For those who don’t watch, Mad Men is a period drama set in New York during the 1960s. Its focal point is Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm), a creative director at an advertising agency, and the people in his life. To boil it down for you, the series is reminiscent of the lavish and indulgent era, meaning there’s lots of sex, tons of drinking, and no shortage of drama. Exercise For Better Sex Since its inception, Mad Men has inspired everything from clothing lines, to cocktail apps, to even an unofficial cookbook. Viewers seem positively mad with nostalgia. We’re all for a bit of reminiscing, but not everything from the ’60s is worth bringing back. Here are five lessons from Mad Men that are better off left in the past: Drinking your lunch. A typical business lunch in the ’60s was often of a liquid variety, including classic cocktails like a Manhattan or an Old-Fashioned. And while we can’t find fault with an occasional cocktail, nothing good can come from boozing on the job. Smoking while pregnant. We’re looking at you, Betty Draper. Often referred to as the worst TV mom ever, Betty (played by January Jones) not only smokes around her kids, but she also did so while pregnant. They might not have known better back then, but we certainly do now: Puffing while preggers has been linked to everything from an increased risk of stillbirth to heart defects for the baby. Never exercising. The Man Men era celebrated a fuller, curvier female figure—something Mad women get noticed for, namely Joan Holloway (played by Christina Hendricks). We love seeing curves on TV (talk about few and far between!), but these days we know that the healthiest kind comes from regular exercise, which wasn’t yet in vogue back in the ’60s.
Over-indulging. The Mad Men diet - frequenting steakhouses and cocktail parties on a seemingly daily basis - doesn’t exactly scream heart-healthy. Plus, the 1960s saw the rise of artificial sweeteners, which studies today are starting to link to scary health risks like heart attack and stroke. 7 Signs You’re Having A Heart Attack Keeping issues to yourself. When Betty was experiencing symptoms of psychosomatic illness, her husband Don didn’t want her to go to a psychiatrist—their issues were their issues. In other words, don’t go airing your dirty laundry in public. Fortunately, we’re (mostly) more savvy today and know that therapy—or even just dishing with girlfriends—is most definitely a good thing. Also see: Married To Heart Health, Prevention’s Healthy TV Awards, Go Ahead…Get Mad!
