Choosing Vibrant Health 101

As a child, when my older sister & I would get into trouble, my parents would sit us down for the much dreaded family talk. Mom would rant and rave about how our friends were responsible for causing us to be in trouble. My father would sit back for a spell, allowing Mom the space to express her disappointment. He didn’t agree with her analysis though, much to my chagrin. Poppy, as I lovingly called him, wanted us to realize our power of choice. He’d often chide us with his ever-familiar chant, “You are responsible for your choices and behavior, not your friends, not your sister. YOU!”

What responsible choices can you make for your optimal health? Our health education should begin while we are young children. We should be not only be taught the importance of brushing our teeth and keeping our wardrobe neat and clean, but basic things, like how to care for our reproductive systems learning proper hygiene practices to prevent infections. We should also recognize indicators that let us know our health needs attention, like the importance of knowing what our urine and stools look like. Is the urine yellow? Are the stools formed? Do they come out easily or with force? All these are indicators. If the urine is yellow or the stools don’t release with ease, it may be as simple as needing adequate hydration, increasing our intake of water throughout the day. Children and adults alike should know the dangers of sodas to quench thirst and the value of water. 

We should all know the value of good nutrition and that we are not going to get it at MacDonald’s or in any other fast food outlet. Fast foods generally have little to no nutritional value. We need to know what our bodies need daily to operate optimally, choosing to eat whole foods like fruits, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and healthy drinks. If you’re a meat eater, choose to eat free range or kosher meats, fish. Please be mindful to avoid or greatly minimize your consumption of the fish that are endangered due to overfishing and overconsumption.