HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · JULY 2018
HOW TO LIVE
A LONG LIFE
R
egrettably, when it
comes to your health,
the chances are that
many of the decisions
you will be forced to make end up
being life changing. More often
than not, the main reason is that
it’s too late to do anything else.
This ought not to be the case,
however, as the little choices
we make every day can help put
off and even nullify these issues
before they even appear. The
good news is that the health and
wellness industries have become
vital partners with consumers
regarding education and guidance.
Unfortunately, there is still a
significant number of people who
remain skeptical about the health
and wellness industries’ motives
and research, effectively preventing
their switch to more positive
lifestyles.
These people can be difficult to
convince. A lot of the time they
tend to look at their health through
the lens of the old adage “If it
ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Others
see improving their lifestyles as
a matter of difficulty, believing
that one must take on stringent,
unforgiving regimens in order to
live healthier.
If time is an issue at work, then
preparing meals and snacks ahead
of time is helpful. Meal prepping
is excellent because it removes
the time factor from the morning
routine, saves money and cuts
stress, as the prepping can be
done the night before, money is no
longer wasted at vending machines
or fast food restaurants, and lunch
has already been decided on, so
there’s no more last-minute panic.
If meal prepping doesn’t sound
appealing, there are other options,
such as the growing meal delivery
industry and meal replacement
shakes or powders. Both of these
alternatives tend to have organic
and even gluten-free options.
Additionally, there is an increase in
restaurants working with nutritional
support companies to decide
what to offer consumers. And
each and every day, companies are
reducing the number of harmful
products used in food production,
which is making grab-and-go foods
healthier.
Now if the word diet is what’s
sending shivers down your spine,
fret not. When most people
hear the word diet, they’re
flashed with vivid memories
and delusions of sugar-
free, fat-free, carb-free
and fun-free foods,
but that doesn’t
have to be the
case. While some
institutions may
preach that,
it is generally
recommended
to smart small.
By Dr. Scott Kjelson Pharm D. CPh and
Robert S. Litman R.Ph., C.Ph., CGP
30 HEALTHY MAGAZINE
THE HEALTH
DECISIONS WE
MAKE CAN BE
LIFE CHANGING.
The idea is to make small lifestyle changes in order to train
your body towards greater success and when I say little
things, I really do mean it: things like taking the cheese off a
burger or switching to a wheat bun, replacing dressings with
their lower-carbohydrate and sodium versions, and buying
juices with less sugar per serving. You have to try to reign in
your cravings.
Foods that are high in simple carbohydrate content greatly
increase the amount of sugar in the blood at one time. White
bread, white rice and other foods high in sugars cause a
cascade of issues that lead to cravings, inflammation, weight
gain and other negative health issues. Popular medications
used for weight loss actually suppress the brain's ability
to recognize hunger and prevent cravings from occurring.
Magic weight loss solutions don’t exist, and we need to stop
treating the symptoms and dig out the root of the issue with
a healthier approach.
Whether you’ve decided to turn a new leaf or have agreed
to take only a few small steps to live a healthier and longer
life, remember, you’re not just doing it for yourself—you ’re
doing it for all those who love you too.