were also taught to drink water. We mostly had cereal the unsweetened kinds or oatmeal. Yes your diet has a lot to do with your health and your dad taught you that and aLso that a few germs are good for you. If everyone took the time out to exercise as well as play, you wouldn’t see all the stressed out people, as well as healthier people.