- amcfreelancer
The Best Health Tip Ever
When you think of your overall health and wellness, one word should come to mind every time.
What is the single best health improvement tip you've ever received?
I'm sure we can list hundreds of tips for improving our overall health and well-being and in a future post, I'll discuss some of the better ones.
Today, I'd like to sum up the BEST TIP with one simple word that we should carve into our brains and incorporate into every decision we make.
Ready for it? Drumroll, please 🥁...
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will instruct his patients in care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.” Thomas Edison
PREVENTION
When I talk about prevention I'm looking at the big picture, I mean developing a prevention mindset while young in order to maintain good health throughout your lifetime.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin
In 1736, Benjamin Franklin wrote “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” to the city of Philadephia highlighting the wisdom of implementing fire prevention techniques.
Even though he wasn't talking about illness, do you notice his mindset? Franklin saw the importance of implementing strategies ahead of time before disaster strikes. Why?
Because once a fire 🔥 starts it's difficult to put out and the damage is irreversible. Franklin suggested that small and early efforts of investment would save us a ton of trouble down the line and save lives.
Can we apply this to our health? Yes!
The younger we are when we apply a prevention mindset, the better off we will be later on in life. Why?
Because once disease sets in the body it's difficult to heal and the damage can be irreversible.
There's a disconnect in this world between our actions and consequences. We seem to have forgotten that our choices in life are directly responsible for the consequences or blessings we receive.
If we invest time and effort in improving our health (physical and mental), we will reap the rewards of a happier, energetic life.
If we make poor choices, our minds and bodies reap the consequences of poor health and shorter life spans.
Take the time to observe your friends, family members, neighbors, and other people you come in contact with. Ask yourself:
How healthy are the people around me?
What health issues are they facing?
Could they have done something to help themselves while still young?
What kind of health do I want when I get older?
Taking the time to make these observations will cement in our minds the importance of having a prevention mindset.
Are You Saying It's My Fault If I'm Sick?
Not at all!
Some of us are genetically predisposed to certain diseases.
Our world is toxic! 💀 The air we breathe, the food we eat, and the thousands of chemicals we come into contact with are polluting our bodies every day. Although we can reduce our exposure we cannot escape it altogether, so we're forced to live with the side effects.
Our food mainly comes from factories, instead of the natural way God intended food to be grown (from the soil and from farms). The convenience of fast food is killing us.
Stress and anxiety are a normal part of our lives and have detrimental effects on our bodies.
Over the years much misinformation has been presented about nutrition, diets, and pharmaceutical drugs. False information can hurt us and at times prove fatal.
Wise King Solomon stated "for a time of misfortune comes to all alike" (Ecclesiastes 9:11) meaning we are susceptible to accidents and injuries through no fault of our own.
My goal isn't to blame or pick on anyone but to wake people up and inspire them to adopt the prevention mindset, especially the younger generations.
Even though we cannot control every aspect of our lives and our health, there is still MUCH we can do to help ourselves.
When Should Prevention Start?
The problem with prevention is starting too late. Prevention should start in the womb!
New mommies: Are you trying to get pregnant or are already expecting? Now is the time to think about you and your baby's nutritional needs. Eating organic veggies, taking adequate folate and vitamin D will help PREVENT deficiencies in your baby. Educate yourself by doing research.
Parents: The perfect food for infants is breastmilk and babies should be breastfed for as long as the mother can remain healthy. As children grow they will need a variety of vegetables, healthy grains, and fruits. Avoid candy, soda, juice, additives, and junk foods to PREVENT cavities, obesity, and a ton of other ailments. Set your children up for SUCCESS at an early age.
Tweens and teens: Your bodies are undergoing rapid changes and hormones are raging. There's much you can do at this age to prepare for a healthy future! Avoid bad habits such as smoking and don't drink alcohol. Learn how to eat healthy foods! Eating right doesn't have to be boring. Learn how to cook and enjoy a variety of vegetables. You can PREVENT acne by avoiding sugar, dairy, junk, and processed foods.
Young Adults (18-35): The furthest thing from your mind is what your 50's will be like. I certainly never thought about how I would feel as I got older, my mind stopped at 30! If you haven't led a life of prevention, NOW is the absolute time to do it. Wait any longer and it could be too late! The damage accumulates in your body like a slow sizzling fire 🔥(inflammation) and if the fire isn't tamed the damage will soon become irreversible.
Having a prevention mindset means thinking beyond how you feel right now. It requires forethought...how will you feel years down the road as a result of the small choices you make today?
Should I eat this?
Or this?
“Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account.” Anne Wilson Schaef
Older Adults: If you mistreated your body or made poor decisions for 30 years or more, you cannot expect quick results if you wish to make changes. Some damage cannot be undone or it may take longer for your body to heal but your body will still thank you! Don't give up!
My father is genetically predisposed to diabetes (his mother had it) and now that he is in his 60's he is learning to control it by diet. It's not easy but the rewards are many!
Your Action Items
Do an honest self-assessment. What are you doing to take care of that precious body and mind of yours? You only get one body in a lifetime!
Check your family history. We don't have to be doomed to disease just because of our genes however you might have to work a little harder. If your family has a history of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, it's critical to act ASAP to counteract those diseases.
Inspire Others
Don't just be shy! We'd love to be inspired by you. Please tell us what has helped YOU to be a healthier and happier person.
What is the best health improvement tip you've learned?
Send me your comments and I will gather all of your answers and share them with our community! Here are 3 ways to send me your tips...
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Go to the Contact page and fill out the Drop Me a Line Anytime form (private message).
Post your thought on Train of Truth's Facebook.
“It is health that is the real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver.” Mahatma Gandhi