11 'Bad' Things We Learned May Actually Be Good For You In 2011

Fidgeting is bad; those comedies are going to rot your brain; chocolate isn't good for you -- these are all things we've heard time and time again.

But research in 2011 paints a different story -- some of those things that we peg as "bad" for us may actually be good.

Take a look at our round-up of 11 things we learned in 2011 that may not actually be as bad for us as we thought.

And for more on the best of 2011, visit bestof2011.aol.com.

Comments

[Rational Voice]

07:14 PM on 12/14/2011

Beer and Wine are on this list -- but alcohol is a deadly, dangerous, destructive, highly-toxic drug that directly causes death, violence, and sexual assault -- along with a whole host of other problems.

Cannabis is 100% natural, non-toxic, and by all comparisons relatively non-addictive -- and there were many new discoveries about how cannabis is good for people this year ... there are pretty much every year -- so why isn't cannabis on this list??

[wrobbins]

09:20 PM on 12/14/2011

Alcohol is something that your body can handle very easily in moderation. (It's also "100% natural.")

There have been studies showing a beneficial effect of cannabinoids on certain disorders. That's different than saying "it's good for people" in general.

[Rational Voice]

10:10 PM on 12/14/2011

Stress is a killer. Cannabis relieves stress in most users. Therefore, cannabis = good for most people.

[cimmereo]

04:01 AM on 12/15/2011

I don't use cannabis, but I am all for legalizing it. California is slowly getting to that point, but it may take another 10 years. I would add that it should be banned from the same places that cigarette smoking is.

[Rational Voice]

12:41 PM on 12/15/2011

Glad to hear it! More and more people are waking up to the realities of cannabis prohibition every day. I really hope we don't have to wait another 10 years to see legalization. That would be another 10 years of lives destroyed.

There is absolutely no reason to continue wasting money, time, and effort like we have -- and every year prohibition continues, our politicians, the corporations that control them, and our law enforcement get ever more corrupt. Continuing prohibition in any form is getting more dangerous every single month, let-alone year. Our border with Mexico is now the most dangerous war-zone on earth, thanks to Uncle Sam's irrational drug war -- that's a direct threat to national security. Our healthcare system is a mess. Uncle Sam imprisons more people than anyone else in the world -- by a land slide (and we only have 4.5% of the earth's population!) -- also directly attributable to the irrational war against some drugs.

People really need to start screaming about this madness. It's up to "we the people" to legalize, because our politicians have been bought and paid for by the corporations that are fighting hard to keep from having to compete with this amazing plant.

As for banning public smoking -- I'm fine with that. The smarter way to use cannabis is to vaporize or use it as an edible. I can't wait for the day we see "vapor bars" replacing alcohol bars. :-)

[SaunaSherpa]

05:13 PM on 12/14/2011

#9 in regards to "Fever" is something that I promote daily through Far Infrared Sauna Therapy. I talk to many folks who do think that having a fever is a bad thing and take fever reducing medication. While there is a point to where a fever is harmful (106 degrees), a mild fever is your bodies response to healing itself. Creating the "hyperthermia" state with the body helps you heal. Through Far Infrared Sauna Therapy you can induce this fever state on a proactive basis and keep your body healthy and boost your immune system. I recommend that everyone try Far Infrared Therapy to see how you respond to it and feel the benefits.

[Ken Kinstle]

05:04 PM on 12/14/2011

I know that chocolate in moderation has to be good for you. Nopalea and Nopal Cactus Juice is definitely good for you ie http://www.nopal-cactus.com Comedies have to be good, laughter is better that the best medicine :-)

[pdddy100]

04:52 PM on 12/14/2011

what about trans fats??? NOT bad anymore

[WesStrikesBack]

11:37 AM on 12/14/2011

Don't forget that a few glasses of Pinot Noir every day will reduce stress, lower cholesterol, make you happy and sexy, and help you like at least 5 years longer! Why not?

[SickHippie]

06:02 PM on 12/13/2011

Okay, who's the idiot who thought sex was bad for you?

[Omar Devone Little]

05:08 PM on 12/13/2011

Does this mean that we can swear on HuffPo now? It's good for us!!!!

[RubyMontana]

10:28 AM on 12/15/2011

I like your logic!

[labmonkey74]

12:32 PM on 12/13/2011

really?? I learned nothing new from this.... well, I learned that someone thinks sex is bad for you or doing one thing at a time is bad... Who comes up with this stuff?

[colin72]

12:10 PM on 12/13/2011

"11 'Bad' Things We Learned May Actually Be Good For You In 2011"

... and that we'll learn may actually not be good for you in 2012.

[Alices Amanita]

10:08 AM on 12/13/2011

Well, no short of colorful language for me...I suppose that is a plus! Never was aware that sex was a bad thing, though...but I am sure the lack of it is not healthy, either...

[msjennana]

04:16 AM on 12/13/2011

i never knew sex was touted as bad lol! i think maybe sex toys and pornography have somewhat of a stigma, but that all seems to be changing as well. With high-end sex toy companies selling products that cost more than your house down payment the world of back alley exchanges is morphing into a refined, luxury enhancement to a pleasurable lifestyle. And it seems the best part is that companies are catching on, but lucky for most, without the pricetag. Companies like the new trendy brand Picobong combine design, quality, even quick marketing with a low budget point. So if you ever thought sex was bad, you probably almost definitely saw sex toys, porn, anything other than your grandmother's missionary position as 'bad'--I challenge you to open your horizons (and maybe some other things too)!! hehe

[Adam Valen Levinson]

03:10 AM on 12/13/2011

I'm not sure "doing chores around the house" qualifies as fidgeting. But I can imagine that constant quivering will burn a few calories. That's why I start my day with a new Starbucks Trenta of espresso.

[mbovenzi]

11:22 PM on 12/12/2011

who cares

[IMOPINIONH8D]

10:37 PM on 12/12/2011

Swearing should work even if you swear all the time. You just have to mean it when it counts.

[anima mundi]

07:55 PM on 12/12/2011

I'm sitting here right now with a big hunk of dark chocolate, a glass of Cote du Rhone and I'm giving my husband "THE" look while he drinks his beer. Life is good!!

[WesStrikesBack]

11:40 AM on 12/14/2011

How interesting. I make a Grenache/Syrah blend called Axis Mundi, so yiour comment and title caught my attention.