Calories in, Calories out, right? But, what is the quality of your calories?
I have tried several “diet plans.” I’ve ordered food, followed menus and checked off points. It all comes down to calories in vs. calories burned. Why do I need someone else to think for me? Food choices are all within my control. Am I eating junk food that makes my body work to recover from or am I eating food that feeds my body down to the cellular level and allows it to thrive? Am I adding to my life or adding to disease?
The author T. Collin Campbell discusses his experience with increasing protein in undernourished children. They still developed disease, and he wasn’t sure why. Children were not dying of protein deficiency unless they were utterly malnourished ~ starving. He embarked on an unprecedented study of the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease and discusses his findings in the book The China Study. He realized that people thrived best when they ate more plant-based foods, limiting meat and dairy type of protein. He studied the eating habits and disease patterns across China before the western style of eating had been imported. Dr. Campbell called this new way of eating Whole Food Plant Based.
Reading this book convinced me that I could achieve my long term health goals. Knowledge is power. There isn’t a well-funded broccoli lobby pounding you with advertising about the benefits of broccoli. But there are well-funded junk food companies spending millions to entice you into eating their processed food.
A friend recently commented that now that she was retired she was going to eat and drink whatever and however much she wanted. Sadly, I know that is a typical thought pattern as we age.
The years of 50 and beyond can be great years if we take good care of ourselves. This time in our life is not the time to overindulge just because we can. This time in our life is the time to focus on aging well because poor health is costly and not at all enjoyable.
One of my goals after turning 50 was to avoid needing meds to function. I wanted to avoid statins for high cholesterol, insulin for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure meds, etc. I wanted to avoid the common medicines needed when we make poor lifestyle choices. To accomplish this particular goal, I needed to educate myself about the lifestyle choices I was making that would contribute to these issues. Reading The China Study by Dr. Campbell and his next book Whole helped me gain a new perspective on food.
Refreshed Cowboy Caviar is one of my most popular recipes. Yum!
Enjoy your day!
XOXO ~ B ~
Disclaimer: This is my story. This is not to be used as medical advice. Always consult with your doctor regarding your health.