The Surprising Good News About Your Vices: An Interview with Jeff Wilser
Procrastination has an upside? Too much exercise can be bad for you? Monica talks with author Jeff Wilser about his new book: The Good News About What’s Bad for You … The Bad News About What’s Good for You.
Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS
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The Surprising Good News About Your Vices: An Interview with Jeff Wilser
I just read a very interesting book called The Good News About What’s Bad for You and the Bad News About What’s Good For You, by Jeff Wilser.
We all work so hard to get it right: to eat the right things, to get enough exercise, to avoid bad habits. If it ever feels like it’s all just too much, this book will be a breath of fresh air, because it reminds us that almost anything you can do has both upsides and downsides, and that obsessing about every little thing is silly and counterproductive.
Wilser uses science to demonstrate that most vices have at least one virtue and vice versa. In other words, we shouldn’t worry too much about the occasional indulgence. At the same time, maybe we shouldn’t feel too smug or overconfident just because we eat our vegetables.
I recently had a chance to chat with author Jeff Wilser, who told me about that tricky balance between cultivating healthy habits and obsessing over every headline. Despite the constant barrage of new studies and diet books, the basics don’t really change that much or that often.
Most of the food- and nutrition-related topics that Jeff writes about in his book are ones that I’ve covered in previous shows, and Jeff and I are pretty much on the same page for most of them. For example, I think the benefits of coffee and caffeine outweigh the risks for most people. And I think all the recent talk about bacon causing cancer was kind of ridiculous.
But Jeff’s book also tackles fitness and exercise, work habits, relationships, money, and just about every other aspect of daily life you can imagine—and shows us how some “bad” habits can have a hidden upside. Listen to the interview (just click on the player at the upper right or listen on iTunes and Stitcher) to find out the potential advantages of procrastinating, for example, and much more. You can also listen to more interesting conversation with Jeff on the Get-Fit Guy podcast.
The Good News About What’s Bad for You … The Bad News About What’s Good for You is available now. Pick up a copy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, Books-a-Million, or Apple.
About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.