How Diet And Exercise Plays Into Health...

Quite possibly Diet and Exercise hold two of the most critical elements that directly affect all aspects of our health...for todays discussion I will focus on issues that concern diet.

It has been said that "you are a product of what you eat". That is so true. Our fast-paced lifestyle comprised of racing to and from meetings, kids (if you have them), multi-tasking, IPHONES, text messaging, "Tweeting" on Twitter, blogging, etc..., etc... and the list goes on! Proper diet becomes part of the "ambient noise" in the background...a critical no-no!

We are seeing a constant rise in childhood obesity, diabetes, elevated cholesterol...yes these are all being frequently seen in teenagers, not just middle age baby boomers! Our health, due to poor diet, is truly a product of our lifestyle. Trans Fats, High Fructose Corn Syrup, & Refined Sugars, added to a heavy meat diet are pushing our health limits to critical mass! Cancer is on the rise. We are in meltdown mode. Medical costs continue to increase. More and more people are having to choose between eating correctly and paying bills...you know the answer there.

It has been well-documented how consumption of refined sugars have contributed to tooth decay, obesity, diabetes, elevated lipid levels that over time contribute significantly to cardiovascular disease, among other health problems. We have heard so many "buzz words" about Trans Fats and how harmful they can be to our bodies.

I would like to focus on another aspect that relates directly to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes...it is High Fructose Corn Syrup. According to Gabe Mirkin, M.D., "there are documented studies that fructose is processed differently in the body than sugar. Glucose causes the Pancreas to release Insulin which drives sugar from the bloodstream into the cells. Glucose causes fat cells to release Leptin that makes you feel full so you eat less. Glucose also prevents the stomach from releasing Ghrelin that makes you hungry. On the other hand, fructose does not cause fat cells to release Leptin and does not suppress Ghrelin. This means that fructose increases hunger to make you eat more. Furthermore, the liver converts fructose far more readily to a body fat called Triglyceride, than it does with glucose. High Tryglyceride levels raise blood levels of the bad LDL Cholesterol and lower blood levels of the good HDL Cholesterol which increase the chance for developing cardiovascular disease." Not only do we feel like eating more, but more fat cells are stored, so we are hit with a two-pronged attack. The lobbyists in the corn industry do not want you to know how bad this is. They proclaim that this type of sweetener is "natural". What difference does that make when the product not only interferes with the hormonal balance related to control of our intake, but also causes the liver to store more fat cells.

It is important to become a "label reader" when at the grocery store. Take for example many processed cereals...they will show lower amounts of sugar, but High Fructose Corn Syrup is added as an adjunct to the sweetening process. Most people will not pay much attention to this element as it seems rather innocuous in nature....buyer beware.

We are living longer. At the same time we are exhibiting more serious, preventable diseases. The process to change ones diet can be challenging. It requires self-discipline and motivation.
However when an individual chooses to change their lifestyle, significant improvements will be noticed in a short period of time. It may be weight loss, better sleep patterns, increased energy, better immunity among others...but you will see a positive change.

A study, released by Johns Hopkins University, discussing alternative forms of cancer treatment brought to light some serious issues. "We all have cancer cells in our bodies. These cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell their cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after undergoing treatment...it just means the tests are not able to detect the cells because of their size."

Cancer cells feed on refined sugars. Don't get this confused with the sugar that occurs in fruits and other natural sources, such as honey and molasses. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat based diet is acidic. It is best to eat fish and moderate amounts of chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful.

A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruit will help put the body in an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food, including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed for building healthy cells and reach down to cell levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells.
Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the the intestines putrefies which leads to more toxic buildup.

Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By reducing or eliminating the consumption of meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of these cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy them. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the patient be a survivor...emotional health...a positive spirit...so important!

My next post will tie it all together, as we discuss how exercise positively impacts our health from all aspects...Stay tuned...