Name: How healthy living nearly killed me
Uploaded: 2012-01-03T15:20:02Z
Duration: 8 min 25 s
Description: For a full year, A.J. Jacobs followed every piece of health advice he could -- from applying sunscreen by the shot glass to wearing a bicycle helmet while shopping. Onstage at TEDMED, he shares the surprising things he learned.

For a full year, A.J. Jacobs followed every piece of health advice he could -- from applying sunscreen by the shot glass to wearing a bicycle helmet while shopping. Onstage at TEDMED, he shares the surprising things he learned.

How healthy living nearly killed me

Pursuing perfect health can become overwhelming and even harmful if it takes over daily life. After trying every wellness tip, from eating right to wearing a helmet while shopping, one man found his social connections and happiness suffered. Noise pollution, he discovered, robs millions of healthy years in Europe each year. Lasting health comes not from rigid routines, but from finding pleasure and meaning in healthy habits.