Keep Moving and Eat Well

Some people think that no matter how "healthy" their diet is they can slack on the workouts. Not so! The key to good health is a diet high in a variety of vegetables, fruits, with seeds, grains and some nuts minimizing(if not eliminating) animal proteins of all kinds. This means dairy, meats, fish, and eggs of all kinds. I know you are thinking, " But Lise! That is NOT what the mainstream media has been saying! How can you say that and why?!" Easy...because it is the truth, that is why. The mainstream "healthy diet" has always pushed high protein foods, pegging animal based proteins as the best source for muscle building and repair. Yes, animal based proteins do help these cells increase at a high level...but at what cost? The cells that are also being nourished are diseased cells. Cancer cells, and such are not left out when the time for reproduction of cells occurs. On the contrary, there is no preference in this process. ALL cells are nourished, even the bad ones.

It's not because we need to all hold hands and sing happy songs that I am saying that the plant based diet is the way to go, (although I am sure it wouldn't hurt in the same respect). I say this because it is the wide variety of disease fighting antioxidants in plants that the body needs and uses to get what it truly needs. There are no micro nutrients and antioxidants in animal proteins. Vitamin D is added to milk, and high animal protein intake actually blocks the absorption of Vitamin D, and calcium for that matter!! The animal may have Vitamin D in it...but it made that for it's own use, just as our bodies do! We can't absorb the animal's source for our own use, it doesn't work. Go to www.tcolincampbell.org, or read the Harvard Nurses Study for information regarding vitamin D and calcium absorption and release from increased animal proteins. John Robbins also wrote a great book called "The Food Revolution" which sites this study and I feel should be required reading for every person in the country.

That is why high animal protein consumption is linked to colorectal cancers ( and other forms) as we make our own from sunlight. And popping a vitamin isn't the answer. It can be used as a compliment to a diet lacking, but the only true way to ensure these nutrients and proper absorption of them is to eat the vegetables and fruits themselves, and get some daylight for about 10 minutes or so a day.

If you don't like vegetables, dress them up a bit. Add lemon, or hummus, or a bit of orange juice to add flavor you like. Even a touch of pomegranate adds a nice flavor to say...brussel sprouts. Okay, a big touch, but the point is if you don't eat what your body truly needs, and eat what the major companies are telling you to eat simply because they sell it ( or are working with those that do) you will become ill. It may not happen all at once, but it will happen eventually. Sadly these diseases come in the form of not just cancer, but M.S., Fibromyalgia, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and many other forms of cardiovascular disease.

As for the workouts, start light and go for a walk or a swim, or even do some chair workouts if you can't get up and walk around! How? Grab a resistance chord or some light dumbbells, and start doing reps that you can handle to get your body moving. Doing light repetitions ( the same movement over and over) to start with, and getting up to the point where you can do 20 to 25 reps at a time is ideal! Don't ever think that it is too late or that it won't help, because it will. Get your heart rate up for 20 to 30 minutes a day for good cardiovascular health and prevention of disease! It can be done and YOU can do it! Not moving has the same effect on your cardiovascular system as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day! You can fix that! Keep moving, and eat well, and you will feel amazing!Add resistance training to help build strong bones and muscles and be strong no matter what your age or fitness level. Even if it takes a little while to get there, you can do it!!! Get moving, and eat your veggies and you can be Healthy at 100!