Here's a powerful talk by Jamie Oliver on the importance of getting back to eating real food.
It's a topic I never get tired of reading, learning, listening and talking about, since I believe the quality of what you eat has a profound impact on the quality of your health and your life.
As a long time student of health and nutrition, I'm disheartened that most people don't understand how what they eat effects their health.
How did America get to the point where its elementary school children are unable to identify common vegetables such as potatoes and tomatoes?
And I am saddened by the explosion of obesity and chronic diseases that are directly linked to diet and lifestyle.
While it may be quick, easy and tasty, filling up with overly processed, highly chemicalized food-like substances that are loaded with sugar, salt and partially hydrogenated trans-fats, causes chronic diseases and shortens lives.
How does it make you feel to know that this generation of kids is the first in history expected to have shorter lives than their parents?
Jamie Oliver On The Importance of Eating Real Food
The Power of a Healthy Diet & Lifestyle
But there is a silver lining. The good news is that it is never too late to change.
Regardless of how sick you are or how bad your diet has been, your body will respond to positive changes.
It's incredibly resilient.
I recently listened to a lecture by Walter Willet, MD, PhD, MPH, Director of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, who explained that the major diseases of our time can be greatly reduced with just moderate changes to diet and lifestyle.
By taking the following steps you could reduce your risk of heart disease by 82%, your risk of Type 2 Diabetes by 92%, and your risk of colon cancer by 71%:
- Don't smoke.
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
- Take a brisk walk or get the equivalent exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week.
- Take a multi vitamin so you are sure to get enough folic acid.
- Use alcohol in moderation (unless contra-indicated.)
- Drink water instead of soda and sugary beverages.
- Eat 4 to 5 fruits and vegetables a day.
- Eliminate the trans-fats from your diet which would mean not eating any processed foods with "partially hydrogenated" or "hydrogenated" on the label and steering clear of the fast food fryolators.
- Eat a diet rich in whole grains, fiber, healthy fats, and limit your intake of dairy and red meat and processed meats like sausage, bologna, and bacon.
There has never been a drug in the history of mankind that could deliver those kinds of results!
I admire Jamie Oliver's passionate desire to get us on the road to health by starting a food revolution. He has a wish he that he is willing to fight for...
Jamie Oliver's Wish
I wish for everyone to help create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity.
Since I believe in the power of good food and home cooking to heal so many of our health and social ills, I want to be part of this movement.
Will you join me?
You can start by watching this great video and sharing it with others!
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or Craftsy links, I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thanks for your purchase!
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