Does It Make a Difference?
We are constantly bombarded with information on what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and why we should all be following this regiment. But does following a healthy lifestyle really make a difference? Will giving up a greasy burger and fries for grilled fish and steamed vegetables and getting up early to go for a run or workout actually reduce your chances of having a heart attack? Will choosing whole wheat bread over white bread and quitting smoking eliminate the risk of cancer?
These questions went through my mind often last November. There I sat in my office across from a client who was at least 60 pounds overweight, smoked, drank and had no idea what a lentil was. The closest he ever came to physical exertion was walking to the refrigerator for a beer during a commercial. For every suggestion I gave him to improve his lifestyle, he was able to give me an excuse about why he couldn’t follow my advice. And what reason did he have to change his lifestyle? His cholesterol level was normal, his blood pressure was within the normal range, and he had no major aches, pains or other complaints. There was little family history of heart disease, cancer, diabetes or hypertension. Why should he give up the things he enjoyed?
And there I was. I exercised at least five times a week, followed a low-fat, semi-vegetarian diet, and had weighed below 110 pounds for the last 10 years. I avoided medication whenever possible, and didn’t smoke or drink alcohol, coffee or tea. I wore a seat belt when in a car, and a helmet when training in my racing chair. I had regular doctor appointments. Yet I had just been diagnosed with cervical cancer that had progressed to the invasive stage. And a friend of mine, who is also a dietitian and has a healthy lifestyle, had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Something didn’t seem right. But this is life. Some people can do all the wrong things and live to be 100. Others can do all the right things and drop dead of a heart attack at 40. The point is, following a healthy lifestyle will never eliminate the risk of a major illness, but it will certainly decrease the risk -- particularly in middle age. And if the unthinkable happens -- you are diagnosed with cancer or another major illness -- then eating right, exercising, and having a positive attitude will help you through treatment with fewer side effects and help you to recover more quickly.
There are certain factors that increase the risk of disease but that you can’t control. These include age, ethnic background and heredity. Some of us were born with great genes, while others were born with "lemons." There is nothing we can do about these factors, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing we can do to help ourselves live a little longer and make the quality of that life better.
When you hear that eating a high-fat diet is associated with heart disease, that nitrite is associated with stomach cancer, that estrogen pills are associated with uterine cancer, and that a high-salt intake is associated with high blood pressure, that’s just what they are -- associations. Out of 100 people who eat large quantities of meat, whole milk and butter, at least some of them are likely develop heart disease. It is difficult to say how many and who will, but there is the possibility that SOME will. And they will be at greater risk of heart disease and certain cancers if they continue this way of eating. Conversely, out of 100 people who exercise, eat right and don’t smoke or drink, someone will probably develop a serious health problem. But these people are LESS LIKELY to have a problem.
So do we become fanatics and try to do everything right? Or do we throw caution to the wind and hope for the best? Somewhere, there is a happy medium. The benefits of following a healthy lifestyle -- choosing lower-fat foods most of the time, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, exercising regularly, feeling good about yourself and having a positive outlook on life -- far outweigh any negatives.
My cancer treatment period was not a pleasant time in my life. During the six weeks of external radiation and 30 hours of internal radiation, I had to follow a very low-fibre diet. I also had to consume a hydrolyzed drink to prevent diarrhea which, if severe enough, could become permanent. The hydrolyzed drink was easier for the intestines to absorb because the protein, fats and carbohydrates were already broken down and therefore the intestines were not required to perform this step. Although the drink was successful in helping to avoid the diarrhea, this concoction was one of the most vile-tasting things I have ever had. Therefore my appetite was poor, and I lost seven pounds during the last three weeks of the treatment.
Because of my spinal cord injury and the added complications of this condition, the medical team was concerned that the treatments would cause more problems in me than in their other patients. Although this time was difficult and I did have a few problems, most of the side effects were minor and I recovered fairly quickly. I attribute much of this to a healthy lifestyle and my starting the treatments in a healthy and strong condition.
One particularly important aspect of a healthy lifestyle which is often overlooked is a positive attitude about oneself and life in general. There is no doubt in my mind that I have been able to deal with both my spinal cord injury and cancer with few medical problems because of this.
Bernie Siegl, author of "Love, Medicine and Miracles," wrote about real-life examples of exceptional cancer survivors who were able to deal with their situations successfully through the power of positive thinking and self-esteem. Research is starting to find the effects of our thinking on our immune system. Not only can a positive attitude and self-esteem help a person directly, but when you feel positive and you value yourself, you are also more likely to do the things necessary and recommended to avoid problems and recover more quickly.
Doing all the right things will never result in our avoiding all medical problems and illnesses, but this will definitely lower the risk, improve our quality of life and help us to deal more effectively with the things we are faced with. So will I continue to choose linguini marinara over fettucini or a stroll in the park over an hour of Oprah? You bet!
source : http://www.enablelink.org/
We are constantly bombarded with information on what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and why we should all be following this regiment. But does following a healthy lifestyle really make a difference? Will giving up a greasy burger and fries for grilled fish and steamed vegetables and getting up early to go for a run or workout actually reduce your chances of having a heart attack? Will choosing whole wheat bread over white bread and quitting smoking eliminate the risk of cancer?
These questions went through my mind often last November. There I sat in my office across from a client who was at least 60 pounds overweight, smoked, drank and had no idea what a lentil was. The closest he ever came to physical exertion was walking to the refrigerator for a beer during a commercial. For every suggestion I gave him to improve his lifestyle, he was able to give me an excuse about why he couldn’t follow my advice. And what reason did he have to change his lifestyle? His cholesterol level was normal, his blood pressure was within the normal range, and he had no major aches, pains or other complaints. There was little family history of heart disease, cancer, diabetes or hypertension. Why should he give up the things he enjoyed?
And there I was. I exercised at least five times a week, followed a low-fat, semi-vegetarian diet, and had weighed below 110 pounds for the last 10 years. I avoided medication whenever possible, and didn’t smoke or drink alcohol, coffee or tea. I wore a seat belt when in a car, and a helmet when training in my racing chair. I had regular doctor appointments. Yet I had just been diagnosed with cervical cancer that had progressed to the invasive stage. And a friend of mine, who is also a dietitian and has a healthy lifestyle, had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Something didn’t seem right. But this is life. Some people can do all the wrong things and live to be 100. Others can do all the right things and drop dead of a heart attack at 40. The point is, following a healthy lifestyle will never eliminate the risk of a major illness, but it will certainly decrease the risk -- particularly in middle age. And if the unthinkable happens -- you are diagnosed with cancer or another major illness -- then eating right, exercising, and having a positive attitude will help you through treatment with fewer side effects and help you to recover more quickly.
There are certain factors that increase the risk of disease but that you can’t control. These include age, ethnic background and heredity. Some of us were born with great genes, while others were born with "lemons." There is nothing we can do about these factors, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing we can do to help ourselves live a little longer and make the quality of that life better.
When you hear that eating a high-fat diet is associated with heart disease, that nitrite is associated with stomach cancer, that estrogen pills are associated with uterine cancer, and that a high-salt intake is associated with high blood pressure, that’s just what they are -- associations. Out of 100 people who eat large quantities of meat, whole milk and butter, at least some of them are likely develop heart disease. It is difficult to say how many and who will, but there is the possibility that SOME will. And they will be at greater risk of heart disease and certain cancers if they continue this way of eating. Conversely, out of 100 people who exercise, eat right and don’t smoke or drink, someone will probably develop a serious health problem. But these people are LESS LIKELY to have a problem.
So do we become fanatics and try to do everything right? Or do we throw caution to the wind and hope for the best? Somewhere, there is a happy medium. The benefits of following a healthy lifestyle -- choosing lower-fat foods most of the time, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, exercising regularly, feeling good about yourself and having a positive outlook on life -- far outweigh any negatives.
My cancer treatment period was not a pleasant time in my life. During the six weeks of external radiation and 30 hours of internal radiation, I had to follow a very low-fibre diet. I also had to consume a hydrolyzed drink to prevent diarrhea which, if severe enough, could become permanent. The hydrolyzed drink was easier for the intestines to absorb because the protein, fats and carbohydrates were already broken down and therefore the intestines were not required to perform this step. Although the drink was successful in helping to avoid the diarrhea, this concoction was one of the most vile-tasting things I have ever had. Therefore my appetite was poor, and I lost seven pounds during the last three weeks of the treatment.
Because of my spinal cord injury and the added complications of this condition, the medical team was concerned that the treatments would cause more problems in me than in their other patients. Although this time was difficult and I did have a few problems, most of the side effects were minor and I recovered fairly quickly. I attribute much of this to a healthy lifestyle and my starting the treatments in a healthy and strong condition.
One particularly important aspect of a healthy lifestyle which is often overlooked is a positive attitude about oneself and life in general. There is no doubt in my mind that I have been able to deal with both my spinal cord injury and cancer with few medical problems because of this.
Bernie Siegl, author of "Love, Medicine and Miracles," wrote about real-life examples of exceptional cancer survivors who were able to deal with their situations successfully through the power of positive thinking and self-esteem. Research is starting to find the effects of our thinking on our immune system. Not only can a positive attitude and self-esteem help a person directly, but when you feel positive and you value yourself, you are also more likely to do the things necessary and recommended to avoid problems and recover more quickly.
Doing all the right things will never result in our avoiding all medical problems and illnesses, but this will definitely lower the risk, improve our quality of life and help us to deal more effectively with the things we are faced with. So will I continue to choose linguini marinara over fettucini or a stroll in the park over an hour of Oprah? You bet!
source : http://www.enablelink.org/
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