Most health and wellness authorities agree that obesity and overweight are sabotaging many people’s efforts to be healthy. Many experts estimate the number of overweight people in our culture to be over 60%, with over 30% being classified as obese – the drain on our health care system and the suffering that these citizens experience can be addressed in most cases with some simple changes in their eating.

1. Less is more – eating until you are full is a tactical error, since the stomach may take a short while to get the message, “I’m full” to the brain. In the meantime, if you were eating rhythmically and absent-mindedly, the way so many of us do, you probably ate way too much, and the results show around your middle. Pause periodically throughout your meal to see if you are done before you think you are.

2. Nature knows best - processed foods are filled with unnatural additives and preservatives, which confuse the body, make you toxic, and interrupt normal metabolism. Choose a balanced diet of whole foods, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoid artificial ingredients. In almost every case, the closer to nature a food is, the better it is for you. Conversely, the more that a “food” has been processed, the worse it is for you. A good rule of thumb is if it came in a box or it needs to be microwaved, it’s probably not good for you! An apple a day…

3. Everything in moderation – including moderation – it’s okay to go crazy every now and then, as long as it’s the exception and not the rule. By eating healthfully, you buy yourself some latitude to overdo it from time to time, if the mood or situation calls for it – no need to be super-strict all the time, just use good common sense and you’ll be amazed how resilient and adaptable your body can be when it is working right. To this day, I am still amazed at what our body can put up with. In some situations, I can’t believe that the body has been able to survive the abuse that some people give themselves.

4. Keep your body working right so you digest and use your foods properly – people have been using chiropractic care to keep their bodies working right for 115 years! The nerve system must be functioning well for you to digest and use the nutrients in your foods – if you haven’t had a check-up recently, go to your Chiropractor or come on in to our office for an exam!

Experiment and find out the best times of day and correct amounts of water for you to drink. Everyone is different, but one thing is for sure – if your body needs more water, supplying it in the right proportions can be a sure path to better health, improved body function, and feeling great! Another good rule of thumb is your need to give your body ½ your weight (pounds) in ounces of water. That means that a 130 pound person needs 8 glasses of water (65 ounces)! If you weigh 200 pounds, you need 100 ounces of water (or 3 litres of water).

Go ahead, send me an e-mail and tell me about mixing metric up with imperial! I look forward to hearing all your comments, even your thoughts on nutrition!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Troy