Controlling Your Future Health

Steps You Can Take Now To Improve Your Health Later

by Janet Smith, PEERtrainer Health and Fitness Writer


We are constantly bombarded with solutions all guaranteeing to cure our ailments, help us lose weight, and have a healthy life.  Yet, it seems we are currently in the situation of rampant obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and other major health conditions.  How do you know what to do to ensure a healthy future?

Controlling your future health is really a matter of taking control today of two critical portions of every person’s life.  If you are currently overweight, or have critical health issues, unless you make major changes in these two areas, chances are your level of health won’t improve. 

What Should I Do for Future Health?

The two parts of your life that most likely needs modification are diet and exercise.  Don’t start thinking, “Yes, I’ve heard that before and I’ve tried many diets but nothing seems to change.  I exercise, but I still need to lose weight.”  The solution for many health problems IS found in changing diet and exercise.

Changing your diet to include five or more servings of fruits and vegetables is highly recommended.  According to Harvard Medical School’s Focus on Nutrition Journal, presents study after study, documents the effectiveness of eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables for health and proper weight maintenance. The journal reports,  “A large collaborative trial called Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), conducted by institutions including Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Duke University, found high fruit and vegetable intake had significantly greater effects on reducing blood pressure in individuals with borderline high blood pressure than when compared with those taking high doses of dietary supplements.
Researchers from the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition have found that consuming a wide variety of fruits and vegetables each day is strongly correlated with a decrease in many forms of cancer. Preliminary data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition reports similar findings, stating that there is a strong inverse relationship between high fruit and vegetable consumption and cancer risk. “

A diet low in fruits and vegetables just doesn’t provide necessary phytonutrients that are only found in nature’s fruits and vegetables.  Supplements don’t provide the total balance nature provides, so you can just take vitamins and supplements and receive the nutrients your body needs for a healthy fit body.

Exercise is the second key to future health.  Every system of the body needs exercise for optimal performance.  Without it our body functions can become sluggish, thus causing disease and problem health.  Don’t think you have to become a body builder to get adequate exercise.  Just thirty minutes a day of moderate activity will make major changes in your fitness level. 

Most recommend a mix of aerobics ( biking, treadmill, swimming, etc) and strength training for optimal fitness levels.  No matter what your age, exercise is highly important. 

Just making these two changes in your lifestyle can have dramatic positive benefits on your current and future health.  Seriously consider adapting the diet and exercise recommendations…the quality of your life and health depend upon it.