He wants you to take this advice to heart.
Dr. Jeremy London, a heart surgeon in Savannah, Georgia, is revealing the four bad habits he avoids to maintain good health.
He said being a cardiothoracic surgeon for 25 years has taught him not to smoke or drink, use alcohol-based mouthwashes, consume processed foods or drink alcohol.
“Your body, your rules, your choice,” London declared on his TikTok on Tuesday, which has attracted 1.3 million views.
Smoke or steam
“Smoking directly damages the lining of blood vessels, increases the possibility of atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries] and it blocks and causes cancer,” London explained. “That’s probably the worst thing you can do for yourself.”
About 28 million American adults smoke cigarettes, the leading cause of lung cancer worldwide.
A recent report by the American Cancer Society blamed smoking for 20% of cancer cases in the US and nearly 30% of cancer deaths.
Use alcohol-based mouthwash
“Our gut microbiome—or the good bacteria in our gut—starts in the mouth, so if you kill this bacteria, you can actually throw it out of balance,” London shared.
“And, interestingly, bacteria in the mouth help produce nitric oxide, which helps regulate and control blood pressure,” he continued.
“By killing this bacteria, you can cause or worsen hypertension or high blood pressure.”
Our gut microbiome—the collection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in our digestive system—helps with digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune system regulation.
A disruption in the delicate balance of gut bacteria can lead to digestive problems, thyroid dysfunction, skin disease, and can increase the risk of chronic disease.
A study published in June in Belgium found that two types of bacteria that have been linked to gum disease, esophageal and colorectal cancer, were significantly more abundant in the mouth after three months of daily use of alcohol-based mouthwash.
A group of beneficial bacteria that affect blood pressure decreased during the same period.
However, the researchers stopped short of advising people to stop using alcohol-based mouthwash, instead calling for further research and encouraging people to talk to their healthcare professional about use.
Consume processed foods
“You are what you eat – literally, the proteins, fats and carbohydrates you eat provide the energy and building blocks for every single cell in your body. Be careful about your meal plan,” recommended London.
Ultra-processed foods have long been maligned by medical experts for being loaded with calories, sugar, fat and salt. Consuming too many of them can increase the risk of diabetes, cancer and even early death.
In a TikTok earlier this week, London showed a typical food intake for his family that included grass-fed beef, chicken, various fruits and vegetables, eggs, avocado oil, chicken stock, nuts and olive oil.
Drink alcohol
“I hate to tell you, but even moderate alcohol use is questionable. Why is that so? Well, when we drink alcohol, it breaks down into acetaldehyde and acetate,” London said.
“Acetaldehyde is directly toxic to every cell in the body and acetate is just empty calories.”
Recent research has claimed that no amount of alcohol is good for you, although some studies have advocated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of red wine in moderation.
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Image Source : nypost.com