By Jean Hanson
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March 22, 2024
We are all looking for ways to stay healthy but in today’s world it’s become a huge challenge. Toxins are everywhere - in the air, in our water, even in the food we eat. Instead of filling the grocery shelves with more fruits and vegetables, grocery stores fill the aisles with processed foods with unhealthy ingredients. We all have the same goal - to stay healthy. Yet it seems almost impossible when temptation is all around us, preventing us from sticking to our goals. We love to socialize with friends and family at restaurants, but once again, we are faced with too many unhealthy choices. The other problem we have these days has to do with exercise. Too many of us sit at desks all day long. Not only does that mean we don’t get enough exercise, it also means we’re cooped up inside for most of the day. Sitting inside all day long is not only stressful, it’s a detriment to our health. So this is the battle we face every day - being surrounded by unhealthy food and an unhealthy environment. It’s no wonder we struggle with our health. Even when we try making changes to our lifestyle, it’s hard to keep up with. Something always seems to be getting in the way - no time to shop for healthy food, work demands and family obligations. How are we supposed to carve out time to stay healthy when we have so many demands on our time? As frustrating as it is, I want to encourage you not to throw in the towel. There are still things you can do if you want to stay healthy. Start by drinking at least 60 ounces of water a day. I know that sounds like a lot to some of you, so try working your way up - drinking this much water every day is critical to your health. We need water to flush toxins from our bodies, hydrate our cells and organs, and keep our bones and joints from becoming dehydrated. Another thing you can do is to limit the amount of meat you eat each week. When you do eat meat, limit your portion size. Instead, fill your plate with more vegetables. If you can cut back on meat, you’ll need to incorporate other sources of protein into your diet. Try adding more variety to your diet with protein sources like quinoa, lentils, beans and nuts. Adding more vegetables into your diet is crucial to your health. If you can, commit to eating vegetables with every lunch and dinner - it’s a great way to stay committed to incorporating more vegetables into your diet. Fruit is just as important as vegetables to your diet. And it’s a great way to curb those cravings for sugary, processed sweets. None of these changes are easy, but if you are serious about improving your health you’ll give it a try. When you can keep trying to do the right things, you’ll not only feel better about yourself, you’ll feel better about your health.