Health is an Art

Without too much thought one would agree that the most important aspect of our lives is our good health. As we grow older and body parts start aching, drooping and expanding, much time and effort is devoted to slowing the aging process so we can enjoy these “golden” years.

Unfortunately, too many people fill their bodies with high caloric, high cholesterol, nutrient deficient fast food stuffs. The typical American diet is laden with processed, microwaved meals. Children are surviving more and more on happy meals, quick burgers, greasy fries and cheap Mexican food. Who has time to cook wholesome meals anymore? Hiring a personal chef is the way for the rich and famous to get around these tedious tasks, but for the working mom and pop, supporting small children and saving for the college years, fast food has become the way of life.

This is the main reason for the increase in child diabetes, adult diabetes, certain types of autism, obesity, and high blood pressure. What will it take to get Americans eating wholesome foods again? Certainly places like Whole Foods and Trader Joes and the local farmers’ markets are helping to restore the balanced diet. But the continuous onslaught of television advertising for the biggest and juiciest burger or taco counterbalances this trend. This is not going to change. Until each family learns to take that extra needed time to actually cook fresh meats and vegetables, keep fruit and cheese handy instead of chips and salsa, drink water and wine (moderately – helps digestion) instead of all the highly sugared sodas; the overall health of Americans will continue to decline. Any regular exercise will help the cause – walking, swimming, jogging, gardening – just getting off our butts – we SIT way too much. It’s not easy – I’ve eaten a Mediterranean diet for 35 years but since my exercise level has decreased, I feel and SEE the difference.

EVERY body needs good, wholesome foods and plenty of regular exercise to stay in shape. Now, get up and climb those stairs, stretch, dance, eat an apple, and BREATHE deep – oxygenate the lungs and bloodstream, get that heart pumping and blood flowing. There is an art to staying healthy, requiring practice and skill, knowledge and discipline. I’ll tell you more about developing this art next time.

Until then,

To Your Health – and Mine

Susanna Jade