Sue Ellen Mathers
Licensed Professional Realtor® since 2005
MBA, CNE, SRES, ABR
It’s hard to believe it is March already! Hopefully you’ve been here for at least several weeks and you enjoyed the wonderful “winter” weather we’ve had this year. It’s a great opportunity to be outside and active, making it perhaps easier to keep some of those New Year’s resolutions! You know, the ones about diet, exercise, and maybe even some lifestyle changes. This brings me to the topic of this month’s article – taking nutrition seriously You’ve all heard the saying “You are what you eat.” This is neither a new idea nor a new subject to write about. However it is so true and more relevant than ever. We are living longer but not necessarily in good health. Western culture somehow became obsessed with food production and quantity became more important than quality. Processed foods became the norm and as a result, our diets became less and less healthy and our population as a whole became more overweight and unhealthy than ever before. Now, more than ever, it really is time to stop and take stock of your diet, not just the amount of calories you consume but what you are eating, because you are indeed what you eat.
In scientific terms, foods contain neurochemicals that can enhance mental capabilities including alertness, dealing with stress, and helping you stay happy and positive. Eating nutrient rich foods and avoiding foods high in saturated fat, processed food, and foods with high sugar content really do make a big difference in how you look and how you feel. The extra bonus? For many people, eating the right food can actually prevent many diseases. Another benefit, you don’t have to “diet” – just a change in what you eat for many people results in dropping several pounds.
Dr. Gilliam McKeith authored a book entitled “You Are What You Eat – The Plan That Will Change Your Life.” This national best seller is full of case studies and provides a nutritional guide to a heathier life. The author wrote a follow up book entitled “Gillian McKeith’s FOOD BIBLE How To Use Food To Cure What Ails You.” This is a fully illustrated, comprehensive guide to the health benefits of certain foods and how our diet really does affect our health and our ability to fight disease. There is no longer any argument that food can have a big effect on quality of life. Once “standard of care” physicians discounted many cure theories that weren’t centered on drug therapies as lacking any science to back them up. Many doctors will still tell you that. Thankfully, mostly due to the internet, there is more and more concrete information presented to support what so many holistic doctors have been saying for years. Arthritis, Diabetes, and Chronic Fatigue syndrome are just a few of the ailments that many people have had great success in treating with the right food.
This month is colorectal cancer awareness month. Colon cancer is prevalent worldwide and has become more so as countries move toward a Western diet. Go to the internet and type in ‘nutrition and colon cancer’ and do your own research. There are some amazing articles and statistics even the doctors who will ignore alternative medicines will agree that lifestyle factors can reduce the risk of developing this devastating disease. Do your own research and you’ll read many scientific studies that show just eating more fruits and vegetables can play a role in disease prevention. Study after study show men and women who consume foods that increase blood sugar levels are at higher risk for getting colorectal cancer. There is so much good information out there that is worth reading and taking seriously. (www.colorectal-cancer.ca/en/nutrition)
Look at the sources, you’ll find studies at major Universities that give credence to the healing power of food.
Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada – CCAC
www.colorectal-cancer.ca
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As a believer in natural cures, I am personally excited to finally see mainstream medicine taking notice and acknowledging the benefits of proper nutrition. I hope you’ll spend some time doing your own research and perhaps you’ll read something that will inspire you to make some changes in your diet. I am constantly hearing from other people my age that they wish they had my energy. It takes some discipline initially but it’s worth it, it’s all about what you eat – and just as important, what you don’t eat.
Enjoy everyday here in this beautiful place we vacation in or are lucky enough to call home! And if you’re thinking about making it your home, I hope you’ll give me a call – 239-877-2726
Sue Ellen Mathers has been recognized by Gulf Shore Magazine as a Five Star Realtor for the past several years and is a Top Producer for Royal Shell Real Estate. She is very proud of the great reviews her clients write and equally proud of the large number of referrals she receives. You may reach Sue Ellen at 239-877-2726 or email sueellen@royalshellsales.com.