A friend of my grandparents, Barbara, is 96 years young, doesn’t take any medications with one exception, the occasional ant-acid. She gets ‘mucus’ when she sleeps is what she tells me, and she can’t understand it. At the age of 96, I think that is extra-ordinary! I often ask her if she takes vitamins or has any words of wisdom on how to live a long life, and her answer is always the same, “Vitamins? No! I don’t need them.” Barbara doesn’t believe in vitamins, but she does believe in eating healthy. She also believes in being independent and she walks everywhere or takes the bus.
Diet is so important to good health, and the Standard American Diet is just “SAD.” I read a lot about nutrition and there is so much conflicting advice from experts. Do we eat carbohydrates or proteins only? Or are complex carbohydrates for fiber okay? Is the glycemic index important? How bad is sugar for us or do we burn that off first for energy? Do I only eat fruit on any empty stomach, first thing in the morning? Is juicing good for us or is fruit juice forbidden all-together? Does apple cider vinegar make us more alkaline instead of acidic? Does that matter? Does milk and dairy create excess mucus? Does turmeric prevent Alzheimer’s? Does ginger and garlic prevent inflammation? Is there science behind eating based on blood type? Is vegetarian the best diet? What is this thing flexitarian now, and should I only eat meat once in a while? Do I have to soak nuts? When did that start?
Between Atkins, South Beach, Paleo, Vegetarian, Flexitarian, Vegan, Juicing, Fasting, Detoxing, Food Combining, Somersizing it’s no wonder people are confused!
That’s just a sampling of the internet research on nutrition, the mixed messages I get, and the questions they raise. HBO ran a series of documentaries on the obesity crisis in this country. My own Dad was a victim of obesity and it runs in our family, so I have a real sensitivity to people struggling to lose weight –it isn’t easy! I have been trying to lose a few pounds, tone up, and lower my cholesterol and it isn’t fun. Bad eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle lead to health issues. Ant-acid is the least of people’s worries. There is high cholesterol that can lead to heart attack or stroke, overweight problems and high Body Mass Index (BMI) leads to diabetes and heart disease, and we haven’t even begun to understand the correlation between weight and other diseases.
Be in tune with your body, eat as many vegetables as you can, try to avoid processed foods, high sodium, limit your sugar intake, and eat regularly to avoid insulin spikes. Fake food is bad, fiber is good. Choose brown over white when it comes to rice and starches. Eat blue, as in blueberries, for antioxidants. Exercise is important – move! If you crave something, don’t over indulge, try to be satisfied with a taste. Drink lots of water. Eat only until you are satisfied and not stuffed. Don’t skip breakfast. Skip soda. I am not an expert or medical professional, but all the diets in the world boil down to this summary. It isn’t easy, but it can be done. You can do it! Stay healthy!
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