It's Time for a Good Change
By Stephen R. Farris
For most baby boomers, eating a more healthy diet was something we grew up with. Meals were prepared at home and eating out was a luxury and usually reserved for special occasions. As we grew up and left home for college or beginning a new career, cooking at home became less and shifted to consuming our meals at restaurants, particularly the ones of the fast-food variety. How many of you remember your moms telling you to make sure you eat good and not be eating a lot of junk? Ring a bell?
Let's face it. Life has become incredibly fast-paced and grabbing a burger, tacos, or maybe a pizza is the norm; we all spend more of our time away from our homes these days, and seldom feel like cooking when we are. This particular lifestyle is not only unhealthy, but consuming these types of food daily -- combined with less physical activity -- could lead to some major health issues down the road, if it hasn't already.
Even in our fast-paced lifestyle, there is still hope and several ways we can change the trend and start getting healthier and fit.
Changing Your Meal Plans
Eating more green vegetables, consuming healthy fats, and certain seafood are among some of the foods that can lead to making a change within your body. A more healthier change, that is. Your doctor and/or chiropractor can give you some guidelines and tips to eating healthy.
Lowering Cholesterol and Blood Pressure
Healthy eating can also lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Cutting out your daily input of carbohydrates and sugars would be a good start. Changing your eating style can also reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Changes have also been made in the American College of Cardiology (ACA) and the American Heart Association (AHA) high blood pressure guidelines and categories. Currently, hypertension range has been changed from 140/90 to 130/80. This lower number (130/80) is now considered the start of stage 1 hypertension. The higher it is, the more dangerous to your health it becomes.
Maintain and Be More Active
Setting weight loss goals and maintaining them, combined with an exercise regimen, are key components in helping you regain control. Cutting out tobacco products and reducing alcohol intake can also take a load off your heart.
By making the simplest of changes in your diet and physical activity can make a huge difference in your health and well-being. Make sure that you consult with your doctor and/or chiropractor to see what they suggest as the steps you'll need to take in getting started on a lifestyle change for the better.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Bloomingdale, Ill.