Learn how to Prevent the Preventable!

by Cindy Gering

With spring right around the corner and somewhat already here, how are you preparing to get or stay fit and healthy?  The seasons bring with them different approaches and opportunities regarding fitness and health.  Perhaps you will soon begin to plant a garden in order to have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables on hand.  The nice weather may cause you to dust off the bicycle and go biking or jogging in the afternoons.  One of the ways we can stay “fresh” and motivated in these areas is to learn about new approaches, philosophies and even new recipes to keep things interesting. 

Every day, we make choices that pertain to our health and fitness, among other things.  There are things at the grocery store that I will never buy now, but would purchase occasionally in my more naive years.   I have learned to make some foods from scratch in order to avoid preservatives and fillers used in many “shelf” and processed foods. A good rule of thumb is to shop the perimeter of the store first, then work through the inside isles. Most of your shopping cart should be filled with the “outside” items such as dairy, meat and produce.    

My tendency is to cook wonderful, comfort foods that I learned to love at my mother’s knee. I certainly don’t throw those recipes out, but I do look at how I can revise them a bit to make them friendlier because they are healthier and lighter! Need an example? A great one is to substitute applesauce for oil when baking! If you don’t want to go all the way, do half and half. Using whole wheat flour is another great substitute that lets you stay away from refined, processed flour. 

It’s also important to become more knowledgeable about your family history and diseases that are prominent in our society.  Diabetes and heart disease are dramatically on the increase.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that by 2050, one out of three adults will have diabetes if current trends continue.  We are also seeing a rise in children with this disease.  Our bodies gradually change with every birthday and so we must learn how to prevent the things that are preventable.  (CDC also states that “Type 2 diabetes [which accounts for 90-95% of cases] can be prevented through healthy food choices, physical activity, and weight loss.”)  When we educate ourselves about these things,we are accepting a more responsible and aggressive role in our personal health.

I believe we should always have a teachable spirit and be in the mode of learning how we can better ourselves, ultimately so that we can fulfill God’s plan for our lives, one day at a time, and bring honor and credit to Him. So, open a book, or even go online and educate yourself on some healthy alternatives in food and exercise. The more knowledge we have of these things, the more likely we are to prevent the preventable!  No matter how many birthdays we have, let’s never get too old to learn!