Health is our greatest treasure
In her book, “Day By Day With Your Health Adviser,” Beverly Chesser confides, “At the age of twenty seven, I was a physical wreck. Diagnosed as having ninety different allergies, onset diabetes, and early sign of asthma. I wondered, “How could I have so many physical problems?" I knew the answer.
"For ten years I had totally neglected my health. My eating habits were atrocious; I smoked, and I had no time for exercise. My lifestyle was killing me, and I knew I had to do something about it.
"First, I stopped smoking. At the same time, I started riding an exercise bike, lifting weights, and going to the spa three times a week.
"When I joined the spa and began my exercise program, little did I know that my entire life would change. Although it was a constant struggle to build up my sick body I could feel myself getting better day by day.
"With my energy and health restored the allergies, depression and asthma faded away. I promised myself to live this way for the rest of my life.”
Chesser's story reminded of what the cardiologist said to a relative, “No matter how many medicine we take, if we don’t eat the right food, if we don’t avoid stress, if we don’t exercise, and don’t get the right amount of sleep and rest, we will still get sick. A drugstore of medicine doesn’t guarantee that you’ll never get sick.”
Chesser suggests that we should take care of our body. Hence, she shares the following insights:
Do you know that a simple walk around the block could help save your life? According to the American Heart Association, even leisurely activities can have an effect on your heart and your life — whether they are light, moderate, or intense. A light activity is anything from bowling to raking leaves. Moderate activities include gardening or ballroom dancing, and intense activities are back-packing, jogging, fast walking, and shoveling snow.
The higher activity level, the lower the rate of heart disease, but even lower levels of physical activity still provide some protection from heart disease.
Does eating fat really make you fat? Yes. Foods high in fat stay in your stomach longer after you eat than low-fat foods. Your stomach almost entirely empties within three hours following a meal, but fried potatoes may still be in your stomach the next day. Fat makes you fat because it slows the digestion and absorption of food.
When you look at your plate and see fat, remember "the fat you eat is the fat you wear.” Too much fat causes weight gain and a slowing of the digestion and proper absorption of food. When we eat too much fat, this causes us to store much cholesterol, and this in turn, contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and other serious illnesses.
As a final shot, Chesser exclaims, “Life is too short to waste it sitting around watching TV and eating junk food. Get up and get moving. It could save your life and your soul.”