(Food-Beverage-News.Com, January 09, 2014 ) Dothan, AL – January has been declared National Family Fit Lifestyle Month. This is a good time to review lifestyle choices that may be increasing health risks and make changes necessary to fend off disease. A fit lifestyle is all-inclusive. It should pervade every aspect of a person’s life.
According to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition about 33% of adults and 17% of children in the United States are obese. Over the past years it has been drilled into our heads that obesity causes a multitude of health complications from heart problems to diabetes to cancer and can lead to an early grave. The Council has even added a dollar amount to what obesity costs us- almost 42% more for medical care than non-obese people.
It’s easy to jump on the obesity bandwagon, but an unfit lifestyle does not just include obesity. It includes unhealthy activities such as smoking which is believed to be one of the leading causes of lung disease and can also lead to an early grave. Eating foods that are full of sugars and fats along with over consumption of red meats can also lead to health problems. The USDA has a downloadable brochure written for both children and adults to teach healthy nutritional choices (http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/teamupbooklet.pdf).
The first part to becoming fit is to be active. Some of the effects of unhealthy eating or other aspects of unhealthy lifestyles can be overcome simply by being active and raising metabolism. (Being active should not be an excuse to maintain other unfit areas of our lives though!) Some health experts recommend going for a walk after a meal. Although almost any activity is better than sitting on the sofa, recreation that increases the heart rate and works muscle groups is considered much more beneficial than simple walks. The website, http://letsmove.gov, has many ideas for activities that the entire family can get into.
Furthermore, a fit lifestyle includes mental fitness. Our brains need exercise too. A sedentary brain becomes slower at processing information and some medical reports are now showing that onset of symptoms for some diseases such as Alzheimer’s may be pushed back if the brain has been kept active. Watching TV is essentially a sedentary mental process as information comes into the brain but receives minimal thought, therefore a person should engage in activities such as calculating math problems mentally, solving puzzles, trying to recall lists of items and memorizing passages, playing strategy games with other people, taking a class or even learning a foreign language. All of these are activities that stimulate brain cells.
Maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle is important for all aspects of life. Employees tend to work better, families tend to get along more if healthy lifestyles are a focal point of life. A key ingredient in maintaining a fit lifestyle is finding things that are enjoyed. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new, healthy foods to increase the palate of flavors that can be eaten. Finding physical and mental activities that a person really likes to do will, by that nature, encourage the person to perform the activity a regular basis. Living a fit lifestyle does not have to be, nor should it be boring!
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