Did you know that one out of every two deaths in this country is as a result of heart disease of some sort? Did you know that one out of three deaths (that's two-thirds of the rest) are from cancer? That means that five out of every six deaths in the United States is from failure of the heart and from cancer. In many cases, these problems are preventable if you live a healthy lifestyle.
According to a recent study from MSNBC, 41 percent of adults either smoke or are overweight. At the same time, most overweight people don't acknowledge their own condition. And yet basic weight management is a critical component of keeping your heart (and the rest of your body) healthy for a lifetime.
The heart performs a singular mission: get oxygen to every part of your body, all day, every day. Anything that impedes that process affects your energy, your ability to concentrate and learn, your emotions and moods, and your performance in everything you do. Taking care of the heart should be the foundation of any health regimen.
There are also strong links between low oxygen levels in the body and cancer. In 1931, Dr. Otto Warburg won the Nobel prize performing research on cancer and oxygen, and stated, "The prime cause of cancer is the replacement of normal oxygen respiration of body cells by an anaerobic cell respiration." Since then, it has been confirmed that low oxygen and high acidity environments in the body are thriving places for cancerous growth. How do you keep oxygen levels up and acidity levels down?
There are many resources out there to help you get healthy and stay healthy. At their core, the preach a simple motto: basic diet and exercise... keep the heart healthy and the body active. The most important factor in choosing a strategy is simply selecting one that you will actually follow daily.
By keeping in basic shape, you will have more energy, more fun, and a longer, happier life. Isn't it worth it?
Other news
- Want to quit smoking? Phizer's Chantix has a new drug that lessens the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine [www.healthday.com].
- Need help knowing where or how to start getting in shape? Here's a good guide to starting an exercise program [www.primusweb.com].
- Eating right is another cornerstone of maintaining your health. Here's a nutrition plan for beginners [www.mercola.com].
From the editor
Basic fitness and diet are critical to long-term health and happiness. Most people, when they decide to get in shape, try to do too much, too fast and fail as a result. This can take the form of New Year's resolutions, "get ready for summer" or "crash" diets, and other impulsive decisions.
I'd like to suggest a different approach. It has long been known that the mind gravitates to what it knows, what it's familiar with (a.k.a. the "comfort zone"). Instead of trying to change everything all at once, how about moving your comfort zone a little every month or every week?
Creating a habit of making small changes regularly will result in a lifetime of improvement and growth, and a much higher likelihood of success with each change you make. One or two changes a month, over years, adds up, similar to the way compound interest becomes a powerful force over time.
Pick one thing to change today. Make it useful AND attainable. Decide you won't have more than one serving of dessert, candy, or junk food in a day, for instance, or that you will go for a 30 minute walk three times a week no matter what. Write it down, put reminders where you will see them, and commit to do it for a month. After a month, add one more thing. Over time, you'll see what works and what doesn't, and you'll begin to look forward to instituting the next step.
So pick something now. Email me and tell me what it is. Be sure to tell me your name and what city you're in. I'll put some of the goals I receive in the next newsletter.
Healthy thoughts,
Jeff
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