Health Independence
Independence Day is a time to celebrate your freedom to pursue happiness. You can do yourself a huge favor by reflecting on how much that freedom is rooted in your health and how the keys to your health are in your hands.
Because the fault is not in your stars, dear reader. Nor, to much extent, is your health in your genes. You can trust the experts on that. Based on studies of identical twins, they’ve found that the vast majority of diseases are not the result of genetic predispositions, but lifestyle choices.
If you want to get fired up about the most important choices you can make for your health, we recommend reading Younger Next Year, by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge, MD. Some of our friends are raving about it. There’s a version for men and for women, and there’s a supportive web site, youngernextyear.com.
The authors make a strong case that you can flick the switch from gradual decay to growth through exercise, wholesome foods, a sense of purpose and social connection. You can probably be younger each year for years to come and not only delay disease but avoid half of it entirely while enjoying an active, meaningful life.
The authors wisely recommend letting weight loss be a by-product of the pursuit of health and fitness. Burning calories and raising metabolism through exercise are great, but they emphasize that the best strategy is not to go on a diet, but simply to “stop eating crap.” Or to put it more positively, eat real food.
Those three words should flash and echo through the sky like fireworks.
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