Choices for Good Health

Written by Branda Polk

We are asked to make choices everyday. "What's for dinner?" "What should I wear?" What time do we leave?" "Where are we going?" I am a firm believer that there is a choice in every decision and every choice has a consequence; some good and some bad. Research on a wide range of health issues has proven that if we make good lifestyle choices, we have the ability to limit our risk for diseases including heart disease, many types of cancer, strokes, and diabetes. Yet, many choose to ignore these recommendations and pay the price with their health.

Given the option of living a fulfilling, healthy life or facing serious health problems and even death, here are some choices we have.

1. Choose to eat more fruits and vegetables. Five servings or more a day of a variety of fruits and vegetables are low in fat and calories and provide disease-fighting vitamins and minerals.

2. Choose to move. Exercise has many benefits: stress reduction, reducing blood pressure, weight control, and building strong muscles and bones, to name a few. Beginning an exercise program, four to five days a week for 30 to 40 minutes and maintaining an active lifestyle will greatly decrease your risk for disease.

3. Choose to eat less fat and more fiber. Fat and fiber in your diet both give you a full, satisfying feeling after eating. But fat has a lot of calories – 9 calories per gram – and fiber has little to no calories. Excess fat clogs arteries. Fiber removes fat from the blood. Fat increases your risk of disease. Fiber reduces your risk of disease. Consider eating less of fat laden red meat and more high fiber pinto, kidney or black beans.

4. Choose to be informed. Learn information about your health from your physician. What are your cholesterol level, blood sugar level, and body composition numbers?

Now you have a choice: stay where you are or feel better with wiser choices.  Which will you choose? Your future depends on your answer.

Branda Polk, B.S. Exercise Science, is a certified personal trainer, wellness coach, conference speaker and health writer in Lebanon, Tennessee. Sign up for Branda's newsletter, Wellness Connection, to receive encouragement and coaching in the areas of nutrition, exercise, and stress relief. Follow Branda on Twitter.

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