Mens Journal

SEPTEMBER 2016 65 MEN’S JOURNAL

FROM TOP: NIGEL RICHES/OFFSET; COFFEE: SHANA NOVAK

OPEN-WATER ADVICE

I always get anxious when

swimming in the ocean. Any tips?

First I suggest wearing a diving mask. This

will allow you to see clearly above and below

the water which alone can have a calming

effect. Also always ask local surfers and

lifeguards where conditions will be safest

and gentlest. Last study the water for areas

where the waves aren’t breaking; this is

where rip currents can occur. You can tell

a rip by its path leading out to sea which

often carries kelp foam and other ocean

debris. While it’s a myth that rips tug you

under they can pull you away from shore.

Ifyoufindyourselfinonestaycalm.Sim-

ply pivot to swim parallel to the beach then

headbacktoshoreatanangleawayfrom

the rip current.

INJURY FIXES

I’ve been hearing a lot about

3-D-printed knee replacements.

What do you make of these?

I think they’re promising. A 3-D-printed

knee implant can be customized to your

exactmeasurements. TheorthopedistsI

talked to say the joints which cost about

the same as traditional replacements are

just as strong f it better and may last lon-

ger.One problemisthetechnology is so

new — it’s been around for a few years —

that there’s little clinical data to verify those

comments. The other drawback is that right

now few companies offer orthopedic 3-D

printing and you could be placed on a long

waiting list. Bottom line: If you need a new

knee today go for the standard model. But

3-D-printed joint replacements could be our

best option in the future.

BETTER NUTRITION

I’vegonegluten-free.IsitOKtohave

my kids do the same?

I won’t do it for my own three-year-old and

I’d recommend it for your children only if

they have a proven gluten sensitivity. I was

further convinced by a recent issue ofThe

Journal of Pediatricsin which a group of top

doctors pointed out the downside of gluten-

free diets for kids — they can increase fat and

calorie intake (packaged gluten-free foods

often have far more of both) contribute to

nutritional def iciencies and create warped

perspectives of major food groups. There are

also no proven benef its to a gluten-free diet

for those without celiac disease. (Though

putting kids on a gluten-free diet could

obscure the diagnosis if theydo have it.)

LIGHT SLEEPER

How bad is it really to use my phone

or laptop before bed?

Scrolling through Facebook before you fall

asleep isn’t a direct route to insomnia. How-

ever a broad new study did suggest that reg-

ularly using bright-light technology before

bed — particularly the blue light that phones

and tablets emit — cues the body to store more

sugar in the blood. Over time this can lead to

an increase in body fat. The solution? Switch

screensto“nightmode”afeatureonnewer

phones that helps limit blue light. And stick

to a five-minute time limit for devices in bed.

THE DOC IS ONLINEEmail your questions

for Dr. Bob Arnot [email protected].

TO-DO LIST

The gear books products and apps we’re checking out this month.

READ:LIFT

If you’ve ever looked around a gym

filled with muscle-isolating strength

machines and mindless cardio

equipment and wondered “How

did we gethere?” this is your answer.

Liftdetails the last 2500 years of our

relationship with exercise highlighting

ups (birth of the Olympics) and downs

(Jazzercise) and making a case

for a functional fitness renaissance.

BREW:DR. DANGER COFFEE

We recommend this coffee — but not

because it was created byMen’s Journal

contributor Dr. Bob Arnot. Or because it’s

the first coffee to measure an off-the-

charts high in phenols — antioxidants that

help reduce inflammation and improve

muscle recovery. We love the brew

because it’s delicious (sweet nutty) and

amps you up for a workout without leaving

you jittery.$15; drdangercoffee.com

Ask Dr. Bob

Our in-house doc answers your

questions about health fitness

and living adventurously.