What makes one person seemingly healthy and another one not? Is it bad luck, poor lifestyle or a bunch of factors?
Something I believe pretty strongly in is the power of mindset. It came to me one very cold morning when I saw a man coming out of a coffee shop with shorts on. As we passed one another, I smiled and said “Shorts?” He smiled back and said “It’s all in the mind.”
My beloved 98 year old aunt passed away recently after many years of physical frailties. She was of sound and determined mind, and she made it clear that frailty was not a topic she discussed willingly. She much preferred hearing about the latest love interests or travel plans of her extended family. I can’t say for sure, but something tells me this mindset of hers allowed her to endure her physical frailties in a way someone with less psychic strength might have found impossible.
Does Health Decline Automatically as We Age?
Our culture has a pretty weird mindset when it comes to health, especially when coupled with aging. Without an awareness that these beliefs are simply a cultural mindset and not actual facts, it’s easy to slide into passive acceptance of any and all ailments, especially once past age 50. I think it explains why the average number of prescriptions filled also increases with age, from 13 for those age 50 to 64 to 22 for those age 80 and older
There is no question that as we age we need to take better care of ourselves if we want to prevent illness and decline. By age 50 most have had their share of bumps and bruises, both physically and emotionally, and have been living on a planet whose air we breathe, water we drink and food we eat continues to be polluted by an ever growing array of chemicals.
Here is where mindset comes in. We know we’re getting older. We know the planet has its share of pollutants that can challenge our health. But if we embrace a mindset that says we will do everything we can to minimize our environmental exposures, we increase our odds of being on the plus side of the health or wellness scale.
In my practice I keep my focus on two things: how eating simple whole foods can put an end to dieting and can put the focus on where it belongs - eating clean high nutrient foods; and how deepening awareness of the way a balanced lifestyle nourishes and supports lasting health.
Food is powerful. Changing food choices from highly processed, chemicalized foods to organic whole foods will change your appetite, your energy and your health.
For example, cravings are one of the most common causes of overeating. Cravings can come from exposure to poor quality foods that sit on the table at work, or from media ads, or from the brain crying out for food because what has been consumed already had no nutrients in it. When high nutrient foods are eaten in the first place, there will be far fewer cravings.
Optimize the Power of Food
Here are some tips for optimizing the power of food:
- Don’t let yourself get too hungry
- Buy simple whole foods, organic whenever possible
- Always include your favorite vegetables, fruits and a protein source like peanut butter, grass fed meat, organic tofu, Greek yogurt, nuts, beans and lentils
- hang out with people who eat healthy and have a positive health mindset
What Works for You?
If you have ideas to share abut food that have helped you stay well, share hem in the comments section below.