| My friend and I get the opportunity to see each | | | | patients' questions. In doing so, I sometimes even |
| other a few times a year. I met him for lunch the | | | | learn something new, but more often than not |
| other day. After we ordered, he asked about the | | | | the books leave me as confused as my patients. |
| status of my colon. I replied, "Not bad. I had a | | | | Individually, each diet book seems to make sense |
| colonoscopy last week." I asked him how his | | | | and hold merit. But the diets are often |
| hemorrhoid was doing. He said, "It's OK," and | | | | contradictory. One diet advises eating only protein, |
| added something about a new infrared procedure | | | | one carbohydrates, one bacon, one never any |
| to reduce the hemorrhoid. | | | | bacon, one eggs, one no eggs, one eggs only if |
| We looked at each other and began to laugh. | | | | you don't have an inflammatory condition, etc., |
| What in the world has happened to us? It doesn't | | | | etc. It's all very confusing and overwhelming. My |
| seem very long ago that our conversations | | | | patients say, "I give up. I'll just eat air." Then I |
| centered on girls and sports. Now they are about | | | | have to remind them that the air quality is poor... |
| the state of our health and medical procedures. | | | | Fortunately, the diet books do agree on some |
| We are getting older - not yet old, but older. And | | | | points. In order to lose weight, we need to curb |
| that's how it begins - we are hit with the | | | | our calorie intake at each meal and throughout |
| realization that the aging process is affecting us. | | | | the day. That doesn't mean we need to go |
| We have turned into our fathers. Oh, no! | | | | hungry; we must make wise choices to limit the |
| When our bodies are young, we can get away | | | | number of calories we consume. |
| with poor eating, exercise and sleeping habits. A | | | | Other recommendations most diet books agree |
| back or neck strain usually goes away in a few | | | | upon are |
| days, and we are as good as new. As we | | | | - No partially hydrogenated foods |
| approach our 30's, we often feel pretty good but | | | | - No high fructose corn syrup |
| may have added some weight to our frames. We | | | | - Naturally grown and organic foods |
| may not worry too much about that, as we are | | | | - Decreased white sugar consumption |
| sure that, just as we always have before, we | | | | - Decreased white flour consumption |
| can lose the extra five or ten pounds in a couple | | | | - Decreased starches |
| of weeks. But life can get in the way of eating | | | | - More green vegetables |
| correctly and exercising, and we give up and live | | | | - Water throughout the day |
| with the extra weight. As we get into our 40's, | | | | - No salt and fat-laden foods. |
| we might experience knee pain or some other | | | | We should avoid boxed and canned foods, as |
| minor pain that normally would have resolved in a | | | | they are usually laden with chemicals and sodium |
| few weeks all on its own. A month later, we are | | | | (salt). We need to be aware that the latest fad |
| surprised to realize that the pain is still there. | | | | diet's name on the box doesn't necessarily make |
| What's going on with our bodies? We are aging, | | | | it healthy. When fat or sugar is reduced, those |
| or, as I like to say, ripening like a fine wine. As we | | | | ingredients have to be replaced with chemicals to |
| get older, we lose the ability to recuperate as | | | | add a taste of sweetness, chemicals to hold the |
| quickly as we did when we were younger. This | | | | food product together, and/or increased sodium |
| change to our health occurs on a cellular or | | | | for preservation. |
| physiological level. The cost of not taking care of | | | | We should carefully read the ingredients in any |
| our health as we age can be monetary in the | | | | food we are considering eating. A good rule to |
| form of more visits to the doctor and other | | | | follow: If you can't pronounce or spell the name |
| health facilities, medicines, and lost days of work. | | | | of an ingredient in the food you are about to eat, |
| But the highest cost is in the loss of our most | | | | don't eat it! |
| precious gift, time - time to do what we want to | | | | It is important to learn about the glycemic index. |
| do and to live life as we want to live it. | | | | The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates |
| So what can we do to thwart this aging process? | | | | according to their effect on blood glucose (sugar) |
| We must change our lifestyle. We must consider | | | | levels after eating. Low glycemic count |
| the way we eat, sleep, exercise, and manage | | | | carbohydrates are good, as they cause only small |
| stress. But where do we begin? | | | | fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels. |
| We must begin with life sustenance - nutrition. | | | | We should avoid foods with high glycemic count. |
| Food is our fuel. Let's say you own a luxury | | | | I also recommend that my patients eat every |
| vehicle. Your owner's manual specifies premium | | | | one-and-a-half to two hours throughout the day. |
| gasoline, but you always buy the cheapest | | | | If our stomach "growls," we have waited too long |
| gasoline available. Your car begins to have | | | | to eat. We are more likely to consume more than |
| problems. You saved money initially, but now it will | | | | we need when we finally do sit down to eat. Our |
| cost you more to repair the vehicle than it would | | | | blood sugar levels will soar and then "crash," |
| have if you had taken care of it properly to begin | | | | making us feel very tired. It is better to eat at |
| with. Of course, if the car completely breaks | | | | regular intervals throughout the day, keeping |
| down due to your poor maintenance, you can | | | | sugars level and metabolism strong. |
| just get a new car. But if we continue to fuel our | | | | Modifying our diet in these ways is a lifestyle |
| bodies with poor nutrition and we break down, we | | | | change. It is best to make the change slowly and |
| can't just get a new body. | | | | in small increments. A little change at a time is |
| Unlike a car, we have many, many choices when | | | | much less likely to cause feelings of resentment |
| it comes to fuel. Our diet is an important factor | | | | and hopelessness, which can lead to giving up on |
| of the aging process. It gives us our energy and it | | | | the idea. |
| determines our weight. Everyone is looking for | | | | In addition to better nutrition, our lifestyles need |
| the "miracle diet." So what diet is best? There isn't | | | | to include proper amounts of sleep, sufficient and |
| any "best" diet! | | | | appropriate exercise, and management tools to |
| Many of my patients have lost weight on | | | | handle stress. Changing our lifestyles to include all |
| whatever fad diet was popular that month. And | | | | these aspects will slow the aging process, |
| many of my patients have gained their weight | | | | contribute to a longer life with less disease and |
| back in the same month. Most people find it | | | | pain, and maybe even make it take a little longer |
| difficult to maintain a "diet." What are the first | | | | for us to turn into our fathers or mothers. Learn |
| three letters in "diet"? That's right - "die." I have | | | | more at |
| always felt like I was dying when I was dieting. I | | | | "He who has health has hope; and he who has |
| read most of the diet books so I can answer my | | | | hope has everything. |