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Last week, I discussed the importance of exercise to help in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. This week, I want to continue with other areas researchers feel are essential to keeping yourself healthy, and best practices to keeping Alzheimer's disease at bay.
Just like Alzheimer's disease, several other diseases diagnosed such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cancer, high cholesterol, and so on, all say living a healthy lifestyle is the first, and most important factor, in staying healthy longer. These habits are essential to long-term health benefits.
The need to exercise, get enough sleep (the always recommended eight hours per night) and to eat a healthy diet, are at the forefront of how to stay healthy.
Several diets are out there and picking the best one can be difficult. Do you only eat protein and vegetables and stay away from carbohydrates (KETO); only eat once a day and fast the rest of the time (intermittent fasting); only eat meats for the most part (iarnivore) or is breakfast still the most important meal of the day? It seems all nutritionists and research shows the diet with the most promise and most recommended is the Mediterranean diet. This diet includes fresh vegetables and fruits, olive oil, whole grains, nuts, legumes, fish, moderate amounts of poultry, eggs, and dairy and moderate amounts of red wine, and red meat only sparingly. The above allows for healthy fats, wine, dairy, and fruit. These foods are essential to overall health but it seems that most Americans find it hard to stick to the Mediterranean Diet guidelines. Why is that? All food and drinks listed above are at your everyday grocery store, giving easy access to whatever is needed so that is not the issue.
My thoughts on this...since the diet is actually named after a region of Europe (southern Spain, southern Italy, and Crete) people living there eat this way on the norm, which includes children. The children are raised on fresh food, fresh fish, and olive oil. I would hate to see what the American Diet might look like? Chicken nuggets, fries, sugar cereals, etc. And please reader, no letters. I know several wonderful people who feed their children healthy, balanced meals, but I also know how often parents hit a drive thru after baseball practice or before school starts. I think the food equates to how busy families are and sometimes parents only have 10 minutes to get their second child to his or her practice. I, myself have made several poor food decisions and I only had 1 child.
My best advice for changing your eating habits -- preparing food ahead of time. Baggies of fresh fruit and veggies packed in a small cooler for evening running of kids. Cooking chicken and fish two days of the week, so heating it up again for another meal is easy. Order a meal plan that offer the Mediterranean diet. It is packaged in dry ice, and delivered straight to your doorstep. A lot of stores have healthier options and most have an aisle dedicated to the healthier options. Keep high sugar items out of your house and replace with fresh fruits and veggies. Believe me, your body will thank you.
Remember, plan ahead and see food as fuel for your body.