Food and Health Connection

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Have you ever heard the sayings "you are what you eat" or "an apple a day keeps the doctor away"?  

These and many other sayings talking about the connection between the food we eat and our actual health have been around for centuries, but somehow, in the fast paced world today, we have forgotten the importance of WHAT we eat.

The fast food, processed diet so many of us follow is a huge part of the reason our health needs are increasing at epidemic proportions for everything including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, anti-inflammatory diseases, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and more. 

Am I saying that diet caused these issues? Not entirely, but I do believe diet has contributed to the massive increase in our population dealing with these issues.

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Of course, there are other factors leading to this epidemic of unhealthiness as well including genetics, environment, and so forth.  

But we can't really control genetics (at least not yet and I'm not totally sure we should mess with nature like that anyway), we have a little more control over the environment around us, but the ONE thing we almost completely control if we CHOOSE to is our DIET.

We can decide what to eat and when and how much.  We absolutely control what we put into our mouths.  Yet, the vast majority of us are not eating healthy diets.  Why?  Well, a healthy diet means change.  It means being slightly less convenient. It does take an adjustment.  Most of us go overboard with "diets, " instead of steadily and carefully changing our diets in healthy meaningful ways bit by bit.

Also, there is no one healthy diet that fits everyone's needs, so it requires research and time. Typically,to be really successful it also requires a reputable source of nutrition information, like a nutritionist, a weight loss expert, websites, and healthy friends.

That said, as a first step. How about we each of us pledge to at least stop and think about what we are putting in our mouths this week.  Think about the greasy fries or the fresh organic apple.  Which should you choose?  Which WILL you choose?  

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This week try to substitute something unhealthy like a hamburger picked up from a fast food restaurant with a healthy yummy organic salad loaded with your favorite cut up veggies (using any kind of lettuce other than iceberg).  

Or whatever you can think of!  Just one small change this week, where you consciously choose to eat something healthier at least once!

What do you think you will do differently this week that is a little healthier than last week food wise?