Advocate Your Health Care & Diet | You Are What You Eat | Fitness ...

By On May 23, 2012 Under You Are What You Eat

I know you?ve heard the saying that you are what you eat. We all talk about what we should be eating and what we shouldn?t be eating, but how seriously do we really take our nutrition? Do we really believe that food can promote or get in the way of good health? Here?s the cold hard truth: you are what you eat and you must be an advocate of your own health care and diet.

Let me tell you a short story about how my best friend learned this truth. She is about 5?2? and 110 pounds. I thought she ate a healthy diet by any standards. She worked out at one of the best gyms in her area on most days, incorporating strength training, cardio, and yoga. (Actually, she does the yoga at home. She?s an avid fan of Chalene?s Stretch 40 from the Turbofire program.) Anyway, you could have easily mistaken for a Personal Trainer. Her dedication to staying health and fitness was incredible.

She went to the doctor for an annual physical exam and was diagnosed with high cholesterol. She was somewhat perplexed since it didn?t run in her family, she didn?t eat junk like fast food, she was in good physical condition and certainly not overweight. Ok, now for the really shocking part of this story. Rather than talk to her about her diet, lifestyle or other factors that might be contributing to the problem, she received a prescription for a popular cholesterol-lowering drug. She was to take the medication daily?probably for the rest of her life.

Whoa! Back up! What happened to all that talk we are what we eat? Even though diet is so important to our health, our health care system often does not address diet. I implore you to be an advocate of your own health care and diet. Learn about nutrition and how to fuel your body.

I?m not suggesting that diet alone could remedy my friend?s high cholesterol. What she did learn is she wanted more from her health care than a prescription for medication. Some of the people in Beachbody?s test group lowered their cholesterol numbers with Shakeology which is a whole foods natural health drink. So, maybe it is true that you are what you eat?or at least you?re affected somewhat by what you eat.

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