The link between diet and health
Did you know that having a poor diet is a leading cause of death in the United States? Or that it can cause pre-mature mortality and disability? What we eat directly links with our overall health and health outcomes when faced with illness. Yet, so many of us overlook the value of nutrition’s role on our quality of life. There are diet fads today, many geared towards our physical appearance and body image. This seems to be a great motivator to promote weight loss and dietary changes, greater than the simple fact that our body’s need ample nutrition for better mood, disease prevention, and general wellbeing. In my opinion, the external benefits are secondary to the internal benefits and longevity gained from proper nutrition.
For instance, being overweight makes many people feel insecure of their bodies, which can be an excellent motivator to implement lifestyle changes. However, what many do not consider is that with time, being overweight due to poor diet or lack of exercise can cause chronic pain and significant mobility issues later in life. I mean, why strive to live a long life if we cannot do the things we most enjoy. We often under appreciate simple daily gifts, such as the ability to walk.
Working with older adults has gifted me with daily reminders of the huge impact neglecting our health now can have later in life. Something many of us forget, considering our hectic schedules and fast paced lives. From my experience, those faced with progressive chronic illness regret not taking better care of themselves.
My goal is not to scare anyone, or fear aging. My goal is to encourage everyone to show love to their bodies by taking care of them, embracing and promoting graceful aging. Although biological aging is inevitable, why not give our bodies a fighting chance to age well through diet & lifestyle.
To simplify things, and reduce the jargon I have created a straight forward equation:
Healthy Diet= Reduced risk of developing obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer = Increased longevity, vitality, quality of life.
Recommended Wellness Action Step:
Consult with a provider, nutritionist, or dietician for dietary recommendations.
What is one item you can remove or reduce from your daily intake that can improve your health? Or, what is one item you can add to your daily intake to improve your health?
References
Colditz, Seres, Givens. 2023. Healthy diet in adults. Uptodate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/healthy-diet-in-adults?search=diet%20journal&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=2#H25
