Watch the Bowl but Avoid Blitzing the Food Spread

The headline on CNN.com that the Super bowl might lead to heart attacks shouldn’t come as a big surprise. We love our pro football teams and adhere to the saying “I live or die with my Packers” (or Steelers, Cowboys, Niners, Vikings et al).

The study CNN refers to was done in 1980, when the Pittsburgh Steelers staged a fourth-quarter comeback to beat the underdog L.A. Rams. Sure it was an exciting game. But why a 31-year-old study makes the news is another question. Heart-related deaths shot up 15% among men and 27% among women that year compared with the same two-week post-Super Bowl period in 1981 through 1983.

We all know that the stress produced from watching a game might not be the only cause of heart attacks. Could the huge quantities of beer, Buffalo wings and nachos that the football fanatics are throwing down be part of the equation? My guess is they are. Then there is another stress factor. Yes, I’m talking about the office pools and family pools and on-line pools for those out there who need even more excitement. Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest gambling event of the year. Don't go nuts. Who needs it.

Since February is Heart Health month, the Highland Library is doing its part by posting the “Five Essential Heart Habits” on a display and on bookmarks. Briefly the five habits are:

1. Exercise. Get invited to watch the game at a friend’s three miles from your place. Then walk there.

2. Avoid dysfunctional Foods. The usual suspects that include partially hydrogenated oils, saturated fats, soda and other products loaded with high fructose corn syrup.

3. Portion Control. Eat one helping. Then wait. Have a glass of water. Wait some more. Then get a small second serving. Adult beverages included.

4. Functional Foods. You know them: fish, soy, grains, fruits, vegetables.

5. Less Salt, 2.3 grams is the maximum daily amount recommended for most people (that number drops to 1.5 grams for those with high blood pressure or other risk factors.)

My thanks to Matt McMillen from Health.com for these heart habits.

All this aside, the game should be a good one. A Packer is someone who works in a meat-packing plant. A Steeler is someone who makes steel out of iron ore. Two manly professions. They stress hard work and hard play. When these two teams first played semi-pro football some of the players probably did pack meat and forge steel. Well, maybe not.

They are two of the older franchises in the NFL (1919 for the Green Bay and 1933 for Pittsburgh). They are from the northern part of the country. Both teams emphasize defense and… they still play outdoors. Now that’s football.