Chefs' Health

[Stewey]

This may seem an odd question, but I am interested....

As a chef, do you feel your overall health is hindered or assisted by the chef lifestyle? Is the constant motion enough to be a good workout for the day? Do you need to take extra steps to workout to stay fit? Have any of you felt a premature decline in your mobility...like shoulder or wrist pains?

I know this seems an odd question, but I have never heard this discussed. I am sure everyone's experiences vary, but I can't help but think the constant motion actually helps overall health.

(P.S. this query was a result of hearing about the guy who started Baskin Robbins ice cream shops who died of a heart attack at age 41? 51? Too much fatty food digestion?) Thanks in advance!

[Salliem]

I take the extra step and joined a gym, for me it helps, I have dropped 14 pounds and numerous inches, I have more strength..the restaurant where I work I make all of our bread and I really need the upper body strength to roll out dozens of hamburger buns. In the early '90's I developed carpal tunnel, had the surgery and ended up with permanant nerve damage..so the working out has also helped me to develop or regain the strength in my right arm..plus I eat right, take vitamins..hey whatever works, you know.

[Jacaranda]

To occupational health risks associated with the chef's job such as carpal tunnel syndrome, or back problems, I'd add "lifestyle" risks like alcohol and drug abuse. In the UK there's even a charity which educates catering students and employees about alcohol dependency and other drug misuse.

[Mikeb]

Certainly there are many health risks involved in being a professional cook. Alot of guys I know are pretty fat from their diet, unhealthy, and with the alcohol and drug abuse... Sure you're on your feet all day long, so it's better than working in an office in that sense, but theres still health risks, especially being around so much fatty food.

That being said, I myself am in great shape because I take care of myself (6'1" and a very lean 190 pounds). I lift weights 4-5 times a week, run every single day, and eat very healthy. I still taste all my food, and eat quite a bit of fatty food at work, however I make up for it by eating only natural foods - absolutely NO junk food whatsoever. I do indulge in alcoholic beverages (mostly beer and wine) in moderate amounts, however I don't drink nearly as hard as I used to, or many cooks do, and I don't do any drugs. I do work the pastry section at work (another potential hazard diet-wise), but my pastries are made using only natural products, and the other cooks are more than happy to do some tasting for me

I won't lie though, it takes alot of work. I spend almost enough time in the gym to be considered a second job, and managing a proper diet is also quite tough, especially when you often only have time for 2 meals in a day... I make time for all this though by not partying after work, I don't live the typical 'cook' lifestyle (used to, got out of it).

Anyhow, the lifestyle is a definite detriment to many peoples' health, I see it all the time at the restaurants I work at or visit. But like many other things in life, it still comes down to personal choice, and it doesn't need to be a bad lifestyle.

[AprilB]

I know that the constant need to move is good for you in a wide variety of ways.

With me, when I'd get to work suddenly all of my achy joints would suddenly disappear. End of work? <don't ask>

They <whoever THEY are> say that gardening is great exercise...I can't imagine that what we do wouldn't qualify as a terrific workout. Lifting, bending, stretching...movement...it's all good.

However...I also know that most kitchen, line cooks, kitchen crew...all wore support hose. No kidding. Sorry but gravity works. I was severely getting swollen ankles until I was guided to them.

The guy who developed Baskin Robbins? Personally I believe it's all in your genes how you tolerate anything. I don't remember about the situation,

Originally Posted by Stewey

This may seem an odd question, but I am interested....

As a chef, do you feel your overall health is hindered or assisted by the chef lifestyle? Is the constant motion enough to be a good workout for the day? Do you need to take extra steps to workout to stay fit? Have any of you felt a premature decline in your mobility...like shoulder or wrist pains?

I know this seems an odd question, but I have never heard this discussed. I am sure everyone's experiences vary, but I can't help but think the constant motion actually helps overall health.

(P.S. this query was a result of hearing about the guy who started Baskin Robbins ice cream shops who died of a heart attack at age 41? 51? Too much fatty food digestion?) Thanks in advance!

[AprilB]

From what I can find I believe Mr. Robbins is still alive. He'd be about 88 but hey...

Back then...(and yeah I was born at the tail end of that particular time frame) in the 50's, 60's...there weren't any food police trying to save us from ourselves...<thank GOD>. I believe from experience and my years of just paying attention and listening to my mom that 99.9% of physical problems are genetic. As in being predisposed to sensitivity to different 'stuff'. That includes everything. Heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, ...even your ability to fend off flu and colds. It all falls back on survival of the fittest. We may think better than our ancestors but we are still all a result of genetics and evolution.

I mean, what about that health nut jogger dude that died at 44 compared to George Burns that ate anything he wanted, smoked and drank all the time or Julia Childs who lived to almost 100 and atributed her longevity to red meat and gin?

I'm wondering who would have died a happier person.

Of course back then life was more simple. There wasn't any intense need to compete or prove yourself or new techniques to impress like 'foams' or pretense or... you just made good food and that was that. It was all good.

In the immediate reality land, what I have experienced is so many physical and mental issues surrounding the food industry. Every single kitchen crew, line, prep cooks that I know of that are on their feet for 8+ hours a day wear support hose. Carpal tunnel is a common problem. Stress levels are in the red range.

HOWEVER...I can't think of an aerobic exercise class that could even come close to what we do.

Does anyone else experience a total pain off switch when you're working? I do. I can feel like total crap and when I get to work suddenly I don't feel a thing. When I leave my kitchen it's a completely different situation. So I usually go home and cook some more.

I dunno...maybe it's a masochistic thing going on.

April

Originally Posted by Stewey

This may seem an odd question, but I am interested....

As a chef, do you feel your overall health is hindered or assisted by the chef lifestyle? Is the constant motion enough to be a good workout for the day? Do you need to take extra steps to workout to stay fit? Have any of you felt a premature decline in your mobility...like shoulder or wrist pains?

I know this seems an odd question, but I have never heard this discussed. I am sure everyone's experiences vary, but I can't help but think the constant motion actually helps overall health.

(P.S. this query was a result of hearing about the guy who started Baskin Robbins ice cream shops who died of a heart attack at age 41? 51? Too much fatty food digestion?) Thanks in advance!

[foodpump]

Health is a pretty broad subject. The age at which you die at is governed by heridatary factors, on-the-job factors ( policeman, fireman, or insurance salesman..) and a zillion other things, but how fit or how well you look after your body is not a factor.

As others have said, there is a fair amount of alcohol and substance abuse, but the toll that stress takes on our bodies trumps everything else. According to my docotor's charts, I am the ideal wieght I should be taking into consideration my height and age, yet I suffer from tendonitis (no I've never played a game of tennis, or golf for that matter) and my feet are a mess: Achilles tendonitis, plantar facitis, and just plain ol' flat feet which require orthotics, the result of too many hours of standing. My personal life is O.K., which isn't the case for many others in this field. Gawd knows how many divorces I've seen, and even attended a suicide funeral a few years back.

[chrose]

Originally Posted by foodpump

Health is a pretty broad subject. The age at which you die at is governed by heridatary factors, on-the-job factors and a zillion other things.
but the toll that stress takes on our bodies trumps everything else. I suffer from tendonitis (no I've never played a game of tennis, or golf for that matter) and my feet are a mess: Achilles tendonitis, plantar facitis, and just plain ol' flat feet which require orthotics, the result of too many hours of standing.

I edited this quote to fit me a little better. I couldn't agree more. My heels and feet are permanently messed up, I can make them a little better with orthotics, maybe even a little surgery. Same with my wrists and right elbow. My left retina is permanently scarred from exploding grease (only affects me during allergies and tiredness) nerve damage from cuts, one heart attack from a series of 18 & 20 hour non stop days, and a a cardiac arrest and a defibrillator thanks to the scar tissue left from the heart attack. Yeah I'm a walking mess, but **** I still look good! It is better to look good, than to feel good, and I look mahvalous"!

[powers]

I I once worked in a 15 man kitchen, 8 of which were in recovery from drugs and alcohol(including myself), the others needed to be. ha I go to the gym to get away, I used to go to work to get away but since cellphones and the idea that everyone should be available all the time has happened, it's hard to get away. I think it is important for sanity to get away. I use the gym, no pockets for cellphones! I think what's just as important as exercising mucles is stretching muscles (it lowers stress). In a kitchen you start in the am at medium posture and go downhill from there. When you go to the gym you get to move your muscles the other way, stretch them back out.

I'm not trying to sell you on fitness it's just what I use. I have found that it effects my overall mood and tolerance level. I lived in south beach for 4 years and worked 100 hr weeks. The ONLY free time I had was on the way to work. I would sacrifice 20 minutes of sleep in order to ride my bike the long way to work. It was the only thing that kept me going. Well, maybe the women too. Riding down the beach wasn't so bad!

Give it a shot, if it doesn't help you can always stop.

[Rivitman]

I just checked out ok.
Yeah, I'm overweight.
But I don't smoke, and my cholesteral and triglycerides are in normal range.
Normal EKG and BP also.
I also don't do any dope and drink moderatly.
My workplace related problems seem limited to muscle and joint damage, though the psyche takes a pounding also.
So not bad for 47 I guess.

[boosehound]

i am up and down. meaning for a while i will be going to the gym, eating right not drinking very much(2 beers a day-if that at all). i get great sleep all that good stuff. then their are the times were im drinking every night in major excess ,not sleeping very well, never going to the gym(and still paying for it) not eating very well. my good freinds tell me im going to have a heart attack if i dont slow down, or find a new outlet for all the stress related to my job.

most days im stuck with a lot of lower back, knee and hand pain. this yr alone i have thrown my back out 2 times. 2 times way to many. i dont know how much of this stuff i can take.

[foodnfoto]

Two of the biggest health risks in professional kitchens in my view are:
1. extra hard floors that become slippery when wet and/or oily
2. loud hood fans

Even with perforated floor mats kitchen floors are hazardous. The floor mats tend to become slippery when wet or oily which often leads to torquing of the joints during ordinary work. I suffer from permenent joint problems in my elbows, knees and lower back from the years of long hours on such floors.

Hood fans-often the decibels emitted by these fans are louder than a rock concert. Why do you think there is so much yelling in a pro kitchen? One place I worked, my ears would ring for about two hours after I left for the day. Now I also have hearing damage from the long term exposure.

In addition to the other problems mentioned here, these two are often overlooked as occupational hazards because their effects show up in the long term and are difficult to document.