The Fat-Sugar-Salt Diet has proven to be astonishingly effective in ruining the health of America - at a great financial cost in buying the chosen foods. Yesterday the pharmacy tech said, "Only one prescription?" I said, "That is why I am healthy - only one prescription, for my eyes."
Studies have shown that those who concentrate on vegetables, fresh fruit, nuts, and seeds will enjoy cascades of great nutrition and loss of weight. Many disorders - like diabetes - can be cured without needles and pills, especially useful since insulin itself harms health.
But now let us turn to the other side of health - exercise. It took me some years to realize how seductive the sugar and fat components produce such powerful addictions. When we exert ourselves, the body uses fast-acting sugar to get going, often called the glycogen (sugary) stage. That is when we have no desire to move an inch, so we make coffee and cinnamon-sugar toast - or Danish! Once that glycogen wears off, we want more sugar and even less exercise.
We feel much better and want exercise when the fat-burning begins. That is why the start of a morning walk is odious at first on sugar and the end of the walk is delightful by burning fat. Fat is powerful and is an 8 cylinder engine compared to a 4 cylinder, rocket fuel instead of artificial maple syrup.
High blood sugar is indicated by the constant fake need to consume even more sugar. Ice cream, colas, and breakfast and "protein" bars are one way to start the day and run into a sugared-energy slump.
Dr. Joel Fuhrman's books reminded me that strenuous exercise is needed most days, not just once or twice a week. I tried five days at the gym, for two weeks in a row. I was much more energetic from daily exercise than using on and off attempts.
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| Some food items to ignore - snacks of sugar, salt, and oil; processed expensive food; desserts; famously fat foods - white bread, white rice, milk, all cheeses, butter, cottage cheese, nutrition bars and plans, protein drinks, meats in large quantities. |
Exercise
More important - exercise is most significant in strengthening bones, building muscles, and helping connective tissue in reducing injuries. Many people I know are battling bone breaks, knee and hip replacements.
Medicare offers a program called Silver Sneakers for free gym membership. That is a good way to obtain guided exercise instead of hospitalization.
I start out each weekday on the dread-mill, a machine that makes me stare at a wall of TV screens, walking with no sound. A 30 minute exercise room has a gauntlet of machines for every body part. Afterwards, I stop at the gardening store or Walmart for more walking.
Exercise gurus emphasize modest starts and a slow, steady increase in effort. Gardening is a good way to do extra work while enjoying God's Creation. The creatures enjoy the company. Rabbits casually walk by when I am digging. Birds remind me they have babies to feed. Squirrels run away from food and stop, flicking their tails and figuring out a quick return to the food. The more fresh water I provide, the dirtier the water features. "Aha! You are feeding the soil, so I can have more plants to feed more creatures to beautify the garden to make the snap, crackle, and pop relax my spine."
Walking and Biking
My vegetable consultant wrote, reminding me how useful walking can be. A gym is not for everyone, for various reasons. Walking is enjoyable and very good for the individual. One quip is "Anyone who walks is moving that much faster than a couch." Regular walkers or bikers crave the hobby. Sassy insisted on one or two walks a day, in all kinds of weather, and that built up many neighborhood friends as well.
