It’s Up To You

Study after study has shown that the lack of proper nutrition is the biggest reason people get sick. Dr. Charles Mayo (one of the Mayo Clinic founders) said in the early 1900s that “Normal resistance to disease is directly dependent upon adequate food.”

The Nation Cancer Institute established a cancer prevention program in the 1980s promoting eating fruits, vegetables and grains because their studies had shown that such a diet tended “to interfere with the process of cancer development”.
For too long the general medical community has emphasized treating illness rather than preventing disease and has developed a disease care system rather than a health care system.

You’ve heard or seen the quote “If it’s going to be it’s up to me”. Well, if you are going to experience good health, it’s up to you to make it happen. Not your doctor or your health insurance company or anyone else, it’s up to you.
Your health is your responsibility. It is up to you to take control of your health. To do this you need to educate yourself and create a wellness model for your life.

There are millions who suffer from chronic conditions and although not the only reason, the Standard American Diet (SAD) is a big contributor to illness. The SAD consists of a higher consumption of red and processed meats, butter and high fat dairy products, refined grains, and high sugar drinks. The SAD is quite different from a diet which promotes consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and poultry and fish.

Obesity, a preventable disease, is responsible for approximately 300,000 deaths annually in the United States. So, if obesity and so many other chronic illnesses are preventable, what steps can you take to improve your health?

1. Eat more fruit, especially those high in Vitamin C like cantaloupe, berries and tomatoes.
2. Eat more vegetables, specifically cruciferous ones like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage as well as dark green and yellow vegetables like carrots, spinach and squash.
3. Eat more whole grains. Whole grains, along with fruits and vegetable, add fiber to your diet. Fiber helps lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, aids digestion, contributes to blood sugar control and can help with weight loss.
4. Eat lean meats, fish and poultry and prepare them by baking or steaming. Leave deep frying alone.
5. Eliminate processed foods from your diet. Read the labels on the foods you buy and you will find many include added sugars. Don’t be fooled, ingredients like barley malt, corn syrup or high-fructose corn syrup. These and many other ingredients are sugar.
6. Drink plenty of water. Water is essential to good health. Drink before you are thirsty and drink water instead of soda, coffee or energy drinks.

Changing the way you eat is not going to be easy but it will be worth it especially if you have been eating the Standard American Diet for years and believe it is in your best interest. It’s up to you to determine what is best for your health.
The professionals at Alternative Health Inc. can design a lifestyle change program for you to reach and maintain a optimal health. It’s up to you to make the call.