Life Lessons: This seems such a simplistic topic to write about especially if you thought you were taking good care of your health and yourself. Here is a short summary (not in any order) of activities I didn't necessarily think about when I was much younger, but perhaps should have. How about you?
😊** The shortest distance between two people is a smile **😊
Life Lessons ...
- Your Health is Number One especially as you age (frankly at any time of life). Also check with your family physician if you are considering taking supplements, especially if you are on multiple prescription drugs
- Diet: What you eat is so important - i.e. Eat Real Food. Sugar and processed foods were not an issue in my life when I was growing up. Eggs are an easy meal at any time of the day
- Be proactive with your own health, ask questions of your health team - all the time & expect an answer and check if this is the best option for you. Definition: Proactive: If you are proactive, you make things happen, instead of waiting for them to happen to you. So if you are proactive, you are ready before something happens.
- Medications : Check out alternatives which may be more beneficial or less costly including medical care, devices, drugs (including prescription), etc. Are they all a necessity, have side effects or interact with other medications you take? If you are a senior, here are some financial tips from the Government of Canada.
- Exercise - walk, swim, bicycle, garden and get some Vitamin D from the sunshine on a regular basis. Any time of year is a good time to make a resolution to change not only at New Years.
- Live Life ! Smile more - Laugh often - Spend time with family, friends & people, and "things" you enjoy and love like visiting new places, for example, Vancouver Island.
- Believe ... have hope, faith, joy and happiness daily
"Jumping for JOY is good exercise"
Life Lessons : Today's Big Three
- A recent study stated alcohol use is a leading risk fact for death globally (2018). If you are a habitual and excessive alcohol consumer, perhaps now is a good time to reduce the amount and frequency of your drinking.
- Tobacco kills half its users which equates to millions of smokers world wide each year. It is so obvious, give up smoking tobacco and / or vaping and seek help if necessary
- In today's world the third human killer is Obesity and related diseases. This is a new global epidemic. Amazing!
"Cigarette smoking causes premature death:
- Life expectancy for smokers is at least 10 years shorter than for nonsmokers.
- Quitting smoking before the age of 40 reduces the risk of dying from smoking-related disease by about 90%
Quote from: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Globally, the top diseases are more than likely heart disease and cancers but all of the Big Three (above) are contributing factors to these diseases. Statistics are based on "high income countries", such as USA, and a high percentage of the diseases are what are known as "Lifestyle Diseases".
"Over time, high blood glucose from diabetes can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart and blood vessels. The longer you have diabetes, the higher the chances that you will develop heart disease. People with diabetes tend to develop heart disease at a younger age than people without diabetes."
Above quote from "Diabetes, Heart Disease & Stroke" from National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases
Dr Aseem Malhotra with the latest on Heart Disease - an interview from Ivor Cummins - 20 minute video
Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape
In closing ...
A major change for our family was no longer eating added sugars, reducing processed food in our diet and cooking from scratch. Check out item #4 in article "Time for a Change" from 2011. Thanks Dr "J". The major positive health change for our family was switching to a Low Carbohydrate lifestyle several years ago, reversing diagnosed prediabetes and stopped taking statins.
This overview of Life Lessons, for all of us, are a reminder that we may need help to get on track for a healthier lifestyle to prevent these diseases and possible premature death.
Please check out the references and make 2020 a year of positive change for you and your family.
LAUGHTER is contagious!
Start an epidemic!
Links & References:
- Globally bad diets are killing more people, The Guardian, April 2019
- "The #Sugar / #Cancer Connection" - If you have cancer please take time to watch this short video by Dr Lewis Cantley & pass it on ❤️
- What is Metabolic Syndrome anyway with Dr Robert Lustig
- ... and the answer is Eat Real Food : "The Bottom Line on Processed Food Toxicity" Dr. Robert Lustig interviewed by Ivor Cummins (May 2019) - a 36 minute video
- "Reversing Type 2 Diabetes - lots of options & helpful information here
- Diabetes & Cancer: A Comprehensive Review (2019) US National Library of Medicine
- "Link between Diabetes & Cancer Risk firmly established"
- Quotes from Barbara Johnson
"Our five senses are incomplete without the sixth
- a sense of humour"
Note: This article was written before March, 2020 before self-isolation, social distancing, travel restrictions, etc. due to Covid-19
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