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| "You expect me to walk the dog every day?" |
Some readers like the nutrition posts, and I may benefit from following my own advice. My doctor told me I had low potassium and I knew I had low energy. He gave me potassium for that and I looked into possible causes. I was drinking up to 48 ounces of Diet Pepsi a day, partly to keep energy up. But it seems that all diuretics have the tendencies to lower potassium. I let the supply of Diet Pepsi run out.
There is lot to say against paying for a mixture of water, bubbles, and artificial sugars.
I only drink coffee in the morning and when someone stops by for pour-over coffee.
My A1C number has been steadily climbing, and I can get sluggish from too many carbos. The A1C number is long-term sugar levels, so a few days of monastic self-denial will not work. I told the doctor, "I have been using ice cream for stress relief." He burst out laughing and said, "Ice cream is very effective in combatting stress." I stopped buying ice cream products, which are so easy to enjoy when delivered at the door.
Eggs go well with efforts to lose weight, so I start the day with coffee first, and then with scrambled eggs and toast.
Along with milk, eggs contain the highest biological value (or gold standard) for protein. One egg has only 75 calories but 7 grams of high-quality protein, 5 grams of fat, and 1.6 grams of saturated fat, along with iron, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids.
The egg is a powerhouse of disease-fighting nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin. These carotenoids may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older adults. And brain development and memory may be enhanced by the choline content of eggs.
Walking for Health
The #1 prescription for health is walking every day. I kept my gym membership up during the Covid shut-down because I wanted to start over when things eased up. When I began, pre-Covid, I reached a point where the daily pain of being ancient largely went away. Besides that, an all-around approach is good for lower blood pressure, lower weight, and more muscular strength.
Health benefits of walking
You carry your own body weight when you walk. This is known as weight-bearing exercise. Some of the benefits include:
- increased cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness
- reduced risk of heart disease and stroke
- improved management of conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes
- stronger bones and improved balance
- increased muscle strength and endurance
- reduced body fat.
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| Ten more reps! |
